This is important, It may save your life! Please read.

[yy4me]

In the current issue of the AARP Magazine, there is a short blurb on the page titled "Fight for your Life" Pay close attention to the short article in the right column.

"Double Trouble" If you are taking low-dose aspirin, avoid Ibuprofen, which can cancel out the aspirin's antiplatelet effect and cause catastrophic stroke. A new study at the University of Buffalo and the Dent Neurologic Institute in Buffalo is the first to show the stroke danger."

In my search to understand more about this connection, I came across this:

http://seniorjournal.com/NEWS/Health/2008/8-03-13-SenCitTakingIbuprofen.htm

My husband was on low dose aspirin for years. A few weeks before he died, he did something to his knee that would cause him pain so he took Ibuprofen. I don't know how much or how often but on June 27th he died of a massive Hemorrhagic stroke. He was healthy and had blood pressure and cholesterol under control with other medications. There may be no connection here, who knows.

Please check with your doctor about the combination of these two medications. Maybe it can save your life.

The world needs to be aware of this...or heaven help my family, maybe we missed the warning.

[Whoa_Nelly]

1. And more info from Mayo Clinic

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/daily-aspirin-therapy/HB00073

[safeinOhio]

2. I'm on low dose aspirin

and my doctor told me to only take naproxen when using aspirin. Hope that helps.

[Warpy]

3. Aspirin would have worsened or even hastened the stroke

since it was a hemorrhagic (bleeding) one. Taking the NSAID with aspirin didn't hasten his death and might even have delayed it.

Embolic (clot) strokes and heart attacks would be the greater risk with reducing the antiplatelet effect of aspirin.

However, this particular drug conflict needs to be better known. Both aspirin and NSAIDs like Motrin compete for the same binding sites in the blood. Taking them together gives a person expensive urine at best and less antiplatelet action from the aspirin, at worst, leading to clot formation in the bloodstream.

Anyone on aspirin therapy to prevent heart attack or stroke needs to avoid NSAIDs. Mild to moderate pain should be treated with Tylenol or a preparation containing aspirin and Tylenol.

I am sorry for your loss. It is horrible to lose someone so quickly and then spend time wondering "what if?" Just be aware that in this case, he did nothing to cause his death and it is unlikely that it could have been prevented.