Mixing Ibuprofen, Aspirin May Be Bad for Your Heart
Feb. 20 -- Those of us who take daily aspirin to help control heart disease should choose carefully when selecting other over-the-counter medications.
Researchers now report that taking the painkiller ibuprofen — the main ingredient in Advil, Motrin, and Nuprin — can actually counteract the beneficial effects of aspirin on the heart.
According to ABCNEWS' Medical Editor Dr. Timothy Johnson on Good Morning America, there have been several studies that have hinted at the problem, but the latest study is the largest to date and "raises the red flag."
Johnson adds the problem affects those who take ibuprofen on a regular basis, rather than those who use it only occasionally.
Alternatives for Pain Prevention
The new research, published in the Feb. 14 issue of The Lancet medical journal, followed more than 7,000 British heart disease patients who took low-dose aspirin (less than 325 mg per day).
After years of follow-up, it was found that those who also took daily ibuprofen (about 1210 mg per day) had almost double the risk of dying than patients who took aspirin alone or aspirin with other types of painkillers such as naproxen (aka Aleve or Naprosyn), indomethacin (Indocin), or diclofenac (Voltaren).
Researchers believe that ibuprofen increases the risk of death by interfering with aspirin's effects on the blood. Ordinarily, low-dose aspirin lowers the risk of heart attacks, angina, etc. by preventing cells within the blood from clotting with each other. But because ibuprofen can chemically interfere with aspirin's anti-clotting action, it essentially blocks aspirin from doing its job.
Taking greater than 325 mg of aspirin every day is not recommended because of its known side-effects on the stomach. These new findings will likely leave many wondering where to turn for relieving those aches and pains.
"While it is clear that more studies are needed to confirm this finding, with so many options available — why not take another pain-reliever until we know for sure whether aspirin and ibuprofen should be mixed," added Johnson.
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