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Does Stopping Aspirin Suddenly Provoke Cardiac Problems?

Posted on Fri, 20 Dec 2013

Question: Hello, I just have a quick question: I've been taking 'baby aspirin' (100mg) a day for the last 3 weeks, as my cardiologist just wanted me to begin taking it as a preventative measure (arteries are all clear, though); and he's now told me to stop taking it for a few weeks, as they'll be doing another test ("Fibrogastroscopia" - I live in Spain - don't know the word in English, I'm afraid, but presume it's close to the Latin!) which requires me to be off the aspirin. The cardiologist said it was perfectly safe to stop taking it from one day to another, but I'd read online that it was safer to reduce the dose gradually, as suddenly stopping could sometimes provoke cardiac problems?? Could you, please, therefore, let me know if, in your opinion, it really is OK to stop taking it from one day to another? Thank you!

Answered by Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (34 minutes later)

Hello! Thank you for the query. Yes, it is completely safe to stop taking it right away. It is because aspirin causes blood platelets inability for creating a thrombus. Aspirin blocks an enzyme in the platelets and this reaction is irreversible. It means that such platelet lefts unable to coagulate for ever. And "for ever" means 8-10 days as this is the time of platelet live. After that time, new platelets will appear with good enzymes (not blocked by an aspirin). So in conclusion, even if you will stop taking aspirin immediately, its effect will be present for 7-10 days. Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions. Regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (12 minutes later)

Hello, Dr. Stanko, Thank you again. However, I'm afraid I didn't really understand your answer (except that it was safe to stop taking it immediately.) I'm sorry, I don't wish to sound rude, as I really value your expertise, and you were so helpful and thorough with my previous question, but would it be possible for you to get a native English-speaking colleague to re-write your answer, please? (As the English, combined with the fact that it's talking about something which I don't really understand in the first place, has made it very difficult for me to understand your answer.) Thank you very much! Regards, XXXXX

Answered by Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (23 minutes later)

Well, no re writing my answer. Its in English and it seems clear. You could not find it understandable because it were about the blood clotting what is quite complicated process. What you need to know is that one of the part of this process is a Platelet (so called thrombocyte). This Platelets contain enzymes called COX-1. This enzymes do create a thrombus (blood clot) when it is necessary. When the Aspirin will block this enzyme, such Platelet is unable to create a blood clot. And the approximate time of Platelet living in the blood stream is 8-10 days. So if you will take an Aspirin, it blocks this enzyme for 7-10 days (until such Platelet wont be eliminated from the blood stream). So the single dose of Aspirin takes effect for 7-10 days. That is why it can be safely stopped without reducing the dosage. Regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (3 hours later)

Thank you, that is a little clearer, but I'm afraid I still had problems understanding your reply, because of the grammatical errors with your English - sorry! - It's not just because of my lack of understanding of medical procedures. I would have preferred it of you'd had the courtesy to have had your reply reviewed, as I'd requested, by a native English-speaking person. Regards, XXXXX

Answered by Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (43 minutes later)

Even if there is (in your opinion) a few grammatical errors I`m quite certain that it is clearly understandable. I have spend 2 years in US and been learning English for 14 years and no one before have had any problems with understanding my English. So maybe you should verify yours. So cant fulfill your request. You can ask for refund. Regards.

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar