How It Works
Aspirin works quickly (within 15 minutes) to prevent the formation of blood clots. This decreases the chance that a blood clot will form and block a narrowed heart artery, leading to a heart attack or stroke.
Why It Is Used
Aspirin can be used after mitral valve surgery to reduce the risk of blood clots forming.
How Well It Works
Aspirin is effective in preventing the formation of clots in people who have specific heart problems that make clot formation more likely, but is less effective than the anticoagulant medicine warfarin (Coumadin).
Side Effects
Side effects of aspirin include:
- Inflammation of the stomach (gastritis).
- Gastrointestinal bleeding.
- Allergic reaction.
- Bruising and bleeding (hemorrhage) in the brain (rarely) or other internal organs of the body.
See Drug Reference for a full list of side effects. (Drug Reference is not available in all systems.)
What To Think About
If you have mitral valve surgery, your doctor will probably prescribe other blood thinners. Do not take aspirin along with these without your doctor's permission. Always inform your doctor of any medicines or dietary supplements that you are using.
Brand-name aspirin is no more effective than generic or store brands.
Aspirin is sometimes combined with another medicine like an antacid (such as Ascriptin).
Aspirin may be coated to help prevent stomach upset (such as Bufferin).
Complete the new medication information form (PDF)
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Credits
| Author | Robin Parks, MS |
| Editor | Kathleen M. Ariss, MS |
| Associate Editor | Pat Truman, MATC |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Stephen Fort, MD, MRCP, FRCPC - Interventional Cardiology |
| Last Updated | March 27, 2008 |
