Aspirin (for Cardioprotection)/Selected NSAIDs Interactions

This information is generalized and not intended as specific medical advice. Consult your healthcare professional before taking or discontinuing any drug or commencing any course of treatment.

Medical warning:

Moderate. These medicines may cause some risk when taken together. Contact your healthcare professional (e.g. doctor or pharmacist) for more information.

How the interaction occurs:

Some non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDs) may interfere with the ability of aspirin to protect the heart if they are taken before your daily aspirin.

What might happen:

The aspirin may not work as well.

What you should do about this interaction:

Let your healthcare professionals (e.g. doctor or pharmacist) know that you are using these products together. Your doctor may want to change your medicine. Taking ibuprofen 8 hours before or 30 minutes after the aspirin may help avoid the problem. Take other NSAIDs at least two hours after your aspirin. If you have questions about how to take your medicines, ask your pharmacist.Your healthcare professionals may already be aware of this interaction and may be monitoring you for it. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with them first.

View Reference
  • 1.US Food and Drug Administration Center for Drug Evaluations and Research - FDA Science Paper. Concomitant Use of Ibuprofen and Aspirin Potential for Attenuation of the Anti-Platelet Effect of Aspirin. available at: http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Drugs/DrugSafety/PostmarketDrugSafetyInformat ionforPatientsandProviders/UCM161282.pdf September 8, 2006.
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  • 6.Patel TN, Goldberg KC. Use of aspirin and ibuprofen compared with aspirin alone and the risk of myocardial infarction. Arch Intern Med 2004 Apr 26; 164(8):852-6.
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  • 9.Kimmel SE, Berlin JA, Reilly M, Jaskowiak J, Kishel L, Chittams J, Strom BL. The effects of nonselective non-aspirin non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications on the risk of nonfatal myocardial infarction and their interaction with aspirin. J Am Coll Cardiol 2004 Mar 17;43(6):985-90.
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  • 12.Anzellotti P, Capone ML, Jeyam A, Tacconelli S, Bruno A, Tontodonati P, Di Francesco L, Grossi L, Renda G, Merciaro G, Di Gregorio P, Price TS, Garcia Rodriguez LA, Patrignani P. Low-dose naproxen interferes with the antiplatelet effects of aspirin in healthy subjects: recommendations to minimize the functional consequences. Arthritis Rheum 2011 Mar; 63(3):850-9.
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