Aspirin for mitral valve regurgitation

Aspirin for mitral valve regurgitation
Examples
How It Works
Why It Is Used
How Well It Works
Side Effects
What To Think About
Credits

Content provided by Healthwise

Examples

Chemical Name

Anacin

Brand Name	Chemical Name
aspirin and an antacid	Ascriptin

Brand Name	Chemical Name
aspirin and an antacid	Bayer

Brand Name	Chemical Name
coated to minimize stomach upset	Bufferin

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. Men and women over age 50 who have one or more risk factors for heart disease can also use it as a preventive measure for coronary artery disease and heart attack.

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 medication warfarin (Coumadin).

Side Effects

Side effects of aspirin include:

Inflammation of the stomach (gastritis).
Gastrointestinal bleeding.
Allergic reaction.
Increased 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 undergo 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 medications or dietary supplements you are using.

Brand-name aspirin is no more effective than generic or store brands.

Complete the new medication information form (PDF) (What is a PDF document?) to help you understand this medication.

Credits

Author	Kathe Gallagher, MSW
Author	Cynthia Tank
Editor	Kathleen M. Ariss, MS
Associate Editor	Pat Truman
Associate Editor	Terrina Vail
Primary Medical Reviewer	Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine
Primary Medical Reviewer	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer	Stephen Fort, MD, MRCP, FRCPC - Interventional Cardiology
Last Updated	April 3, 2006

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Last updated:	April 03, 2006
Author:	Cynthia Tank
Reviewed By:	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine, Stephen Fort, MD, MRCP, FRCPC - Interventional Cardiology
Editors:	Kathleen M. Ariss, MS, Terrina Vail

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