Posted on 01/22/2023 10:09:04 PM PST by ConservativeMind
Patients hospitalized with fractures typically receive an injectable blood thinner, low-molecular-weight heparin, to prevent life-threatening blood clots. A new clinical trial, however, found that inexpensive over-the-counter aspirin is just as effective.
The randomized clinical trial is the largest trial ever conducted on orthopedic trauma patients.
"Many patients with fractures will likely strongly prefer to take a daily aspirin over receiving injections after we found that both give them similar outcomes for prevention of the most serious outcomes from blood clots," said Robert V. O'Toole, MD.
Blood clots cause as many as 100,000 deaths in the U.S. each year. Patients who experience fractures that require surgery are at increased risk of developing blood clots in the lungs and limbs. Large clots in the lungs even can be life-threatening. Current guidelines recommend prescribing low-molecular-weight heparin (enoxaparin) to prevent these clots, although smaller clinical trials in total joint replacement surgery suggested a potential benefit of aspirin as a less-expensive, widely available option.
The study enrolled 12,211 patients with leg or arm fractures that necessitated surgery or pelvic fractures regardless of the treatment. Half were randomly assigned to receive 30 mg. of injectable low molecular-weight heparin twice daily. The other half received 81 mg. of aspirin twice daily. Patients were followed for 90 days to measure health outcomes from the two treatments.
The main finding of the study was that aspirin was "non-inferior," or no worse than low molecular-weight heparin in preventing death from any cause—47 patients in the aspirin group died, compared with 45 patients in the heparin group. For other important complications, the researchers also found no differences between the two groups in clots in the lungs (pulmonary embolisms). The incidence of bleeding complications, infection, wound problems, and other adverse events from the treatments was also similar in both groups.
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
Hence the tens of millions were classically told, “Take two aspirin and call me in the morning.”
Heparin killed my dad. One of the few that are allergic. And you can’t know it until it’s too late.
I’m 74 years old and suffered with chronic headaches and migraines since I was a teenager. Took a spring religiously. A few years ago I started suffering shortness of breath and couldn’t walk more than a couple of feet without having to stop and catch my breath. When I would go grocery shopping I would find someplace to sit, even an empty shelf. I would tip a store clerk to walk me out to my car and put my groceries in my vehicle. I also developed a craving for ice. Chewed it every chanc3 I got. I assumed I was having heart problems.
When I went to my physician he took a blood sample. He called me the next morning and told me to get to the emergency room right away for a blood transfusion because my blood oxygen level was dangerously low. I went and they ran every kind of test they could to see if I was bleeding inwardly. Thankfully I wasn’t. I got my transfusion and my Dr. Put me on iron. When he found out about my aspirin usage he said to stop taking them immediately and switch to Tylenol. I followed his advice and have not had a problem since. And I no longer get headaches.
A spring should read aspirin.
Appreciate the ping ...
Same thing happened to me before my AML diagnosis.
In a related story, aspirin is now selling at $750 a bottle...
I was wondering, LOL
I have backup bottles of aspirin.
It’s my favorite cheap remedy.
Sorry to hear that.
It paralyzed my uncle after he had a cardiac event and had to go to a (strange) hospital, being still on a car drive clear across the country.
However, none of the rest of us has had a problem. My dad has had it multiple times for clotting, my mother last year when breaking hip, and me when I had my lung clot 10 years ago.
But yes, I’d prefer to go with aspirin. Cheaper, too.
I’m going to buy baby aspirins today...and just keep them around. My foot swelled up the other day...and kinda scared me but no way will I go on blood thinners.
Warfarin killed 3 people-one relative...2 husbands of friends
Now watch out for your liver.
Sorry you had all this trouble.
I buy lower-dose - 325mg as opposed to the 500mg I used to buy.
Still relatively-cheap but they have gone up under InflationJoe.
I wish there were an alternative to Eliquis (apixaban). My bank account wishes the same thing.
A generic exists. FDA approved it a long time ago. It was supposed to be available to the public next month. But PFIZER had it extended it to November 2026. As if PFIZER isn’t making enough money with their clot shots,
It is ironic (maybe criminal?) that Pfizer creates a drug that CAUSES blood clots, and also a drug that dissolves blood clots.
You are mandated to take the clot-creating shot — FREE. You can be charged around hundreds of dollars a month for the drug-dissolving shot.
DHEA. It increases aldosterone production which improves calcium homeostasis.
Hmmm?
Are we being prepared for when China cuts off the flow of heparin ingredients?
Just wonderin’.
Xarelto is a direct substitute, working on the same factor Xa.
It might be cheaper for you, but it’s not yet available as a generic.
Aspirin reduces stored iron.
If a person’s blood ferritin is less than 70 ng/ml, the person has an iron deficiency. Chocolate and meat have iron.
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