Pulmonary Embolism Support Group
By far the most common form of pulmonary embolism is a thromboembolism, which occurs when a blood clot, generally a venous thrombus, becomes dislodged from its site of formation and embolizes to the arterial blood supply of one of the lungs. Symptoms may include difficulty breathing, pain during breathing, and more rarely circulatory instability and death.
I'm on day 5 of 10 of transitioning off warfarin. My Hema says I can stop fully and not worry but my internal specialist wants me to start baby aspirin once my 10 days is done. During my recent exam he believes he heard strong s2 beats from my pulmonary artery so he's thinking possible pulmonary hypertension secondary to the PE. He's thinking that may be the causes of my increase in palpitations and the ongoing chest tightness and sob since dx of my PE back in march.
I had an echo and a PFT done 6 wks after dx and results were normal but hes wanting to redo the tests again. Echo to measure my pa pressure is a 9-10 month wait so until then he says aspirin for precautionary measures.
Has anyone come off warfarin and been told to go onto aspirin? Or anyone been on aspirin and come off it after long term daily use? I've heard coming off of aspirin can cause issues with increase risk of clotting causing stroke or heart attack. Anyone know truth to that?
I had an echo and a PFT done 6 wks after dx and results were normal but hes wanting to redo the tests again. Echo to measure my pa pressure is a 9-10 month wait so until then he says aspirin for precautionary measures.
Has anyone come off warfarin and been told to go onto aspirin? Or anyone been on aspirin and come off it after long term daily use? I've heard coming off of aspirin can cause issues with increase risk of clotting causing stroke or heart attack. Anyone know truth to that?
Recent studies from back in May have shown the their may be benefits taking 100mg (not baby aspirin) each day as a preventative. Keep in mind, aspirin acts more like a antiplatlet medical which is great for preventing arterial clotting, however, venous clots are affected by proteins not platlets. This most recent studies suggests that the higher dose aspirin may be a good alternative for those no longer on anticoagulation medication.
http://professionalsblog.clotconnect.org/2012/05/23/aspirin-prevents-recurrent-dvt-and-pe/
Likewise, a few year ago, Harvard University found that for Women, taking Vitamin E may also reduce the risk of developing blood clots:
http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/116/13/1497.full?maxtoshow=&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&fulltext=Effects+of+Random+Allocation+to+Vitamin+E+Supplementation+on+the+Occurrence+of+V&searchid=1&FIRSTINDEX=0&resourcetype=HWCIT
Like with many trials, the caveat is always, further studies need to be done to determine if the results can be repeated in a larger trial.
Either way, a aspirin a day seems to have a lot of benefits so if you are no longer an anticoagulants, it definitely wouldn't hurt, and in lieu of the more recent studies, it may offer some protection for reoccuring clots.
In my case, having an underlying blood clot disorder made me not a good candidate for aspirin therapy which would explain why I had a reoccuring clot. Of course, we didn't find that out until after my second DVT.
This comment makes me curious. Does anyone know if having previously been taking aspirin and stopping causes any sort of increase in risk or if it simply removes something that might be helping to prevent a clot?
I ask this because I have spent many years in the past addicted to Extra Strength Excedrin related to my migraines. It has about half the normal dose of aspirin in it and I was taking it daily. The two times I got clots were just after giving it up for a while. I now know I have hetero Factor V Leiden, so I have other risk factors, but I'm very curious about whether my daily aspirin intake was actually helping prevent me from clotting earlier and if stopping the aspirin played a part in why I clotted.
I plan to ask my Hematologist about aspirin when I stop warfarin in 2 months.
Based on the newest study regarding aspirin, there may be some preventative benefits to taking aspirin (as compared to taking nothing) to prevent reoccuring DVT.
If you have a risk factor, from my experience, the aspirin probably won't help. Then again, back in the 90's the popular medical recommendation was to take one baby aspirin a day. The latest information suggest a regular 100mg aspirin a day. Could that have been the difference between me having a reoccuring clot or not; I don't know.
I know several people with FVL who were placed on aspirin following their first DVT and subsequent Coumadin/Warfarin Treatment. While on aspirin therapy they all suffered a reoccuring clot. Like I mention, it may very well depend on what associated risk factors you have. The problem is, not all patients are checked for known thrombophilia following an unknown (idiopathic) clotting event unless there is a family history which warrants it.
Thanks, I had been wondering about aspirin withdrawal or rebound. I too, had a DVT and PE after I stopped aspirin and vitamin E. I used them because I was told by doctors and read they help with sex drive. I was on them for decades. Then for some reason, I guess my sex drive was strong, I thought I didn't need them any more. I also had other risk factors , obesity, age , inactivity ie. sitting at the computer all day. Other wise my test were all in range. I took a 325 aspirin and 2000 iu of the each morning, then cold turkey I quit them . Now I find this article from Mayo Clinic, that says you can rebound from stopping them.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/daily-aspirin-therapy/HB00073
"What happens if you stop taking aspirin every day?
You might be surprised to learn that stopping daily aspirin therapy can have a rebound effect that may increase your risk of heart attack. If you have had a heart attack or a stent placed in one or more of your heart arteries, stopping daily aspirin therapy can lead to a life-threatening heart attack. If you've been taking daily aspirin therapy and want to stop, it's important to talk to your doctor before making any changes. Suddenly stopping daily aspirin therapy could have a rebound effect that may trigger a blood clot."
Arterial clots either caused by plaque or sticky platlets can cause either stroke or a heart attack. People at risk of arterial clots are placed on a anti-platlet medication. Atrial Fib patients however, are usually not only placed on a anti-platlet but also a anticoagulant. Patients who are at high risk of developing a arterial clot need to remain on a antiplatlet. Even though aspirin is a mild form of antiplatlet medication, the patients is at lower risk of developing another arterial clot then if he/she is to be taken off aspirin all together.
For venous clotters, there "may" be some benefit to taking aspirin as compared to nothing at all. From what I've read, there are no studies that address a rebound affect with venous clots; only arterial.
At 28 I don't exactly wish to be on any drug but if it means to help me live a full life then wonderful but I'd hate to take something and not needed it to come off it and have a reaction to stopping happen