Aspirin "Rebound Effect"

[vap_guy]

Hello.  I am a person very concerned with my heart health.  I have a strong family history but the rest of my risk factors are low.  Recent blood work and VAP results point to mostly normal levels (slightly elevated VLDL3 and slightly pattern a/b).  My question concerns aspirin and the “rebound effect” associated with stopping the regular aspirin regimen.  In the past 3 years or so I have taken baby aspirin on and off.  Sometimes every day; sometimes every other day, sometimes not for months.  I have read in several places that it can be very beneficial and in others that it can be harmful if taken regularly if not needed.  I also take 1 gram of fish oil, 1 multivitamin, and 500mg of niacin each day, no medications.  Mostly to help reverse the negative VAP result relating to VLDL 3 and LDL particle size.  I eat fairly healthy and run 3 miles every other day.  I have decided to stop taking the aspirin, which I haven’t taken in about a week anyways.  This “rebound effect” that can result in clotting due to suddenly stopping aspirin has got me a little worried.  Is this a legitimate concern or am I worrying for no reason?  I understand the negative effects of stopping aspirin are mostly in the 4 weeks or so after stopping due to platelets becoming “more sticky”.  How long after stopping aspirin does the blood “normalize”?  Are there any notable long term effects from this?  Is it possible that clots could have formed and are now pooling or circulating?  There was never a time when I took more than a baby aspirin a day, and like I said it’s been on and off.  Any advice or comments would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[rdstoltzjr]

Hi,
If I were you and wanted to get off the aspiran, without any complications I would do it this way: CUT THE BABY ASPIRAN IN HALF(GET A PILL SPLITTER WAL-MART) take the 42mg half for a week, then cut in half for a week, then quit all together. No shock to your body with the abrubpt cessation!!!

[vap_guy]

Thanks for the reply.  Actually I bleed much easier than I have in the past, especially when I am taking the aspirin.  Nothing excessive, just more than usual.  This is part of the reason I have stopped taking it, I think the risk of long term use might not outweigh the benefit, also taking into consideration that I am know taking fish oil.  I am more concerned that I may have long term effects from the aspirin use, if I knew the rebound effect was only for a short period after stopping aspirin then I would feel more at ease.  It makes sense to me that the blood would eventually go back to its normal consistency, and that there are mechanisms in the body that would eliminate small clots that may form during this short period.  Maybe I should temporarily increase fish oil dosage for a while until my blood gets used to not having aspirin.  What do you think?

[Encephalomalcia]

Have you noticed if your blood tends to be thick when you get cut?  If you are worried about blood clots, you can have a blood test done at the doctor's office to determine the thickness and platelet count.  Fish oil helps to keep the arteries healthy and slippery.  Lecithin is also a good source for this.