Lancet: Aspirin only works if it is the right dose for your weight

Posted on by kaitiscotland

Low dose aspirin 75-100mg daily are only effective in reducing cardiovascular events in those who weigh less than 70kg found researcher Peter Rothwell.  This is the dose range used in the UK and the USA but 80% of all men and 50% of all women weigh more than 70kg.

Higher doses of aspirin are only effective for cardiovascular prevention in those over 70 kg and don’t work in those who weigh less than this. Therefore recommending the higher dose range won’t suit everyone either.

Some people also use aspirin to reduce the chances of other diseases such as colorectal cancer. The effects are thought to be dose related as well.

The take home message is that if you weigh less than 70kg stick to 75-100mg of aspirin a day, but if you weigh 70kg or over you should increase your dosage. For most people in the UK this will mean doubling up on 75mg to 150mg and in the USA where 82.5 mg is standard, upping this to 165mg daily.

Lancet doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(18)31133-4

 

 

 

 

 

 

Published by kaitiscotland

I am a Scottish doctor who is working to improve the outcomes for people who have diabetes using a low carb diet, and advanced insulin techniques when necessary. Professionally I provide expert witness reports in the clinical forensic and family medicine areas and I also provide complementary therapies. I enjoy cooking, cinema, reading, travel and cats.

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