Medical Questions » Medicines Questions » Question No. 643
| Question: | Can people who have had stomach ulcers take aspirin? Can enteric-coated aspirin be used in these people? |
| Answer: | Unfortunately it does not matter how you take aspitin, be it by tablet, in solution, coated with a substance that delays absorption (enteric-coated) or even as a rectal suppository. Once it is in the body, it may affect the balance between the acid in the stomach and the thick mucus that lines the stomach. The mucus protects the stomach from the concentrated hydrochloric acid that it contains, but if the production of mucus is reduced, or the mucus is less thick, the acid will penetrate through to the stomach wall and cause inflammation, pain and eventually an ulcer.
Many of the medications used to treat atthritis, including Indocid, Voltaren, Naprosyn, Brufen, Dolobid, Orudis, Feldene etc. act the same way as aspirin, and can affect the mucus lining of the stomach. Newer anti-arthritis medications such as Vioxx and Celebrex can sometimes be taken by some people with stomach ulcers.
The vast majority of people taking aspirin and anti-arthtitis drugs suffer no side effects from them, but if you have a past history of stomach ulcers, it is wise to avoid these medications if at all possible. Patacetamol can be used as a substitute for aspirin, as it has no adverse effects on the stomach.
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