Arthritis Treatment Pain Relief Taking Low-Dose Aspirin With NSAIDs By Carol Eustice Carol Eustice Facebook Carol Eustice is a writer covering arthritis and chronic illness, who herself has been diagnosed with both rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Learn about our editorial process Updated on February 27, 2022 Medically reviewed by Riteesha G. Reddy, MD Medically reviewed by Riteesha G. Reddy, MD Riteesha G. Reddy, MD, is a board-certified rheumatologist and internist at a private practice in Dallas, Texas. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print It is not unusual to hear about people who take a daily, low-dose aspirin to lower their heart attack risk while treating their arthritis with a similar drug like Advil (ibuprofen) or Aleve (naproxen). But is it a safe thing to do? And, if not, what alternatives might a person have to better treat both of these conditions? Vstock / Getty Images Potential Drug Interactions It is important to understand that aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen all belong to the same class of medications known as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). They all have similar mechanisms of action and work by reducing pain, treating fever, and, at higher doses, lowering inflammation. One of the things these medications also share is side effects. Gastrointestinal symptoms are common in people who use NSAIDs, increasing the risk of bleeding and the development of potentially serious peptic ulcers. Even at a low dose, combining aspirin with another NSAID may increase the risk of ulcers, most especially in people who are: Over 65Taking corticosteroid medicationsOn blood thinners such as Coumadin (warfarin) or Plavix (clopidogrel)SmokersHeavy drinkersExperiencing gastrointestinal bleeding or have a history of ulcers It is in the group of people that the combined use should be avoided. 3 Ways to Minimize Gastrointestinal Risk There are several ways to minimize these side effects if taking low-dose aspirin with another NSAID: Choose an NSAID less likely to cause bleeding. Some, less common anti-inflammatory drugs like Disalcid (salsalate), low-dose Celebrex (celecoxib), Voltaren (diclofenac), and Mobic (meloxicam) can be effective in treating pain and far less likely to cause bleeding. Moreover, compared to ibuprofen or naproxen, they are less likely to interfere with the cardioprotective benefits of aspirin. Use drugs other than NSAIDs to treat arthritis. For those who really need to use a low-dose aspirin and are at risk of gastrointestinal symptoms, changing to non-NSAID-class drugs may be the most appropriate option. These include Tylenol (acetaminophen), which relieves pain but has no anti-inflammatory effect, and Ultram (tramadol), which provides strong pain relief but requires a prescription. Use non-oral drug therapies. By avoiding oral medications, you are inherently at lower risk of developing stomach or ulcer problems. Topical analgesic creams that provide a hot or cold sensation are sometimes enough to provide localized pain relief. There are also subdermal patches containing ibuprofen that are reported to provide relief for over 12 hours. A Word From Verywell Always let your healthcare provider know which medications you are taking so they can advise you on any potential interactions. 5 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Goldstein JL, Cryer B. Gastrointestinal injury associated with NSAID use: a case study and review of risk factors and preventative strategies. Drug Healthc Patient Saf. 2015;7:31-41. doi:10.2147/DHPS.S71976 Colebatch AN, Marks JL, Edwards CJ. Safety of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, including aspirin and paracetamol (acetaminophen) in people receiving methotrexate for inflammatory arthritis (rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, other spondyloarthritis). Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2011;(11):CD008872. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD008872.pub2 Moore N, Pollack C, Butkerait P. Adverse drug reactions and drug-drug interactions with over-the-counter NSAIDs. Ther Clin Risk Manag. 2015;11:1061-75. doi:10.2147/TCRM.S79135 Heart-safer NSAID alternatives. Harvard Medical School. 2019. Tombs EL, Nikolaou V, Nurumbetov G, Haddleton DM. Transdermal Delivery of Ibuprofen Utilizing a Novel Solvent-Free Pressure-sensitive Adhesive (PSA): TEPI® Technology. J Pharm Innov. 2018;13(1):48-57. doi:10.1007/s12247-017-9305-x Additional Reading Colebatch, A.; Marks, J.; and Edwards, C. "Safety of Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs, Including Aspirin and Paracetamol (Acetaminophen) in People Receiving Methotrexate for Inflammatory Arthritis (Rheumatoid Arthritis, Ankylosing Spondylitis, Psoriatic Arthritis, Other Spondyloarthritis)." Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2011; 11: CD008872. By Carol Eustice Carol Eustice is a writer covering arthritis and chronic illness, who herself has been diagnosed with both rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit