Can a high dose of Aspirin cause heartburn?

Question

Hi doctor,

My mother is 47 years old. First, I want to inform you that currently, my mother has a uterine tumor and kidney stones. Last year, her triglyceride level was 402, her cholesterol was 260, the ECG was normal, and the TMT was negative. However, the doctor mentioned that she had a minor blockage that the machine did not detect. Since then, she has been taking Metoprolol succinate, Rabeprazole, and Atorvastatin with Aspirin for one year. Over the past 18 months, she has frequently experienced severe heartburn and sometimes severe headaches. We have consulted doctors multiple times, but they have not taken any action. Why is she experiencing these issues?

Her TMT was supposed to be done this year, but her Hb was 10 g/dL at that time. The doctor advised her to consume juice and jaggery, but it didn’t make a difference. Later, he prescribed a health supplement along with juice, but her Hb level remained the same at 10 g/dL. When she consumes pomegranate juice and health supplements daily, she experiences loose motions, so she reduces the dosage of it.

Currently, she is not experiencing any chest pain. However, due to these problems, she wants to reduce the dose of Aspirin every three days. She is considering quitting it and switching to Ayurvedic treatment, but the doctor insists that she must not miss a single dose. I also read online that skipping an Aspirin dose could increase the risk of a heart attack.

Could you please advise what to do?

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I would like to see your mother’s lipid profile, ECG (electrocardiogram), TMT (treadmill stress test), and echocardiography reports to provide better guidance. However, based on the information provided, I recommend the following:

Your mother is currently taking a high dose of Aspirin (150 mg). This may be contributing to her heartburn. I suggest reducing the dosage to 75 mg. Another component is Atorvastatin 20 mg, which is fine.
Rabeprazole, used for heartburn, is also fine. I recommend reducing the intake of tea and coffee and avoiding spicy foods.
For her hemoglobin (Hb) levels, she should focus on eating a healthy diet. She is taking iron supplements, which can also cause heartburn. To reduce this, take the iron supplement two hours after Rabeprazole. Continue the iron supplements for three months, and then repeat the CBC (complete blood count).

It is important to take all medications daily, without interruption. Please repeat the lipid profile after three months. Additionally, she should aim to lose weight, adopt an active lifestyle, and exercise regularly.

I hope this helps.