Aspirin is a common analgesic and antiplatelet drug. Can I drink alcohol while taking it?

Aspirin is a common over-the-counter pain reliever that can be used to control headaches, toothaches, joint and muscle pain. Doctors also recommend low-dose aspirin to patients with atherosclerosis to reduce their risk of heart disease and ischemic stroke.

Generally, most people will not experience side effects from taking aspirin. Some patients may experience adverse reactions while taking aspirin, including nausea and vomiting, abdominal discomfort, ulcers, heartburn, and gastrointestinal bleeding. Symptoms are usually mild and recover after stopping the medication.

However, taking aspirin and alcohol together may aggravate gastrointestinal discomfort symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and heartburn. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends that patients who take aspirin for a long time should reduce alcohol intake to avoid gastrointestinal bleeding.

Gastrointestinal bleeding is manifested by the presence of bright red blood in the patient's vomit and dark red or black stools. Timely treatment of gastric bleeding will not threaten a person's life, but if it is not treated for a long time, it will lead to anemia and, in severe cases, even threaten a person's life.

It is recommended that healthy women of all ages and men over 65 years of age limit their intake of alcohol to no more than one drink per day while taking aspirin, and that men under 65 years of age limit their intake of alcohol to no more than 2 drinks per day while taking aspirin.

The dose of aspirin to be taken depends on the patient's condition. Doctors will recommend different doses for different diseases. Patients who use large doses of aspirin must consult a physician and take the drug under the guidance of a physician. Patients should not reduce the dose of aspirin privately in order to drink alcohol, as this is not conducive to controlling the condition.

There is no clear standard for how long you should wait before drinking alcohol after taking aspirin. However, patients are advised to extend the time interval between the two as much as possible, such as taking aspirin in the morning and drinking alcohol in the evening.