The combination of low-dose aspirins and anticoagulant medicines can cause severe bleeding. Consequently, we have published new material describing the risk of this combination to patients with heart flutters and doctors.
About 100,000 Danes suffer from heart flutters, and every year between 15,000 and 20,000 new patients are diagnosed with heart flutters. Heart flutters can be dangerous, because there is an increased risk of blood clots. One out of five blood clots in the brain is caused by heart flutters. The risk of heart flutters increases with age, and around one in ten people above 75 years suffers from heart flutters.
Combination causes an increased risk of bleeding
Most patients suffering from heart flutters benefit from treatment with anticoagulant medicines like Marevan® (warfarin) that reduces the risk of blood clots. Around every tenth patient with heart flutters also takes Hjertemagnyl®, a low-dose aspirin, in combination with Marevan®.
For patients who are being treated with Marevan®, treatment with Hjertemagnyl® does not offer further protection against blood clots. However, the risk of bleeding increases.
Consequently, we have published new material describing the risk of this combination and what patients should be particularly aware of; the material is aimed at patients with heart flutters and doctors (in Danish only). For example, the publication advises patients to inform their doctor of the medicines they take, including over-the-counter medicine.
Links to the material (in Danish only)
Video om hjerteflimmer og bivirkninger ved samtidig brug af acetylsalicylsyre og warfarin
Informationsfolder til læger: Information om antikoagulansbehandling ved atrieflimren