Premium
Concomitant use of buffered and enteric‐coated low‐dose aspirin products and antisecretory drugs
Author(s) -
Takada M.,
Fukumoto K.,
Shibakawa M.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
journal of clinical pharmacy and therapeutics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.622
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1365-2710
pISSN - 0269-4727
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2710.2004.00551.x
Subject(s) - aspirin , medicine , medical prescription , enteric coating , pharmacology , proton pump inhibitor , concomitant , dosage form
Summary Objective: Buffered and enteric‐coated formulations of low‐dose aspirin therapy are although expected to avoid gastrointestinal complications, there are reports that these modified products are associated with such complications. One available option for preventing aspirin‐induced gastrointestinal complications is the simultaneous use of the agents that inhibit acid secretion such as H 2 ‐receptor antagonists and proton pump inhibitors. We compared the frequency of prescriptions for antisecretory drugs between users of either buffered or enteric‐coated low‐dose aspirin. Methods: Monthly prescriptions at the National Cardiovascular Center for aspirin products and antisecretory drugs were counted from January 1998 to December 2002. Counting was based on information from a prescription database file compiled from a computerized order entry system. Time‐series analyses were performed to determine changes in the frequency of prescriptions for low‐dose aspirin products and antisecretory drugs. In addition, the frequency of prescriptions for antisecretory drugs was compared in individuals using either buffered or enteric‐coated low‐dose aspirin. Results: A significant reduction in the frequency of prescriptions for H 2 ‐receptor antagonists was observed during 2001 in users of enteric‐coated low‐dose aspirin compared with users of buffered low‐dose aspirin users. In contrast, we observed a significant increase in the frequency of prescriptions for H 2 ‐receptor antagonists in users of enteric‐coated low‐dose aspirin during 2002. This change in prescribing H 2 ‐receptor antagonists in users of enteric‐coated low‐dose aspirin began in the latter half of 2001. Proton pump inhibitors accounted for 0·31% of prescriptions in users of buffered low‐dose aspirin and 0·47% in users of enteric‐coated low‐dose aspirin, with this difference being statistically significant. Conclusion: The findings of the present study do not support the notion that enteric‐coated low‐dose aspirin reduces the risk of gastrointestinal complications and is safer than buffered low‐dose aspirin products. However the usual caution about making inferences from observational retrospective data is appropriate.