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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Prostate BPH / December 2007

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Aspirin to reduce prostate size

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Ray K - 03 Dec 2007 23:49 GMT
Have any of you started taking baby aspirin (or another non-steroidal
anti-inflammatory) for the specific purpose of reducing prostate size
(rather than as a general blood thinner for heart health or to reduce
inflammation)? Has it helped?

Here is one reference:

http://www.mayoclinic.org/news2006-rst/3612.html

You can google on "aspirin reduces prostate size" (without quotes) to
find other references.

Ray K.
Rich256 - 04 Dec 2007 03:17 GMT
> Have any of you started taking baby aspirin (or another non-steroidal
> anti-inflammatory) for the specific purpose of reducing prostate size
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
>
> Ray

I don't read that it reduces the size.  Only reduces symptoms and
perhaps delays growth.

I took apririn to thin my blood.  Since I am a bit older than most
that visit here, perhaps it delayed my need for surgery.

On the other hand if I had taken it specifically for "the purpose of
reducing size", maybe it would have worked!!:-).
Ray K - 04 Dec 2007 13:51 GMT
>> Have any of you started taking baby aspirin (or another non-steroidal
>> anti-inflammatory) for the specific purpose of reducing prostate size
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
> On the other hand if I had taken it specifically for "the purpose of
> reducing size", maybe it would have worked!!:-).

The third paragraph of the above reference reads:

"Jenny St. Sauver, Ph.D., Mayo Clinic epidemiologist and lead study
investigator, says, "The association between intake of NSAIDs and the
reduction of benign prostatic hyperplasia is strengthened by the
consistency and magnitude of our findings."

I suppose the meaning of "reduction of benigh prostatic hyperplasia"
could be debated.

I first became aware of aspirin for BPH from a book called Bottom Line's
Health Breakthroughs 2008, page 18, with a headline that screamed
"Amazing! Aspirin Shrinks Enlarged Prostate."

Anyway, it's something we may try on ourselves and simply observe the
effect, if any. Be careful if you're taking a prescription blood thinner.

Ray K.
Rich256 - 04 Dec 2007 15:31 GMT
> >> Have any of you started taking baby aspirin (or another non-steroidal
> >> anti-inflammatory) for the specific purpose of reducing prostate size
[quoted text clipped - 39 lines]
>
> - Show quoted text -

Flomax reduces the symptoms but I doubt that it has any effect on the
size of  the prostate.  Aspirin has less side effects except for the
possibility of ulcers.  I limit my intake of it to the 81mg (baby
aspirin) size.

What I find searching for what the Mayo Clinic published were the
words "prevent or delay benign prostatic hyperplasia, an enlarged
prostate which can cause urinary symptoms in men".  Nothing about
curing.

I read something a while ago that British have less problems with
ulcers caused by aspirin because they use powder.    The pill doesn't
lay in the stomach and burn a hole.   That seemed reasonable to me
except that a regular pill disolves fast.    Maybe a pill should be
disolved in water or use a part of an Alka-Seltzer (Broma Seltzer
still in business?).  Do like the Indians used to do, chew birch
bark.  It is supposed to contain the same ingrediants as aspirin.
Ray K - 05 Dec 2007 00:03 GMT
>>>> Have any of you started taking baby aspirin (or another non-steroidal
>>>> anti-inflammatory) for the specific purpose of reducing prostate size
[quoted text clipped - 34 lines]
> Flomax reduces the symptoms but I doubt that it has any effect on the
> size of  the prostate.  

Flowmax works by relaxing prostate muscles, not size.

Aspirin has less side effects except for the
> possibility of ulcers.  I limit my intake of it to the 81mg (baby
> aspirin) size.
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> prostate which can cause urinary symptoms in men".  Nothing about
> curing.

I would welcome a reduction in size, even if it didn't return to the
size it was 10 years ago.

> I read something a while ago that British have less problems with
> ulcers caused by aspirin because they use powder.    The pill doesn't
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> still in business?).  Do like the Indians used to do, chew birch
> bark.  It is supposed to contain the same ingrediants as aspirin.

I can't imagine an aspirin pill dissolving as fast as powder. The powder
has much more surface area. You can always take an enteric version that
doesn't dissolve until it's below the stomach.
Rich256 - 05 Dec 2007 04:04 GMT
> I would welcome a reduction in size, even if it didn't return to the
> size it was 10 years ago.

Up until just a short time ago I didn't believe there was anything
that could reduce the size.  For example as I understand, Flomax
doesn't reduce the size, it just relaxes the muscles.  Then Proscar
came along and it is supposed to really shrink it.  However  the side
effects may be worse than Flomax.  I didn't think it was worth it.

I would go with PVP again anytime.   Immediate relief with no
discomfort.

> I can't imagine an aspirin pill dissolving as fast as powder. The powder
> has much more surface area. You can always take an enteric version that
> doesn't dissolve until it's below the stomach.- Hide quoted text -

Drop a pill into a glass of water.  It starts disolving immediatly.
Wonder how far the enteric types go before they do disolve.
Peter - 06 Dec 2007 01:16 GMT
>>>>> Have any of you started taking baby aspirin (or another
>>>>> non-steroidal anti-inflammatory) for the specific purpose of
[quoted text clipped - 59 lines]
> powder has much more surface area. You can always take an enteric
> version that doesn't dissolve until it's below the stomach.

Hi guys...you are a little confused as to why NSAID's cause ulcers or
gastritis or erosions.  Granted there is a direct caustic effect on the
NSAID pill touching the mucosa.  But I believe that is not the main problem.
The main problem is that NSAID's work by blocking prostaglandins (of which
there are several types in the body).  An important one is a prostaglandin
needed to provide a healthy stomach mucosa that prevents acid from eating up
the stomach.  When you take NSAIDS they also block the prostaglandins needed
for the healthy stomach mucosa and therefore create the risk of getting
ulcers or erosions or gastritis.  So it is more of a "systemic" effect that
causes the problem rather than the topical effect of the pill touching the
mucosa.  I thought you knew that Rich :-) .  I have no idea what the ratios
are of which one does the most damage (eg 70/30, 60/40 etc).  But I
definitely believe the systemic effect is the bigger cause, and I think it
is significantly bigger.

Merry Christmas to all...Pete
Ed - 06 Dec 2007 06:03 GMT
>>>>>> Have any of you started taking baby aspirin (or another
>>>>>> non-steroidal anti-inflammatory) for the specific purpose of
[quoted text clipped - 74 lines]
>definitely believe the systemic effect is the bigger cause, and I think it
>is significantly bigger.

Yeah, now that you mention it, I seem to remember something like this.
Anyway, lots of people have tried to dissolve or buffer aspirin
without much success in reducing ulcer formation.

>Merry Christmas to all...Pete

It's nowhere close to Christmas! Happy St. Nicholas day, though.
(Falls on Dec. 6.)

Ed
Mark Cleary - 08 Dec 2007 16:34 GMT
Ed,

A fellow Catholic on the newsgroup cool.

Deacon Mark

>>>>>>> Have any of you started taking baby aspirin (or another
>>>>>>> non-steroidal anti-inflammatory) for the specific purpose of
[quoted text clipped - 90 lines]
>
> Ed
Ed - 09 Dec 2007 04:33 GMT
Heh, no, not Catholic. I'm just aware that Santa Claus is derived from
Saint Nicolas, and his day is Dec. 6.

I like Christmas, but I think it is one day, namely Dec. 25, and not a
whole month.

Unfortunately Christmas is SO big now, it is engulfing Hanukkah and is
almost doing that to the U.S. Thanksgiving. (And long ago conquered
St. Nicolas day.) To me, Christmas is way out of bounds.

In a couple weeks I will begin my Christmas shopping.

My favorite day of the year is Jan. 2... when things go back to
normal.

Just to stay on topic: keep a cool prostate!

Ed

>Ed,
>
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
>>
>> Ed
Derek F - 06 Dec 2007 23:27 GMT
>> >> Have any of you started taking baby aspirin (or another non-steroidal
>> >> anti-inflammatory) for the specific purpose of reducing prostate size
[quoted text clipped - 57 lines]
> still in business?).  Do like the Indians used to do, chew birch
> bark.  It is supposed to contain the same ingrediants as aspirin.

The powder aspirins are as far as I know high strength (Askit and Beechams
Powder) taken as a cold/flu remedy in England and as a hangover cure in
Scotland:-)  Surely you must have soluble aspirin in America as well as
enteric coated ones. I started taking a baby aspirin to protect my heart
long before my prostate was diagnosed as being large in 1994.
Derek.
Rich256 - 07 Dec 2007 00:38 GMT
> > I read something a while ago that British have less problems with
> > ulcers caused by aspirin because they use powder.    The pill doesn't
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
>
> - Show quoted text -

I don't know if there is any powder available.  Probabaly would have
to special order.   The closest might be Alka Seltzer (Broma Seltzer
still around?).

Also market (500 mg with caffeine) and Aspirin PM (500 mg with
Diphenhydramine citrate ).

And I guess a lot of Buffered aspirin which just has some calcium
carbonate added.
null - 09 Dec 2007 23:22 GMT
Yeah brilliant - CAFFEINE - that is about the LAST thing anyone with
BPH needs, LOL!

>Also market (500 mg with caffeine) and Aspirin PM (500 mg with
Diphenhydramine citrate ).

>And I guess a lot of Buffered aspirin which just has some calcium
carbonate added.

>> > I read something a while ago that British have less problems with
>> > ulcers caused by aspirin because they use powder.    The pill doesn't
[quoted text clipped - 22 lines]
>And I guess a lot of Buffered aspirin which just has some calcium
>carbonate added.
Ed - 06 Dec 2007 05:57 GMT
>Have any of you started taking baby aspirin (or another non-steroidal
>anti-inflammatory) for the specific purpose of reducing prostate size
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>You can google on "aspirin reduces prostate size" (without quotes) to
>find other references.

Amazing. I wouldn't have believed it had it not come from the Mayo
Clinic.

But there was a time that I did believe it. A couple of times in the
last few years my doc put me on Ibuprofen (for reasons unrelated to
the prostate) and when I came off the Ibu, I ended up with urinary
retention. Kind of makes sense when you think of the NSAID reducing
inflammation, and that could possibly calm the prostate, and some
inflammation returning when you stop.

But I mentioned these experiences to my uro and he categorically
denied them. "Coincidence", he said. Apparently there were earlier
studies that found no benefit. So I dismissed the effect.

Now it seems that this latest study does find a benefit, but it is
still unclear exactly what that benefit is. Might be a good thing to
take those baby aspirins for now.

Ed
 
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