Which Is Better: Vazalore or Traditional Over-the-Counter Aspirin?
Key takeaways:
Valazore, a new type of aspirin, was FDA-approved in March 2021 and is available over the counter (OTC).
Compared to traditional aspirin, Vazalore has been shown to cause fewer stomach-related side effects, such as ulcers and damage to the stomach.
Vazalore and traditional aspirin work the same way to treat the same conditions, including helping to prevent blood clots that lead to heart attacks or strokes.
“Aspirin made amazing!™” — at least that’s what the manufacturer of Vazalore (aspirin) claims of its product. Vazalore is the first and only liquid-filled aspirin capsule. It was FDA-approved in March 2021 and is available over-the-counter (OTC).
Aspirin is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that can be used to treat pain, fever, and inflammation. Some people also use it to prevent heart-related problems caused by blood clots. This includes heart attacks and strokes.
But what makes Vazalore so different? And how does it compare with traditional aspirin? In this article, we’ll explore the differences between Vazalore and traditional aspirin and whether one is better than the other.
What is Vazalore typically prescribed for?
Vazalore can treat the same conditions as traditional aspirin. This isn’t surprising because it works the same way as any other OTC aspirin. Let’s go over Vazalore’s uses.
Pain relief and fever reduction
The higher dose of Vazalore (325 mg) works by blocking certain chemicals in your body that cause pain, fever, and swelling. It can lower a fever and treat minor aches and pains, such as:
Headaches
Muscle or body aches
Mild to moderate menstrual cramps
Osteoarthritis pain
Toothaches
Heart attack and stroke prevention
Low dose (81 mg) Valazore is recommended for heart attack or stroke prevention for people who have already experienced them. Vazalore can also be prescribed for heart attack or stroke prevention in people who haven’t had one in the past. But this is only recommended for certain people who have a higher risk of these problems.
It’s important to discuss daily aspirin use with your healthcare provider before starting Vazalore. Taking aspirin for heart attack or stroke prevention may not be right for you. Since aspirin thins the blood, it can cause life-threatening bleeding. Take aspirin as exactly as directed by your healthcare provider to lessen the risk of serious side effects.
What are the biggest differences between Vazalore and traditional aspirin?
Traditional aspirin is available in several different strengths and forms. This includes tablets, chewable tablets, and suppositories. Furthermore, aspirin tablets come in immediate-release (IR), enteric-coated (EC), and buffered versions.
Vazalore is an IR aspirin, available as 81 mg and 325 mg capsules.
Why are there different forms of aspirin?
Taking aspirin can cause stomach-related side effects, such as ulcers, stomach pain, and gastrointestinal bleeding. These side effects often cause people to stop taking aspirin. But doing so could put them at risk for a heart attack or stroke.
Researchers have created different forms of aspirin, including Vazalore, to lower the risk of these side effects. The biggest difference between Vazalore and traditional aspirin is how they’re absorbed in your body.
Why does it matter where aspirin is absorbed?
IR aspirin works pretty quickly and is absorbed in the stomach. But it’s thought contact with the stomach may raise the risk of stomach-related side effects. Buffered aspirin is also absorbed in the stomach, but it contains antacids. These help lower the acid content of the stomach and are supposed to limit these side effects. However, studies have shown that buffered aspirin may not actually lower this risk.
EC aspirin has a protective covering on the tablet that slows down the release of the medication. This allows the tablet to pass through the stomach and get absorbed by the small intestine instead. By avoiding contact with the stomach, the goal is to lower the risk of stomach-related side effects. But like buffered aspirin, EC aspirin may also not lower the risk of these side effects.
Like EC aspirin, Valazore passes through the stomach and gets absorbed in the small intestine. But it’s different because it’s an IR form of aspirin. The capsule is specially designed not to dissolve in the acidic environment of the stomach. Instead, it dissolves and releases the aspirin only when it reaches the small intestine. Vazalore was specifically created to work quickly but still protect the stomach.
Is Vazalore better than traditional aspirin for preventing clots?
Platelets are blood cells that normally clump together to form a clot that stops bleeding. But if these clots form in the wrong blood vessels, it can lead to dangerous conditions, such as heart attacks and strokes. Aspirin helps prevent these platelets from sticking together, so it works by preventing blood clots.
Studies comparing IR aspirin and Vazalore have shown that Vazalore works just as well as IR aspirin when it comes to preventing clots. Additionally, this same study compared EC aspirin with Vazalore. It showed that people who took Vazalore achieved full clot prevention faster than those taking EC aspirin.
It’s thought that EC aspirin didn’t work as well because the medication wasn’t completely absorbed by the body. In fact, full EC aspirin absorption into the body is often not very reliable.
Is Vazalore safer than traditional aspirin?
All forms of aspirin carry certain risks. Generally speaking, Vazalore has the same risks as traditional aspirin. Let’s review some of the most notable aspirin risks.
Stomach-related side effects
Vazalore was created specifically with stomach protection in mind. Studies showed that people that took Vazalore had less stomach damage and fewer stomach ulcers than those who took IR aspirin after 7 days of treatment.
But Vazalore, like traditional aspirin, contains a warning that it can cause stomach bleeding. This is because Vazalore is still an NSAID. All NSAIDs can have a negative effect on substances that help protect the stomach lining.
The chance of stomach bleeding with aspirin is higher if you:
Are an older adult
Have a history of stomach ulcers or bleeding
Take other medications that raise the risk of bleeding, such as warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven) or clopidogrel (Plavix)
Take other NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and celecoxib (Celebrex)
Take higher doses of aspirin
Drinking 3 or more alcoholic beverages per day while taking aspirin can also raise the risk of stomach or intestinal ulcers and bleeding. This is because alcohol also irritates the stomach and intestines. So it’s best to limit or avoid alcohol while taking aspirin.
Use in pregnancy
Generally, NSAIDs, including traditional aspirin and Vazalore, shouldn’t be used in pregnancy at 20 weeks or later. This is because it may cause harm to an unborn baby.
But there are instances in which low-dose aspirin (81 mg) is recommended for people who are pregnant. Aspirin may be suggested if a woman is at a higher risk for a dangerous condition called preeclampsia. This condition can cause high blood pressure and life-threatening organ damage during pregnancy.
Make sure to discuss with your healthcare provider about whether or not aspirin is safe for you to take during pregnancy.
Use in children and Reye syndrome
Traditional aspirin and Vazalore can be used in children and adolescents under 19 years old for certain medical conditions. But they shouldn’t be used in children or teenagers who are recovering from a viral infection, with or without a fever. Doing so can cause a serious condition called Reye's syndrome, which causes liver damage, brain swelling, and even death. Talk to your healthcare provider about this risk before giving your child or teen aspirin.
Do Vazalore and traditional aspirin have the same side effects?
For the most part, yes. Since the active ingredient in Vazalore is aspirin, its side effects are similar to those of traditional aspirin. In a study comparing Vazalore to IR aspirin, there were no differences in common side effects between the two medications. People that took both had nausea, indigestion, or heartburn that went away in 1 to 3 days.
The biggest difference, as detailed above, is that Vazalore appears to cause less stomach damage and fewer stomach ulcers than IR aspirin.
The bottom line
Vazalore is similar to traditional aspirin in many ways. It provides the same benefits of aspirin in treating pain, inflammation, or fevers and preventing dangerous blood clots. But it may be an option if you need more stomach protection. Before you start treatment with any type of aspirin, discuss it with your healthcare provider to make sure it’s safe for you to use.
Why trust our experts?
References
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PLx Pharma Inc. (2021). PLx Pharma receives FDA approval of SNDAs for both VAZALORE 325 mg and 81 mg.
PLx Pharma Inc. (2021). Vazalore [package insert].
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. (2016). Aspirin Use to Prevent Cardiovascular Disease and Colorectal Cancer: Preventive Medication.
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