January 3, 2026
Skip-a-dose, start a war
A comparison of benefits from every-third-day vs. daily low-dose aspirin therapy
Skip-a-day aspirin sparks a comment brawl—safer hearts or sketchy science
TLDR: Study suggests taking aspirin every third day can match daily baby aspirin in blocking clotting signals. Commenters split between cheering fewer side effects and doubting government-backed science, while newbies ask why take aspirin at all—important because it hints at safer prevention, but you should ask a doctor first.
New research says you might not need a daily aspirin after all: taking it every third day (either 325 mg or 81 mg) blocked the same clot-making chemical as a daily baby aspirin. walterbell cheered the idea of fewer ulcers and nosebleeds, while skeptics rolled in asking, “Are NIH and CDC studies even real science?” dzdt’s trust issues went viral, spawning jokes about “government aspirin” and “Big Pill calendars.” Others flexed receipts, with sathomasga dropping a 2015 follow‑up that backed the same vibe: third‑day dosing still keeps platelets sleepy.
The practical crowd asked the obvious: polishdude20 wondered why anyone takes aspirin regularly in the first place. Commenters explained in plain speak: some adults use low‑dose aspirin to lower heart attack and stroke risk, but it can cause bleeding, so a less‑often schedule could matter. Oh, and memes. The “M/W/F aspirin bros” vs. “daily diehards” traded jabs, and someone suggested an “every-third-day reminder app” with confetti for not bleeding. The hottest take: don’t be your own pharmacist—talk to a doctor before calendar‑hacking your meds. Still, the mood was spicy: if every-third-day delivers equal protection with fewer tummy troubles, this could be a blockbuster shift—and the comment wars won’t cool anytime soon
Key Points
- •Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 109 healthy adults compared aspirin dosing schedules.
- •325 mg aspirin every third day achieved 86% thromboxane B2 inhibition, similar to 81 mg daily at 85%.
- •81 mg aspirin every third day produced 74% inhibition, indicating substantial platelet COX-1 suppression.
- •40 mg aspirin every third day achieved only 50% inhibition, showing reduced potency.
- •Authors suggest every-third-day low-dose regimens (325 mg, 81 mg) deserve clinical comparison with daily dosing for potential equal efficacy and reduced toxicity.