Evaluation of a potential drug interaction between sucralfate and aspirin

Recent studies have demonstrated a cytoprotective effect of sucralfate on gastric mucosa in patients receiving aspirin. The potential drug interaction between sucralfate and aspirin was evaluated in a randomized crossover manner in 12 healthy men. Subjects were initially given a single dose of aspirin alone or in combination with sucralfate for 2 days. The drug dosing schedule was then reversed after 1 week. Sixteen blood samples were drawn after each aspirin dose for HPLC assay of aspirin and its metabolites. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated for aspirin, salicylic acid, and salicyluric acid. None of these parameters demonstrated any statistically significant differences between the two treatment groups. The combined use of sucralfate and aspirin is therefore not likely to result in a clinically significant pharmacokinetic drug interaction. The systemic therapeutic effect of aspirin is not expected to be altered when sucralfate is used concurrently in patients receiving chronic aspirin therapy.