Acetylsalicylic acid – action, dosage, use, contraindications, interactions, side effects

Proven content

Acetylsalicylic acid is another name for aspirin, a commonly used pain reliever. The earliest known uses of this drug date back to the time of the Greek physician Hippocrates in the XNUMXth century BC. He used a powder extracted from willow bark to treat pain and reduce fever.

Acetylsalicylic acid – action

Acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). It was the first drug in its class to be discovered.

Acetylsalicylic acid contains salicylate, a compound found in plants such as willow and myrtle. Its use was first recorded about 4000 years ago. Hippocrates used willow bark to relieve pain and fever, and even today some people still use willow bark as a natural remedy for headaches and minor pain.

NSAIDs are a class of drugs with the following effects:

1. pain relief;
2. lowering the fever;
3. lowering inflammation at higher doses.

It should be added that NSAIDs are not steroids. Steroids often have similar benefits to NSAIDs, but are not suitable for everyone and can cause unwanted side effects. As a pain reliever, NSAIDs do not make you feel insensitive or dull.

See also: Poisoning with salicylic acid derivatives

Acetylsalicylic acid – application

Acetylsalicylic acid has many uses, including relieving pain and swelling, managing a variety of conditions, and reducing the risk of cardiovascular events in people at high risk.

Acetylsalicylic acid for pain and swelling

Acetylsalicylic acid can relieve mild to moderate pain, swelling, or both from many health problems, such as:

1. headaches;
2. cold or flu;
3. sprains and dislocations;
4. menstrual cramps;
5. long-term health conditions such as arthritis and migraine.

If you are in severe pain, your doctor may advise you to use acetylsalicylic acid together with another drug, such as an opioid pain reliever or other NSAID.

See also: How to relieve menstrual discomfort? The most effective natural ways

Acetylsalicylic acid and the prevention of cardiovascular events

Daily use of low-dose acetylsalicylic acid may reduce the risk of cardiovascular events in some people – but it is not safe for everyone.

In people at high risk of cardiovascular events, a low dose of acetylsalicylic acid can reduce this risk by preventing the formation of blood clots.

Your doctor may recommend a low-dose aspirin daily for people who:

1. have heart or blood vessel disease;
2. have evidence of poor blood flow to the brain;
3. have high blood cholesterol;
4. have high blood pressure or hypertension;
5. has diabetes;
6. chump.

However, for people without these problems, the risks of long-term use of acetylsalicylic acid may outweigh the benefits.

In a 2016 recommendation, the United States Preventive Services Task Force concluded that adults aged 50–59 can take aspirin daily to help prevent colon cancer and cardiovascular disease. However, these guidelines only cover adults in the age range who:

1. have at least 10% 10-year risk of developing cardiovascular disease;
2. do not have a high risk of bleeding;
3. have a life expectancy of at least 10 years;
4. are willing to take a low daily dose for at least 10 years.

See also: What do blood clots in the urine show?

Acetylsalicylic acid and the treatment of heart attacks

Doctors may administer acetylsalicylic acid immediately after a heart attack, stroke, or other cardiovascular event to prevent further blood clots and death of the heart tissue.

Acetylsalicylic acid can also be part of a treatment plan for people who have recently had:

1. revascularization surgery such as angioplasty or coronary bypass surgery;
2. mini stroke or transient ischemic attack;
3. ischemic stroke caused by a blood clot.

See also: Coronary angiography of the heart – indications, course. How to prepare for coronary angiography? [WE EXPLAIN]

Acetylsalicylic acid – other uses

Acetylsalicylic acid can also help treat pain and swelling associated with the following chronic conditions:

1. rheumatic conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and other inflammatory conditions of the joints;
2. systemic lupus erythematosus;
3. inflammation around the heart, known as pericarditis.

Doctors may recommend low-dose acetylsalicylic acid to people:

1. with damage to the retina, also called retinopathy;
2. with diabetes for over 10 years;
3. taking antihypertensive drugs;
4. with the risk of colon cancer.

Acetylsalicylic acid – contraindications

People with the following medical conditions should exercise caution when taking acetylsalicylic acid, and should only do so if prescribed by their doctor:

1. coagulation disorders such as haemophilia as acetylsalicylic acid thins the blood;
2. uncontrolled high blood pressure;
3. asthma, as acetylsalicylic acid may cause an attack of breathlessness;
4. gastric and duodenal ulcers, as acetylsalicylic acid reduces the secretion of protective mucus by the gastric walls;
5. diabetes, as the acid increases the effect of antidiabetic drugs, which can lead to a significant reduction in blood glucose levels and you may feel faint.

Under the supervision of a physician, pregnant or breastfeeding women may take low-dose aspirin. Doctors usually do not recommend a high dose of acetylsalicylic acid during pregnancy as it can pass into your milk and may harm your baby.

Anyone with an allergy to acetylsalicylic acid or any other NSAID such as ibuprofen should avoid these medications.

Doctors also do not administer acetylsalicylic acid during a stroke, as not all strokes are caused by blood clots. In some cases, acetylsalicylic acid can make stroke worse.

Anyone who regularly drinks alcohol or undergoes dental or surgical treatment (even minor) should ask a doctor before taking acetylsalicylic acid so that it does not disturb the clotting process.

See also: When is breathlessness a serious illness? [WE EXPLAIN]

Acetylsalicylic acid – is it safe for children?

Doctors usually do not recommend aspirin to anyone under the age of 18. This is because it can increase the risk of a serious condition called Reye’s syndrome, which can occur after a viral infection such as a cold, flu or chicken pox. Reye’s syndrome can lead to permanent brain damage or death.

However, a doctor may prescribe acetylsalicylic acid for a child under supervision if they have Kawasaki disease or to prevent blood clots from forming after heart surgery.

For children, doctors usually recommend acetaminophen (Paracetamol) or ibuprofen in appropriate doses instead of acetylsalicylic acid.

See also: Coronavirus can cause Kawasaki syndrome

Acetylsalicylic acid – dosage

The use of acetylsalicylic acid in low doses minimizes its side effects. The use of micro doses of the drug is accepted (not less than 75 mg and not more than 100–160 mg per day) for the treatment of choice.

It should be added here that the use of acetylsalicylic acid in the prophylaxis of thrombosis brings the desired effects only after a few days of taking the drug. During the first days of treatment, you take up to 320 mg of the drug per day. Later the dose is reduced.

It should be remembered that the dose prescribed by the doctor must not be changed on your own, because an excess of acetylsalicylic acid may cause harmful effects to your health.

Acetylsalicylic acid – symptoms of overdose

Acetylsalicylic acid, like any drug, can be overdosed, which at first manifests itself:

1. dizziness;
2. tinnitus;
3. nausea;
4. vomiting;
5. impaired hearing and vision.

Over time, metabolic acidosis, convulsions, coma, collapse or renal failure may occur. In extreme cases (high dose of acetylsalicylic acid) it can be fatal.

See also: Pharmacological coma – what is it? How is a patient put into a pharmacological coma? [WE EXPLAIN]

Acetylsalicylic acid – drug interactions

An interaction may be that one drug reduces the effectiveness of another, or the combination of drugs may be dangerous.

Acetylsalicylic acid can interact with many medications. Here are some of them.

1. Pain relievers with anti-inflammatory effects: for example, diclofenac, ibuprofen and naproxen. When combined with acetylsalicylic acid, these types of medications can increase the risk of stomach bleeding.
2. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and other antidepressants: Examples include citalopram, fluoxetine, paroxetine, venlafaxine, and sertraline. When combined with acetylsalicylic acid, any of them may increase the risk of bleeding.
3. Warfarin: When combined with this blood thinner, acetylsalicylic acid may reduce the anticoagulant effect of the drug and increase the risk of bleeding. However, there are situations where this combination can be beneficial.
4. Methotrexate: When used in conjunction with this drug to treat cancer and certain autoimmune diseases, acetylsalicylic acid can inhibit drug elimination, potentially causing toxic levels of methotrexate.

Before use, read the leaflet, which contains indications, contraindications, data on side effects and dosage as well as information on the use of the medicinal product, or consult your doctor or pharmacist, as each drug used improperly is a threat to your life or health. Do you need a medical consultation or an e-prescription? Go to halodoctor.pl, where you will get online help – quickly, safely and without leaving your home.