Aspirin – action, indications, dosage, contraindications, side effects

Proven content

Aspirin treats many ailments. It is commonly used as an antipyretic, analgesic and in the treatment of colds or even hangovers. Moreover, Aspirin is an excellent prevention of cardiovascular diseases. What action does Aspirin show? What are the indications and contraindications for its use and what side effects can it cause? How to take this preparation and with what drugs not to combine it? Is it safe to use Aspirin during pregnancy and in what cases?

Aspirin is an over-the-counter pharmaceutical found in most home medicine chests. It has been used for over 120 years, and its popularity is evidenced by the fact that this drug has been entered in the Guinness Book of Records as the most frequently purchased painkiller in the world.

Aspirin, or acetylsalicylic acid, is a derivative of salicylic acid, which is its safer alternative. The drug is popular with both patients and doctors.

Aspirin – general information about the drug

Aspirin (from German Aspirin) is the colloquial name of acetylsalicylic acid (Latin acidum acetylsalicylicum). The name Aspirin is also replaced by the abbreviation ASA (acetylsalicylic acid). Acetylsalicylic acid is an organic chemical compound derived from salicylic acid.

Aspirin is one of the most popular drugs with analgesic, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory properties, and with long-term use of anticoagulants.

Aspirin is a single-component and simple drug based on acetylsalicylic acid, which is also an ingredient in many other combination medications. Acetylsalicylic acid has been used for over 120 years, and aspirin is one of the oldest and most popular drugs in the world.

The merit of the discovery of acetylsalicylic acid is commonly attributed to Felix Hoffman, although it was probably an employee of the Bayer-Artur Eichengrün laboratory who isolated acetylsalicylic acid. A few years after the synthesis of this compound, Bayer introduced it into medicine under the name Aspirin. The drug has been sold since 1899.

For many years, Aspirin was the undisputed queen of drugs, which was used in various diseases, especially in bone and joint pain. During this time, it has been subjected to many studies, thanks to which the mechanism of its anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic effects has been recognized. Moreover, in recent years, it has been shown that Aspirin may be effective in many other situations, such as the prevention of cardiovascular events, in the prevention of cancer and in the course of pregnancy.

The medicine is presented as 12 mm, white to off-white, round, biconvex, film-coated tablets debossed with “BA 500” on one side and “Bayer cross” on the other side.

Aspirin preparation is available at a pharmacy without a prescription and can be sold in packages containing 4, 8, 12, 20, 24, 60, 80 coated tablets in a cardboard box. One tablet contains 500 mg of acetylsalicylic acid as well as cellulose and corn starch. The drug should be stored at room temperature, out of the reach and sight of children.

Bayer is responsible for the production and distribution of Aspirin. It is a German chemical and pharmaceutical company founded in 1863 by Friedrich Bayer and Johann Friedrich Weskott. Initially, the company was based in Barmen, and since 1912 it has been Leverkusen, located north of Cologne.

Can Aspirin Be Taken Daily? Check: Confusion over aspirin. Should we take it every day? [WE EXPLAIN]

Aspirin – the action of the drug

Aspirin’s mechanism of action at the time of its introduction to the market, it was not fully known. It was expected to act on the central nervous system to reduce fever and relieve pain. The exact description of the drug’s mechanism of action dates back to the 60s and 70s. century.

Acetylsalicylic acid inhibits the enzymatic activity of Cyclooxygenase (COX). Cyclooxygenase is an enzyme that participates in the transformation of arachidonic acid and participates in the formation of prostanoids such as: prostaglandins (among the mediators of inflammation and thus responsible, among others, for the intensification of the inflammatory process in the body), prostacyclin and thromboxane (responsible for the aggregation of blood platelets ).

There are two forms of this enzyme in the body: Cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1), which is found in many tissues under physiological conditions, including platelets, kidneys, blood vessels and the stomach, and Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), the activity of which it increases during the inflammatory process in the body.

The action of Aspirin it consists in inhibiting the enzymatic activity of COX-2, reducing the production of prostaglandins and thus reducing the formation of inflammation and its intensity. In addition, by inhibiting COX-1 in platelets, it stops the production of thromboxane and thus reduces the ability of platelets to aggregate, acting as a cardioprotective.

What are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and when should you use them? Check: NSAIDs – non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

Aspirin – indications for use

Aspirin is a drug that belongs to the group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. This agent can be found in almost every home medicine cabinet due to the wide possibilities of using acetylsalicylic acid.

Traditionally, Aspirin has been used to treat pain of mild to moderate intensity. Among them, there are: headaches, pain in muscles and joints, and toothache. In addition, it is widely used in the symptomatic treatment of pain and fever that accompany flu and colds.

Acetylsalicylic acid, in addition to the above indications, can prevent the development of many civilization diseases and alleviate their effects. Aspirin is used in the prevention and in the course of cardiovascular diseases, such as atherosclerosis or myocardial infarction. The agent inhibits the formation of blood clots that can block the lumen of the arteries.

Acetylsalicylic acid is also recommended for people who suffer from transient ischemic attacks that can cause a stroke. Due to its action, aspirin reduces the risk of a heart attack and stroke, and in the event of its occurrence, it acts as an auxiliary, reducing the risk of the patient’s death.

Acetylsalicylic acid may also be used in pregnant women with a sudden increase in blood pressure and the so-called pre-eclampsia, which, if left untreated, can become dangerous for the mother and the baby. The use of Aspirin by pregnant women may only be practiced under the supervision and on the order of a gynecologist after performing an ultrasound examination.

In addition, pregnant women with chronic kidney disease may use Aspirin to reduce the risk of pre-eclampsia, premature birth and inhibit the child’s intrauterine development. To this end, they should start using acetylsalicylic acid in a dose of 16–100 mg / day before the 150th week of pregnancy.

Aspirin is also used by people suffering from diabetes. It is a measure that can prevent diabetes complications, including sealing of small coronary vessels.

In addition, Aspirin can reduce the risk of developing venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism by half after surgery, while after bypass surgery, it can reduce the occlusion of a new blood vessel.

Aspirin is also used as a home remedy for skin imperfections such as blackheads and mild acne due to the keratolytic (exfoliating) properties of acetylsalicylic acid.

Is Aspirin Safe for Elderly Patients? Check: Aspirin is not for all seniors. When can it “do more harm than good”?

Aspirin – contraindications to the use of the drug

Aspirin, which is a universal preparation with many medicinal properties, cannot always be used in every patient. The main contraindication to the use of this drug is hypersensitivity to salicylates. Contraindications to the use of Aspirin also include certain diseases and circumstances that may require the complete abandonment of this preparation or a change in its dosage.

Aspirin is contraindicated:

1. in people suffering from gastric or duodenal ulcers, as acetylsalicylic acid reduces the secretion of protective mucus by the gastric walls;
2. in lactating women who are breastfeeding, as acetylsalicylic acid passes into breast milk and may be dangerous for the baby;
3. in children up to 12 years of age, as the acid may cause dangerous Reye’s syndrome;
4. in people with asthma, as acetylsalicylic acid may cause breathlessness;
5. in people with bleeding disorders such as haemophilia or von Willebrand’s disease and taking anticoagulants because acetylsalicylic acid thin the blood;
6. in people waiting for surgery, in the period from 7 to 10 days before surgery, because Aspirin may interfere with the blood clotting process;
7. in women with menstruation as it may make the bleeding worse.

Before using Aspirin, read the leaflet that contains contraindications to the use of the medicinal product, or consult a doctor or pharmacist, as any drug used improperly may pose a threat to life or health.

What unusual properties does Aspirin exhibit? Read on: Unusual properties of aspirin. It helps fight ulcers and cancer

Aspirin – Possible Side Effects

Aspirin, despite its huge popularity, like any other drug, can cause side effects that do not have to occur in every person using this drug.

After authorization of the medicinal product, it is important to report any suspected adverse reactions so that the benefit / risk balance of the medicinal product can be monitored.

In the case of Aspirin, the side effects that may occur are related to the body’s various reactions to acetylsalicylic acid.

The most frequently reported are gastrointestinal complaints: indigestion, heartburn, abdominal pain and vomiting. Among those that occur less frequently there are:

1. tinnitus, headache and dizziness;
2. elevated liver enzymes that usually go away after stopping treatment;
3. kidney disorders;
4. prolonged bleeding time;
5. disturbance of the immune system (respiratory disorders, vascular disorders, edema with a concomitant narrowing of the airways, urticaria and a sudden drop in blood pressure);
6. inflammation of the gastric mucosa;
7. gastric or duodenal ulcer.

Particular attention should be paid to the use of Aspirin in the elderly, as it has been found that prophylactic administration of low doses of aspirin significantly increases the risk of hemorrhages, without reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

In addition, regular use of Aspirin may increase the risk of wet macular degeneration (AMD), regardless of whether you are a smoker or have a history of cardiovascular disease.

Although Aspirin may cause side effects, it should be remembered that the expected benefits of using this drug are usually greater than the harm resulting from the occurrence of side effects. If you experience any of the above or other side effects, please inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.

How to use Aspirin for seniors? Check: Aspirin not for seniors. Can a popular drug be dangerous?

Aspirin – a method of taking and dosing the drug

The dosage of Aspirin depends on the indication and the age of the person who uses it. The dose should be determined by the doctor or should be in accordance with the information contained in the package leaflet.

Adults can take from 500 mg to 1000 mg of acetylsalicylic acid at one time, i.e. about 1-2 tablets of Aspirin. The maximum daily dose for an adult should not exceed 4 g (i.e. 8 tablets).

In the case of children and adolescents over 12 years of age, a single dose is a maximum of 500 mg of Aspirin, but only on the doctor’s prescription, not exceeding a dose exceeding 1500 mg per day.

In the prophylaxis of thrombosis, the desired effect is achieved after a few days of taking Aspirin, therefore, for the first days of treatment, up to 320 mg of the drug is used daily, systematically reducing it in the following days.

In the case of using the agent in this indication, you cannot change the dose determined by the doctor yourself, because the excess of ASA can cause harmful effects to health.

However, in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases, it is recommended to use acetylsalicylic acid in a dose of 75 mg per day. This dose is safe and, at the same time, sufficient to achieve the desired health effect.

If a heart attack is suspected, your doctor may recommend a higher dose of 300 mg, which must be chewed thoroughly to help the body absorb the medicine more quickly.

Aspirin should be taken orally, after meals, with plenty of liquid. The drug should not be used without consulting a doctor for a period longer than 3-5 days. It should be used exactly as stated in the package leaflet or according to the doctor’s or pharmacist’s instructions. If you have any doubts, immediately ask your doctor or pharmacist for help.

What do Americans think about the daily use of Aspirin? Check: Daily dose of aspirin – yes or no?

Use of Aspirin during pregnancy and lactation

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, consult your doctor before taking any medication to explain all the potential risks and benefits of any medication. It is recommended that if a woman is pregnant, suspects that she may be pregnant or is planning to have a child, she should consult the use of aspirin with the attending physician.

In general, acetylsalicylic acid is not indicated during pregnancy and lactation. There are safer preparations available on the pharmaceutical market, such as ibuprofen or paracetamol.

Aspirin should not be used, especially in the third trimester of pregnancy, because it may have a toxic effect on the child’s body and increase the risk of perinatal complications. Moreover, in the first and second trimesters of pregnancy, the use of Aspirin is also not recommended, unless the doctor deems it necessary.

In this case, the use of Aspirin should be in the lowest possible doses and for the shortest possible time.

The lactation period, in which the woman breastfeeds the child, also excludes the use of Aspirin, and in the event of such necessity, weaning the child from the breast. This is because acetylsalicylic acid used in children under 12 years of age may cause Reye’s syndrome, which can cause liver and brain damage and is associated with high mortality in children.

In addition, acetylsalicylic acid used by a pregnant woman may lead to complications such as spina bifida in a child or premature closure of the Botalla duct.

Acetylsalicylic acid may be used in some pregnant women only under the supervision and order of a gynecologist. If the ultrasound examination performed in the first trimester of pregnancy shows a higher than 1: 150 risk of preeclampsia (preeclampsia).

The risk is calculated on the basis of parameters such as: current risk factors, blood pressure values, concentration of PAPP-A protein and PlGF (placental growth factor), as well as the value of pulsations in the uterine arteries.

In such cases, acid prophylaxis must begin before the 16th week of pregnancy, that is, before the end of the transformation of the spiral arteries of the uterus.

In the prophylaxis of pre-eclampsia, dosing of aspirin should be under medical supervision. Most often, a pregnant woman takes 100-150 mg of acetylsalicylic acid once a day in the evening.

This prophylaxis begins before the 16th week of pregnancy and continues until the 36th week of pregnancy.

Acetylsalicylic acid is a component of not only Aspirin, but also many other medications used in the event of flu-like symptoms. Therefore, before taking any medication, check its composition from the package leaflet or consult your doctor or pharmacist.

What is worth knowing about proper supplementation during pregnancy? Check: Conscious choices. Diet and supplementation in pregnancy

Aspirin- interactions with other drugs

Aspirin may interact with other pharmacological preparations. Particular care should be taken when taking certain medications, the effect of which may be enhanced by acetylsalicylic acid. These include:

1. methotrexate in doses less than 15 mg per week or more requires special care, otherwise bone marrow damage may occur;
2. anticoagulants, thrombolytic drugs (to dissolve the clot) and drugs that inhibit platelet aggregation (clumping) may increase the risk of prolonged bleeding time and haemorrhage;
3. corticosteroids, ibuprofen, other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, including other salicylates in high doses may lead to ulcer disease and bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract;
4. digoxin (a medicine for treating heart problems) as it increases its plasma levels;
5. anti-diabetic drugs e.g. insulin, sulfonylurea;
6. valproic acid (a drug used, among others, in epilepsy), which increases the anti-aggregating effect of acetylsalicylic acid;
7. selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.

In addition, aspirin can weaken the effects of drugs:

1. anti-addictive drugs used to treat gout, increasing the excretion of uric acid from the body (e.g. benzbromarone, probenecid), which may worsen the symptoms of gout;
2. diuretics and those which increase the urinary excretion of uric acid;
3. antihypertensive drugs (from the group of so-called angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors), especially when acetylsalicylic acid is used in high doses.

While taking Aspirin, it is not recommended to consume caffeine because it increases its concentration in the blood.

In addition, alcohol consumption should be avoided while taking Aspirin, because the risk of damage to the gastrointestinal mucosa increases, and it is also possible to increase the concentration of alcohol in the blood.

Acetylsalicylic acid, or the popular Aspirin, is one of the oldest drugs that made a brilliant career in pharmacology. However, it should be remembered that in combination with other pharmacological agents, substances or alcohol, it can cause undesirable consequences. Therefore, if you are taking the above-mentioned drugs, before taking Aspirin, you should contact your doctor to determine the appropriate dosage or to decide whether to stop taking a particular preparation.

What drugs should not be combined with each other? Check: Dangerous interactions