Aspirin

Common Name: acetylsalicylic acid (ASA)

How does Aspirin work?

Acetylsalicylic acid belongs to the groups of medicines called analgesics (pain relievers), antipyretics (fever reducers), anti-inflammatories (inflammation reducers), and platelet aggregation inhibitors (anti-clotting agents). It works quickly to relieve pain caused by conditions such as headaches, rheumatoid arthritis, and muscle pain and to reduce fever caused by infection. Unlike acetaminophen, which is also an analgesic and antipyretic, acetylsalicylic acid also reduces inflammation caused by various conditions. Acetylsalicylic acid prevents blood from clotting as easily as usual. This action helps ASA to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke in people who are at higher risk (e.g., people who have already had a heart attack or stroke). It is also used to prevent blood clots in people who have had a hip replacement. Ask your doctor if you might benefit from taking a preventative dose of ASA. Acetylsalicylic acid is also used to treat two relatively infrequent conditions called Kawasaki disease and rheumatic fever. Your doctor may choose to use this medication for other conditions not listed here. If you're unsure why you are taking this medication, please ask your doctor. When used in the uncoated form, ASA works quickly to relieve acute pain and fever. Coated tablets should not be used if quick response to conditions such as headache is desired. The coated tablets have been formulated in an effort to protect the stomach, for situations such as rheumatoid arthritis, where ASA needs to be taken on a regular basis.

How should I use Aspirin?

The recommended dose of ASA for adults varies widely according to the particular condition being treated. For treatment of pain or fever in adults, the recommended dose is 325 mg to 650 mg four to six times daily as necessary. This medication should not be used by children, teenagers, or young adults who have chickenpox or influenza because of the risk of getting a serious disease called Reye's syndrome. Reye's syndrome can cause serious brain and liver damage. However, if recommended by a doctor in other circumstances, the recommended dose is 10 mg to 15 mg per kg of body weight every four to six hours as needed to a maximum of 2400 mg in one day. For adults suffering from diseases caused by inflammation such as rheumatoid arthritis, the recommended dose is 2400 mg to 3600 mg daily taken in divided doses on a regular basis. Because ASA often causes stomach irritation and upset, the tablets used for treating chronic diseases are enteric-coated. This special coating prevents the tablet from dissolving until it has passed the stomach and moved into the intestine. The dose of ASA used to prevent blood clotting ranges from 80 mg daily to 1500 mg daily in one to four doses for prevention of heart attack, and to 1300 mg daily in two to four divided doses for prevention of transient ischemic attacks (TIAs). For prevention of blood clotting in blood vessels used for heart bypass surgery, the recommended dose of ASA is 100 mg to 975 mg daily. Many things can affect the dose of medication that a person needs, such as body weight, other medical conditions, and other medications. If your doctor has recommended a dose different from the ones listed here, do not change the way you are taking the medication without talking to your doctor. Always take ASA exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Except for the enteric-coated products, acetylsalicylic tablets should be taken with food to prevent stomach upset. This medicine is generally used as needed for pain or fever, except in the case of inflammatory conditions and some other chronic conditions, when it is often taken on a regular basis in order to keep pain and inflammation under control. In these circumstances, if you miss a dose of this medicine and you remember within an hour or so of the missed dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, if you do not remember until it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses. When used for self-medication of pain, ASA should not be used for longer than 10 days by adults unless advised by a doctor. When used for fever, ASA should not be used for fever greater than 39.5°C (103°F) or for longer than three days unless advised by a doctor. Store ASA medications at room temperature and protect from moisture and light. Do not take ASA products if they have a strong, vinegar smell to them. This means the medicine is breaking down.

What form(s) does Aspirin come in?

Aspirin® is available in many different dosage forms. Aspirin Tablets, 325 mg: Each white tablet, with "BAYER" crossing "BAYER" on both sides, contains ASA 325 mg. Nonmedicinal ingredients: cornstarch, FD&C Blue No. 2, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, potassium sorbate, titanium dioxide, triacetin, and xanthan gum. This medication does not contain alcohol, lactose, paraben, sodium, sulfite, or tartrazine. Aspirin Caplets, 325 mg: Each white, capsule-shaped tablet (caplet), with "BAYER" on one side and a score on the other, contains ASA 325 mg. Nonmedicinal ingredients: cornstarch, FD&C Blue No. 2, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, potassium sorbate, titanium dioxide, triacetin, and xanthan gum. This medication does not contain alcohol, lactose, paraben, sodium, sulfite, or tartrazine. Aspirin Extra Strength Tablets, 500 mg: Each white tablet, with "BAYER" crossing "BAYER" in red ink on one side, contains ASA 500 mg. Nonmedicinal ingredients: cornstarch, D&C Red No. 7, FD&C Blue No. 2, FD&C Red No. 40, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, titanium dioxide, and triacetin. This medication does not contain alcohol, lactose, paraben, sodium, sulfite, or tartrazine. Aspirin with Stomach Guard 325 mg tablets: Each round, white, film-coated tablet, with "BAYER PLUS" in blue ink on one side, contains ASA 325 mg, calcium carbonate 160 mg, magnesium carbonate 34 mg, and magnesium oxide 63 mg. Nonmedicinal ingredients: acacia, carnauba wax, cornstarch, croscarmellose sodium, FD&C Blue No. 2, hydrogenated vegetable oil, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, polysorbate 80, polyvinylpyrrolidone, propylene glycol, silicon dioxide, sodium lauryl sulfate, talc, titanium dioxide, and triacetin. This medication does not contain lactose, paraben, sulfite, or tartrazine. Aspirin with Stomach Guard Extra Strength 500 mg Caplets: Each white, film-coated caplet, with "BAYER PLUS" over "500" on one side in blue ink, contains ASA 500 mg, calcium carbonate 246.2 mg, magnesium carbonate 52.3 mg, and magnesium oxide 96.9 mg. Nonmedicinal ingredients: acacia, carnauba wax, cornstarch, croscarmellose sodium, FD&C Blue No. 2, hydrogenated vegetable oil, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, polysorbate 80, polyvinylpyrrolidone, propylene glycol, silicon dioxide, sodium lauryl sulfate, talc, titanium dioxide, and triacetin. This medication does not contain lactose, paraben, sulfite, or tartrazine. Coated Aspirin Caplets, 325 mg: Each pale-yellow, enteric coated caplet, with "BAYER 325" in brown ink on one side, contains ASA 325 mg. Nonmedicinal ingredients: carnauba wax, cornstarch, D&C Yellow No. 10, FD&C Yellow No. 6, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, methacrylic acid copolymer, polysorbate 80, potassium hydroxide, sodium lauryl sulfate, synthetic black and brown oxides, titanium dioxide, and triacetin. This medication does not contain alcohol, lactose, paraben, sulfite, or tartrazine. Coated Aspirin Extra Strength Caplets, 500 mg: Each pale-yellow, enteric coated caplet, with "BAYER 500" in brown ink on one side, contains ASA 500 mg. Nonmedicinal ingredients: carnauba wax, cornstarch, D&C Yellow No. 10, FD&C Yellow No. 6, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, methacrylic acid copolymer, polysorbate 80, potassium hydroxide, sodium lauryl sulfate, synthetic black and brown oxides, titanium dioxide, and triacetin. This medication does not contain alcohol, lactose, paraben, sulfite, or tartrazine. Coated Aspirin Arthritis Pain Relief Caplets, 650 mg: Each orange, enteric coated caplet, marked "B" on one side, contains ASA 650 mg. Nonmedicinal ingredients: colloidal silicon dioxide, cornstarch, FD&C Yellow No. 6, gelatin, lactose, maltodextrin, methacrylic acid copolymer, polethylene glycol, sodium hydroxide, sodium lauryl sulfate, talc, titanium dioxide, and triethyl citrate. This medication does not contain alcohol, lactose, paraben, sulfite, or tartrazine. Children's Size Aspirin: Each peach-coloured tablet, with an orange taste, with "BAYER" crossing "BAYER" on one side and "ASPIRIN" in a semicircle on the other, contains ASA 80 mg. Nonmedicinal ingredients: cornstarch, dextrose, FD&C Yellow No. 6, orange flavour, and sodium cyclamate. This medication does not contain alcohol, lactose, paraben, sulfite, or tartrazine. Coated Aspirin Daily Low Dose Tablets, 81 mg: Each pale blue, enteric coated tablet, with "81" in dark blue ink on one side, contains ASA 81 mg. Nonmedicinal ingredients: carnauba wax, cornstarch, croscarmellose sodium, FD&C Blue No. 1, FD&C Blue No. 2, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, lactose, methacrylic acid copolymer, microcrystalline cellulose, polysorbate 80, propylene glycol, sodium lauryl sulfate, titanium dioxide, and triacetin. This medication does not contain alcohol, paraben, sulfite, or tartrazine.

What should I NOT take with Aspirin?

Acetylsalicylic acid should not be taken by anyone who: is allergic to ASA or any of the ingredients of the product has had a severe allergic reaction to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (e.g., ibuprofen, naproxen, diclofenac, indomethacin) has an active peptic ulcer is a child, teenager, or young adult with chickenpox or influenza

Are there any other precautions or warnings for Aspirin?

Pregnancy: High daily doses of ASA (3000 mg daily) may result in a longer pregnancy. When taken in the third trimester of pregnancy, ASA can increase the risk of bleeding in the mother and child. It may also cause abnormalities in the development of the blood vessels leading to and from the heart. It should therefore be used in pregnancy under the supervision of a doctor. Breast-feeding: Acetylsalicylic acid passes into breast milk. No harmful effects have been reported in infants breast-fed by mothers taking the medication in recommended doses for headache and fever. Breast-feeding is generally not recommended for women taking high dose and long-term ASA. Diabetes: Acetylsalicylic acid can increase the effects of sulfonylureas such as glyburide. Large doses of ASA may also reduce levels of blood glucose, which may change the insulin needs of people with diabetes. Surgery: Acetylsalicylic acid should be discontinued at least one week prior to elective surgery because of the risk of bleeding. Gout: Gout can be made worse by ASA, and the effects of medications used to treat gout can be lessened by ASA. Other medical conditions: ASA should not be taken by anyone who has any of the following, unless the benefits clearly outweight the risks: bleeding tendencies reduced kidney function severely reduced liver function significant anemia