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The Essential Medicine-Aspirin

Author:Dr.Irena Mehandjiska Shumanska

Aspirin is a name of a drug that contains acetylsalicylic acid. Many years ago, this acid was discovered in the bark of a willow tree and was used for its analgesic and antipyretic effect. Aspirin belongs to the group of non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) and has many uses. It can be used to relieve pain, reduce a high body temperature and reduce swelling. The short-term use of acetylsalicylic acid is for headaches and migraines, toothache, colds, and flu. The long-term treatment with low doses of Aspirin has an antiplatelet effect -preventing or inhibiting platelets from adhering or better known as prevention of thrombosis. Aspirin's use has a long history, and the newest studies about its potential are based on its role in the prevention and management of cancer.

When to take Aspirin?

As mentioned before, the use of Aspirin can be short-term or long-term. You can take Aspirin as OTC (over-the-counter medicine ) for short-term relief of pain and high body temperature. Aspirin for the prevention of thrombosis and for patients with cardiovascular diseases must be prescribed from a physician.

The usual dosage for the short term is high doses of Aspirin-300 mg, and for its antiplatelet effect, the usual dose is 75mg to 100mg per day.

When to be cautious with the use of Aspirin, and what are the most common side effects?

People with hypersensitivity to Aspirin or NSAID shouldn’t take this medicine. Also, Aspirin shouldn’t be taken by children or adolescents under 16 years old or people with active ulceration and active gastritis, hemophilia, and other bleeding disorders.

The most common side effects of its use are breathing problems and gastrointestinal bleeding. Aspirin can also provoke other types of bleeding in the body, like subconjunctival bleeding (bleeding in the transparent membrane that covers your eye). If you are already taking medications like blood thinners or medicines used to prevent blood clots, you should not take Aspirin simultaneously because that might provoke bleeding. If you need surgery, the surgeon will ask you to stop taking this medication and any other NSAID before surgery for 10-14 days to prevent bleeding.

Sources:

https://www.nhs.uk

https://www.nice.org.uk