Aspirin belongs to the class of anti-inflammatory and blood-thinning/antiplatelet agents. Its use varies according to its strength. In a low dose (about 75 mg), Aspirin acts as a blood-thinning or antiplatelet agent used to prevent heart attack and stroke. On the other hand, a high dose (about 325 mg) acts as an analgesic, relieving minor aches, pains and fevers. Your doctor may also prescribe ASA Tablet immediately after a heart attack to prevent further clots and heart tissue death. A heart attack generally refers to the blocked flow of blood due to blocked arteries. This blockage is due to the build-up of fat, cholesterol and other substances (plaque) in arteries.
ASA Tablet plays a vital role in the thinning of blood by its anti-platelet activity to decrease the risk of blood clot formation and subsequent heart attack. Low-dose aspirin makes the blood less sticky, preventing the risk of heart attack and stroke. Besides this, it inhibits the activity of the cyclooxygenase (COX) and prostaglandins (PGs), which cause inflammation, swelling, pain, and fever.
You can take ASA Tablet with food or without food. It should be swallowed whole with a glass of water. Do not chew, bite, or break it. Your doctor will advise you how often you take your tablets based on your medical condition. ASA Tablet can be given through oral and rectal routes. In some cases, you may experience stomach upset, heartburn, drowsiness, mild headache, ankle swelling (oedema), slow heart rate, and nausea. ASA Tablet is known to cause dizziness, so driving should be avoided. Most of these side effects of ASA Tablet do not require medical attention and gradually resolve over time. However, if the side effects are persistent, reach out to your doctor.
You should avoid drinking alcohol, taking painkillers (ibuprofen, ketorolac) and the abortion pill (mifepristone) with ASA Tablet as together it can increase your risk of stomach or gastric bleeding. ASA Tablet should not be given to children with flu, fever, or chickenpox until the doctor has prescribed it. ASA Tablet can cause Reye's syndrome (a rare but serious condition with swelling in the brain and liver common in children and teenagers). Do not use ASA Tablet during the last trimester of pregnancy due to possible harm to the unborn baby. ASA Tablet passes into the breast milk and may harm the nursing infant. So tell your doctor if you are pregnant, planning for pregnancy, or breastfeeding mother before taking ASA Tablet . Many people using ASA Tablet do not have serious side effects. However, tell your doctor if you have stomach upset, mild indigestion, easy bruising or bleeding, difficulty in hearing, ringing in the ears, dark urine, change in the amount of urine, persistent or severe nausea/vomiting, unexplained tiredness, dizziness, and yellowing of eyes/skin (jaundice). ASA Tablet may increase the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding (from the stomach/intestine), intracranial bleeding (bleeding in the brain) or other areas of the body. So, after consulting a doctor only, you should take ASA Tablet .
