Aspirin
About Aspirin
Aspirin use varies according to its strength. In low doses (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, which helps relieve minor pain.
Low-dose aspirin makes the blood less sticky, reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke. High-dose aspirin inhibits the activity of the cyclooxygenase (COX) and prostaglandins, which cause pain and inflammation.
In some cases, you may experience side effects like stomach upset, heartburn, drowsiness, mild headache, ankle swelling (oedema), slow heart rate, and nausea. If the side effects are persistent, reach out to your doctor.
Do not take Aspirin if you are allergic to any of its components. Consult your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Keep your doctor informed about your health condition and medications to prevent any interactions/side effects.
Uses of Aspirin
• Prevention of Heart Attacks: Aspirin helps to prevent heart attacks by inhibiting platelet aggregation, reducing the risk of blood clots.
• Management of Angina: Aspirin helps to manage angina by thinning blood, improving blood flow to the heart, and reducing chest pain.
• Stroke Prevention: Aspirin helps prevent strokes by reducing platelet aggregation, thereby decreasing the risk of clot formation in blood vessels.
• Pain Relief and Anti-Inflammatory uses: Aspirin anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties help alleviate pain and swelling in conditions like arthritis, headaches, menstrual cramps, toothaches, and muscle aches.
• Post-Surgery care: Aspirin is often prescribed post-surgery, especially after cardiovascular procedures, to prevent blood clot formation and ensure smooth recovery.
Medicinal Benefits
- Aspirin acts as a blood thinner at low doses, preventing blood cells (platelets) from clumping together.
- It reduces the risk of blood clot formation inside the arteries of the heart and brain.
- It helps prevent heart attack and stroke, especially in people at high cardiovascular risk.
- At higher doses, it inhibits cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes, which reduces the production of prostaglandins (PGs).
- It provides relief from inflammation, swelling, and pain.
- It lowers fever by reducing inflammatory chemicals in the body.
Directions for Use
- Aspirin should be taken with food.
- Follow your doctor's instructions on the dosage and timing of this medication.
- Swallow Aspirin as a whole with a glass of water.
- Do not crush, break, or chew it.
Storage
Side Effects of Aspirin
- Stomach upset
- Heartburn
- Easy bruising/bleeding
- Difficulty in hearing
- Ringing in the ears
- Change in the amount of urine
- Persistent or severe nausea/vomiting
- Unexplained tiredness
- Dizziness
- Dark urine
- Yellowing eyes/skin (jaundice)
Drug Warnings
- Do not take Aspirin if you are allergic to any of its components.
- Consult your doctor if you are pregnant, planning for pregnancy, or breastfeeding before taking Aspirin.
- Aspirin may interfere with laboratory tests like urine sugar tests, possibly causing false test results. Make sure laboratory personnel and doctors know that you are taking Aspirin.
- Before taking Aspirin, tell your doctor if you have a stomach ulcer, bleeding disorder, low Vitamin K, aspirin-induced asthma, kidney disease, liver disease, or diabetes.
- Let your doctor know if you are taking any other medicines, including supplements or herbal products.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interaction: Inform your doctor if you are taking blood thinners (warfarin, heparin, phenindione, clopidogrel), immune related drugs (cyclosporin, tacrolimus), high blood pressure pills (captopril, metoprolol), heart disease related pills (acetazolamide, digoxin), antidepressant (fluoxetine, sertraline, lithium), pain killers (ketorolac, naproxen, ibuprofen), steroids, gout drug (probenecid), anti-epilepsy drug (valproate, phenytoin), anti-cancer or anti-arthritis drug (methoxtrexate), anti-diabetic pills (glibenclamide), abortion pill (mifepristone), acetazolamide, and osteoporosis related drug (alendronate).
Drug-Food Interaction: Taking Aspirin along with alcohol, caffeine and herbal supplements like ‘ginkgo biloba’ can affect the working and potentiate the side effects of this medicine.
Drug-Disease Interaction: Inform your doctor if you have a blood clotting disorder (haemophilia), bleeding disorder, von Willebrand's disease, or telangiectasia, asthma, liver/kidney problem, stomach or intestinal ulcer, or severe heart problems.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
unsafeYou are recommended not to consume alcohol along with Aspirin, as it may potentiate side effects like stomach ulcer and gastric bleeding.
Pregnancy
cautionPlease consult your doctor if you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant.
Breast Feeding
cautionAspirin is known to pass into breast milk in limited amounts. Therefore, consult your doctor if you are breastfeeding.
Driving
safe if prescribedAspirin does not interfere with the ability to drive.
Liver
cautionAspirin to be taken with caution, especially if you have a history of liver diseases/conditions. The dose may have to be adjusted by your doctor.
Kidney
cautionAspirin to be taken with caution, especially if you have a history of Kidney diseases/conditions. The dose may have to be adjusted by your doctor.
Children
cautionPlease consult your doctor if you have any concerns regarding the usage of Aspirin in children.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- A low-cholesterol diet, along with a regular exercise regimen, is found to complement treatment with Aspirin effectively.
- Avoid alcohol, as it may increase the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding (stomach bleeding).
- The high-fat meal should be avoided as it may further increase the risk of a heart attack, and instead, eat heart-healthy foods.
- As a precautionary measure, you are recommended not to consume junk food items from outside, stick to freshly prepared home-cooked meals and take proper rest for a speedy recovery.
- Try to replace most of your saturated fats with unsaturated fats can reduce total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol in a short span of time.
- Foods like avocados, olive oil, fatty fish and nuts contain lots of heart-healthy unsaturated fats, so it’s beneficial to eat them regularly.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Heart attack: A heart attack occurs when the flow of blood to the heart is blocked due to the deposition of plaque (fat/cholesterol) in the arterial wall (coronary arteries) that nourish the heart. In some cases, plaque can rupture, forming a blood clot that blocks blood flow.
Stroke: Stroke is a medical emergency condition in which the blood supply to the brain is reduced or blocked, preventing brain cells (neurons) from getting sufficient oxygen and nutrients. As a result, brain cells begin to die in a few minutes.
Pain: Pain is a symptom triggered by the nervous system, causing uncomfortable sensations in the body. Pain may be dull or sharp; it might be constant or may come and go. The tolerance level of pain might vary from person to person. Pain can be generalised (overall body aches) or localised (affecting a specific area of the body). The common causes of pain include headache, muscle strain, cramps, cuts, bone fractures, and arthritis.
FAQs
Aspirin use varies according to its strength. In low doses (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, pain, and fever.
Yes, taking Aspirin can cause stomach upset. So, please take Aspirin with a meal to avoid it or do as advised by your doctor.
Low-dose aspirin is used for thinning of the blood. It works by preventing platelets (a type of blood cell) from sticking together and forming clots.
In most cases, the doctor asks you to stop taking Aspirin a few days prior to your surgery so as to prevent excessive blood loss during the surgery.
Yes, Aspirin can cause stomach bleeding, and the risk is increased in patients who consume alcohol along with Aspirin. Consult your doctor if you have any concerns.
If you are asthmatic, have hay fever or have any other chronic respiratory disease, taking Aspirin may induce an asthma attack and even worsen your condition. So, please inform your doctor before taking Aspirin if you are asthmatic.
Daily use of Aspirin with ibuprofen may decrease the efficiency of aspirin's ability to prevent heart attack and stroke as a blood thinner.
No. Aspirin should not be used for the relief of stomach pain. In case you have stomach pain, it might be a sign of gastric bleeding or heartburn, which can be one of the side effects of Aspirin.
Children and teenagers should not take Aspirin if they have the flu, chickenpox, or any undiagnosed illness. Besides this, if they have taken any vaccination recently, taking Aspirin might increase the risk of Reye's syndrome, a rare but serious illness. Your doctor will decide whether to prescribe to children or teenagers or not.
You can take Aspirin for pain relief, but remember to follow the recommended dosage (usual dose: 300mg). It's also important to consult your doctor if necessary, especially if you have any underlying medical conditions or concerns. Aspirin may not suit everyone, so your doctor can advise on alternative pain relief options if necessary. Always check with them if unsure to ensure safe and effective pain management.
Aspirin is a versatile medicine with multiple uses. It comes in different doses, each with specific benefits. High-dose Aspirin (300mg) effectively relieves pain and swelling and reduces fever. On the other hand, low-dose Aspirin (75mg) plays a crucial role in preventing heart attacks and strokes in individuals who are at high risk of these conditions. It is essential to consult your doctor or healthcare professional for personalised advice on taking Aspirin.
Aspirin belongs to a group of medicines called antiplatelet agents that help prevent your blood cells from sticking together and forming a blood clot.
The best time to take Aspirin depends on your individual needs and medical conditions. For pain relief, take Aspirin when needed, usually with food or milk, to minimise stomach upset. If you're taking Aspirin for heart attack or stroke prevention, take it in the morning, with or without food, as directed by your doctor.
The side effects of Aspirin include stomach upset, heartburn, drowsiness, mild headache, ankle swelling (oedema), slow heart rate, and nausea.
Aspirin does not trigger a heart stroke but rather reduces the risk of heart attack and ischemic stroke in high-risk individuals. However, it's important to note that Aspirin may increase the risk of bleeding, including hemorrhagic stroke. To ensure safe usage, it's essential to consult a healthcare professional before taking Aspirin, as they can assess your individual needs and medical history to provide personalised guidance.
No, aspirin is not typically used to lower cholesterol. It is usually used to reduce inflammation and relieve pain, prevent blood clots, and reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, and fever.
The duration of taking Aspirin depends on your health needs and medical conditions. It's vital to take Aspirin exactly as recommended by your doctor.
Do not drink alcohol while taking Aspirin. Drinking alcohol may possibly increase the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding and prolong bleeding time.
The time it takes to feel better after taking Aspirin varies depending on the condition being treated. Keep in mind that Aspirin is a medication that works gradually, and its effects may take some time to become noticeable. If you're taking Aspirin for a specific condition, consult your doctor for guidance on when to expect improvement. If your symptoms persist or worsen, seek medical attention.
Aspirin elimination time is up to 10 days. Still, it may vary from person to person based on various factors, such as kidney function, liver function, age, weight, and other medications or health conditions.
Regular or high-dose aspirin therapy during late pregnancy can cause serious complications in the mother or baby. So, pregnant women should not take Aspirin during pregnancy, especially in the last 3 months of pregnancy, unless advised by their doctor.
If you're taking Aspirin, you may need to stop taking it before surgery or dental procedures due to the increased risk of bleeding. Your healthcare provider or dentist will advise you on whether to stop taking Aspirin 7-10 days before the procedure, continue taking it with close monitoring, or switch to a different medication. It's crucial to inform them about your aspirin use and follow their specific instructions to ensure your safety during the procedure.
Consult your healthcare provider first. Long-term use (more than 6 months) of Aspirin can increase the risk of stomach ulcers, bleeding, kidney damage, or other adverse effects. If long-term care is necessary, your doctor may recommend regular monitoring or alternative treatments.
No, it can increase bleeding risk. Aspirin thins blood and can worsen bleeding conditions like haemophilia (a rare, genetic blood disorder), recent injuries, or active bleeding ulcers. If you have a history of bleeding problems, check with your doctor; your doctor may recommend alternative treatments.
