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Medicine Highlight
| Uses | To treat chest pain (Angina) To prevent heart attack To treat and prevent stroke |
| Common Side Effects | Daily intake can lead to hemorrhagic stroke Daily intake increases the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding |
| Additional Information | Drinking alcohol while taking aspirin can increase the risk of developing stomach ulcers. |
| Storage | The medicine should be stored at room temperature Keep away from sunlight and moisture Keep away from the reach of children |
| How to Take This Medicine | The medicine should be taken orally |
Aspirin Summary
Aspirin 150 mg is taken orally and belongs to the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) class of medicine. It is approved for the treatment of chest pain, heart attack, and stroke. You should take this medicine as instructed by your doctor, either before or after meals or before or after sleep. Side effects of this medicine may include indigestion, stomach aches, and excessive bleeding. Do not stop taking this medicine unless advised by your doctor.Inform your doctor if you are allergic or have a peptic ulcer, as they may prescribe an alternative medication in such cases.
Aspirin Uses
Aspirin 150 mg is an oral medicine belonging to the class of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID). It is used for the following indications:
- Blood clot in the brain (stroke)
- Chest pain (Angina pectoris)
- Heart attack (Myocardial infarction)
Direction for use
- Take aspirin 150 mg exactly as your doctor prescribes, consistently at the same time each day.
- Do not stop taking aspirin without your doctor’s approval, even if you feel better.
- If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember, unless it’s close to your next dose-then skip the missed one.
- In case of a suspected heart attack, aspirin should be given immediately.
Aspirin Side Effects
More Common
- Upset stomach
- Heartburn
- Drowsiness
- Mild headache
Less Common
- Ringing in your ears, confusion, hallucinations, rapid breathing, seizure (convulsions)
- Severe nausea, vomiting, or stomach pain
- Bloody or tarry stools
- fever lasting longer than 3 days
- swelling, or pain
Safety Measures and Warning
📌 Allergy/ Hypersensitivity
If you are allergic to aspirin, inform your doctor and ask for a substitute.
📌 Peptic ulcer
Aspirin increases the risk of stomach ulcers. If you have a pre-existing peptic ulcer, then it can increase the size of the ulcer or can make more perforation in stomachs layer, causing more bleeding.
Aspirin Interaction with Other Medicines
Avoid taking aspirin 150 mg with the following medicines, as it may increase or decrease the desired effect, or in worse cases, it could be fatal:
Aspirin Interaction with Food Products
Certain foods taken with aspirin can increase the risk of bleeding, potentially leading to a health emergency. These include bilberry, capsaicin, cat’s-claw, danshen, evening primrose oil, ginkgo, kava, ma-huang, and omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil).
Storage
- The medicine should be stored at room temperature
- Keep away from sunlight and moisture
- Keep away from the reach of children
Aspirin Chemical Structure
IUPAC (International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry)/ Chemical name
2-Acetoxybenzoic acid
Intake routine/cycle
📌 Daily dose
Aspirin is not recommended for daily use without a doctor’s approval as it can cause ulcers in your stomach. A daily low number of aspirin is recommended for the primary prevention of heart attacks or strokes.
📌 Missed Dose
If you forget to take your medicine, take the medication soon as you remember. If it’s nearly time for your next dose, skip the missed one and continue with your regular schedule. Always consult the doctor before making any changes to your dosage.
📌 Overdose
In case a high number of aspirin is ingested, a person may experience symptoms like nausea, vomiting, ringing in the ears, sweating, and fast breathing. In this situation, the person should immediately visit a doctor. The doctor will help by giving activated charcoal, which helps absorb the medicine from the blood.
FAQ’s
1. Is taking aspirin good for your heart?
➡️ Taking aspirin helps prevent heart attacks by dissolving blood clots formed in the arteries of your heart. However, taking aspirin daily is not recommended unless prescribed by your doctor.
2. Which aspirin is best for a heart attack?
➡️ Aspirin (75-100 mg daily) can help prevent heart attacks, but consult a doctor before use. Generic versions are cost-effective, but quality matters. SayaCare ensures safety by testing all medicines in an NABL-certified lab before selling them.
3. Can aspirin reduce blood pressure?
➡️ Aspirin does not directly lower blood pressure, but its blood-thinning properties may contribute to better heart health and could help manage blood pressure indirectly.
4. How much aspirin should I take for a heart attack?
➡️ If you are at risk of a heart attack, your doctor may recommend taking a low dose of aspirin, typically 75-100 mg daily. In the event of a heart attack, it is advisable to take at least 160-325 mg of aspirin.
5. Why is aspirin contraindicated in peptic ulcer?
➡️ Aspirin isn’t recommended for people with peptic ulcers because it can make the problem worse. Aspirin can irritate the stomach lining and reduce the protective layer in the stomach. This makes the stomach more acidic and can increase the risk of bleeding or pain from the ulcer. For someone with a peptic ulcer, taking aspirin could lead to serious stomach issues, like severe pain or bleeding.
6. Why is aspirin contraindicated in asthma?
➡️ When people with asthma or chronic sinus issues with nasal polyps take aspirin, they may experience a condition called NSAID-exacerbated respiratory disease (NERD). This condition is a strong reaction in the airways triggered by aspirin and other similar medications. Symptoms of NERD, such as breathing difficulties, wheezing, or asthma attacks, can appear within 30 minutes to 3 hours after taking aspirin.
7. Can aspirin and paracetamol be taken together?
➡️ Yes, it is safe to take aspirin and paracetamol together, as they do not interact with each other.
8. How does aspirin act as an antiplatelet?
➡️ Our body has a glue-like chemical called cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) that helps platelets stick together to form clots. Aspirin inhibits this glue-like substance, making the platelets less sticky and reducing the risk of clots that can lead to heart attacks and strokes.
9. Can aspirin help lower blood pressure?
➡️ No, aspirin does not lower blood pressure.
References
- Mayo Clinic. Angina – Symptoms and causes [Internet]. Mayo Clinic. 2023 [cited 2024 Sep 13]. Available from.
- Mayo Clinic. Aspirin (oral route) description. [Internet]. Available from.
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- Emergency Hospitals. Can aspirin lower blood pressure? [Internet]. 2024 [cited 2024 Nov 2]. Available from.
- Montinari MR, Minelli S, De Caterina R. The first 3500 years of aspirin history from its roots – A concise summary. Vascul Pharmacol. 2019 Feb;113:1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.vph.2018.10.008. Epub 2018 Nov 2. PMID: 30391545. Available from.
- Brunton LL, Hilal-Dandan R, Knollmann BC. Goodman & Gilman’s: The pharmacological basis of therapeutics. 13th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill Education; 2018. p. 673-681. Available from.
- Kowalski ML, Asero R, Bavbek S, Blanca M, Blanca-López N, Bochenek G, et al. Diagnosis and management of NSAID-exacerbated respiratory disease (N-ERD) – a EAACI position paper. Allergy. 2019 Jul;74(7):28-39. Available from.
- Patrono C, Morais J, Baigent C, Collet JP, Fitzgerald D, Halvorsen S, et al. Antiplatelet agents for the treatment and prevention of coronary atherothrombosis. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2017 Nov;70(14):1760-1776. Available from.
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