What is Aspirin (Acetylsalicylic Acid) prescribed for?

Aspirin is a commonly used drug for the treatment of pain, headaches, inflammation, and fever due to various causes. At times it is even used by women to help with menstrual pain. And Sometimes it is used to treat or help prevent heart attacks , strokes, and chest pain (angina). Acetylsalicylic acid has both anti-inflammatory and antipyretic effects. This drug also inhibits platelet aggregation and is used in the prevention of blood clots stroke, and myocardial infarction

Aspirin is available in many doses and in many forms. Read all of the information given to you on this medication, if you have any questions or concerns regarding this medicine, speak with your doctor beforehand.

This medication is to be taken orally, either with food or a glass of water. Do not crush, chew, break, or open aspirin pill. Swallow it whole.  However, the chewable tablets must be chewed before swallowing. Make sure to follow what your doctor has prescribed. If you have any concerns, relay your questions to your doctor.

Do not give this medicine to a child or teenager with fever or flu symptoms, or with chicken pox. Aspirin in children can cause Reye’s syndrome, and it can have serious and even sometimes fatal conditions in children.

Consult your doctor first if you are allergic to aspirin, and relay any other allergies that may have an effect on your health. You should not use aspirin if you are allergic to the following; recent history of stomach or internal bleeding, a bleeding disorder such as haemophilia, if you have ever had a asthma attack or severe allergic reaction after taking a aspirin or an NSAID medication such as Advil, Motrin, Orduis, Indocin, Lodine, Voltaren, toradol, Mobix, Relafen, Feldene, and others.

To make sure Aspirin is the correct medication for you. Please tell your doctor if you have any of the following; asthma or seasonal allergies, stomach ulcers, liver and kidney disease, a bleeding or blood clotting disorder, gout, heart disease, high blood pressure, and congestive heart failure.

While Aspirin does help ones health in many ways, as many other medications, Aspirin has its side effects as well. In form you doctor right away if you experience any of the following; Abdominal or stomach pain, cramping, burning. Black tarry stools, bloody or cloudy urine, change in consciousness, chest pain or discomfort, confusion, constipation, convulsions, severe or continuing, dark urine, diarrhea, fever, drowsiness, difficulty breathing, headache, heartburn,  fainting, fast breathing, muscle tremors, nausea and vomiting, panic, seizures, and lost of appetite.

Keep in mind not all of the side effects are listed here. Therefore, if you believe you are experiencing any kind of side effect, go see your doctor right away.

What is Acetylsalicylic Acid?

Acetylsalicylic Acid, which is more commonly known as Aspirin, is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). Each Aspirin tablet contains 81mg of Acetylsalicylic Acid, allowing the medication to be therapeutically effective. It is taken by mouth, mostly metabolized in the liver, and excreted mainly through urination, however it may also exit your body partly through sweat, saliva, or feces. The half-life of Acetylsalicylic Acid ranges; 2-3 hours for doses 100mg or less or 15-30 hours for larger doses. You can purchase the brand-name form of Acetylsalicylic Acid, sold as Aspirin, at My Drug Center.

What does Aspirin do?

Aspirin, being an NSAID, helps to reduce pain, inflammation, or fever. The main inflammatory conditions where Aspirin is commonly prescribed include Kawasaki disease, pericarditis, and rheumatic fever, but it may also be used for other conditions that cause minor pain, such as menstrual pain, toothaches, and headaches. Aspirin can also help to prevent heart attacks, ischaemic strokes, and blood clots in patients who have previously experienced the condition and at high risk for reoccurrence. Additionally, Aspirin may also help decrease the risk of colorectal (colon) cancer.

How does Aspirin work?

For pain, inflammation, and fever; Aspirin works by preventing the production of prostaglandins in the body. Prostaglandins are a natural hormone found in most tissues and organs, produced by a majority of nucleated cells. These hormones have a wide range of functions in the body, including the reactions of pain, inflammation, and fever. When you prevent the production of prostaglandins in the body, you are also reducing the pain, inflammation, and/or fever of your condition. How Aspirin works for heart attack and certain strokes is by preventing the platelets found in your blood from clumping together, maintaining blood flow to your heart and brain to help prevent clogged arteries and the associated risks.

When was Aspirin invented?

Acetylsalicylic Acid, which is more commonly known as Aspirin today, has actually been used for many years. In 1853, an Alsatian Chemist by the name of Charles Frédéric Gerhardt produced Acetylsalicylic Acid for the very first time; he did this by mixing sodium salicylate with acetyl chloride. Over the following 50 years, many other chemists worked towards creating a more efficient production method for creating what we know as Aspirin today. Bayer, a very well known and reputable pharmaceutical company, began studying the drug as a replacement for common salicylate medicines with the hope it would be a less irritating alternative; they had also found a new way to synthesize it. By 1899, Bayer had come up with the name “Aspirin” and began selling it worldwide. Continuing into the twentieth century, Aspirin started to become a very popular medication, which led to many competitors creating their own brands and formulations of Aspirin. And though “Aspirin” was originally Bayer’s brand-name for the medication, Bayer eventually lost or sold their rights to the trademark in many countries.

How long does Aspirin stay in your system?

The length of time Aspirin remains in the system for will vary between each individual based on many personal factors. Additionally, it will depend on your dose. For doses 100mg or less, the medication will typically remain in the system for up to 15 hours. For larger doses, it may take longer; up to 150 hours or 6.25 days.

How much Aspirin can I take?

You should avoid taking more than 4g of Aspirin in a 24 hour period. Keep in mind there may be certain factors (such as history of bleeding) that influence how much Aspirin you can take; depending on your medical condition, you may also require more or less of a dose. You should speak with your doctor if you are unsure how much Aspirin you require for your condition.

How long does it take for Aspirin to work?

Aspirin is usually fairly quick at alleviating symptoms of pain and fever; it commonly takes around 30 minutes for aspirin to work. It may only take 20 minutes for other patients. The exact length of time will likely vary between each individual.

How to take Aspirin?

Swallow your tablet whole without crushing, chewing, or breaking it open. Speak with your doctor to see if you can take your dose with food to help lessen the risk of an upset stomach. Do not take more than the recommended amount, or for longer than needed.     

At what age can you give Aspirin to a child?

In general, a child older than 3 years can use Aspirin; however, there may be certain factors that influence whether or not the child can take Aspirin. For example, a child may be over the age of 3 – maybe even a teenager – but if the child (or teenager) is recovering from chickenpox or flu-like symptoms, Aspirin should not be used. Additionally, each child is different and Aspirin may not be the best option for each child. Speak with your doctor before giving a child Aspirin.