Indications
Aspirin is used for its antiplatelet activity in the initial treatment of cardiovascular disorders such as angina pectoris and myocardial infarction and for the prevention of cardiovascular events in a variety of conditions or procedures for patients at risk.
Aspirin is used as part of the initial treatment of unstable angina.
It is given in the early treatment of myocardial infarction.
It may also be of some benefit in the initial treatment of acute ischaemic stroke.
It is of value for the secondary prevention of cardiovascular events in patients with stable or unstable angina or those with acute or prior myocardial infarction.
Aspirin reduces the risk of future serious vascular events, including stroke, in patients who have already suffered an ischaemic stroke or transient ischaemic attack.
It is of use in the long-term management of atrial fibrillation, for the prevention of stroke in patients with contraindications to warfarin or if there are no other risk factors for stroke.
It is recommended for use in preventing thrombotic complications associated with procedures such as angioplasty and coronary bypass grafting.
Therapeutic Class
Anti-platelet drugs
Pharmacology
By decreasing platelet aggregation, Aspirin inhibits thrombus formation on the arterial side of the circulation, where thrombi are formed by platelet aggregation and anticoagulants have little effect. Aspirin is the analgesic of choice for headache, transient musculoskeletal pain and dysmenorrhoea. It has anti-inflammatory and antipyretic properties, which may be useful. Enteric coating reduces the intestinal disturbance and gastrointestinal ulceration due to aspirin.
Dosage & Administration
Pain, Inflammatory diseases and as Antipyretic: Aspirin 300 mg 1-3 tablets 6 hourly with a maximum daily dose of 4 g.
Thrombotic cerebrovascular or Cardiovascular disease: Aspirin 300 mg 1 tablet or Aspirin 75 mg 4 tablets daily.
After Myocardial infarction: Aspirin 75 mg 2 tablets daily for 1 month.
Following By-pass surgery: Aspirin 75 mg 1 tablet daily.
Interaction
Salicylates may enhance the effect of anticoagulants, oral hypoglycaemic agents, phenytoin and sodium valporate. They inhibit the uricosuric effect of probenecid and may increase the toxicity of sulphonamides. They may also precipitate bronchospasm or induce attacks of asthma in susceptible subjects.
Contraindications
Aspirin is contraindicated to the children (Reye’s syndrome) under 12 years, in breast-feeding and active peptic ulcer. It is also contraindicated in bleeding due to haemophilia and other ulceration. Hypersensitivity to aspirin, hypoprothrombinaemia is also contraindicated
Side Effects
Side effects for usual dosage of Aspirin are mild including nausea, dyspepsia, gastrointestinal ulceration and bronchospasm etc.
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