Acetylsalicylic acid = Aspirin = ASA oral

Therapeutic action

• Analgesic, antipyretic, non steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID).
• Platelet antiaggregant at low dose.

Indications

Due to their better safety profile, prefer paracetamol or ibuprofen for pain and fever management.

• Mild pain, fever.
• Secondary prevention of severe pre-eclampsia.

Forms and strengths

• 300 mg tablet.
• 75 mg enteric coated tablet.

Dose and duration

Contra-indications, adverse effects, precautions

• Do not administer to patients with allergy to aspirin and NSAID, gastroduodenal ulcer, coagulation disorders, haemorrhage, or severe renal, hepatic, or cardiac impairment.
• Do not administer to children for pain or fever; use paracetamol instead.
• Administer with caution to older patients or patients with asthma.
• May cause allergic reactions, epigastric pain, gastroduodenal ulcer, and haemorrhage.
• May cause dizziness and tinnitus as early signs of overdose.
• May cause Reye's syndrome in children with encephalopathy and severe hepatic disorders.
• For all cases above, stop aspirin.
• Do not combine with methotrexate, anticoagulants, or NSAID.
• Monitor combination with insulin and corticosteroids.
• Pregnancy: for pain and fever, avoid; it is contraindicated from the beginning of the 6th month. Use paracetamol. For prevention of pre-eclampsia, do not exceed 150 mg daily.
• Breast-feeding: avoid. Use paracetamol.