Aspirin: instructions for use, indications, mask for acne on the face, price, for blood thinning, how to take

Aspirin , or acetylsalicylic acid, is a medicinal substance belonging to the group of so-called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

It includes drugs familiar to many, such as ibuprofen (Nurofen, Faspik, Advil), nimesulide (Nimesil, Nise), meloxicam (Movalis, Artrosan) and some others, but only aspirin has a unique effect on platelets.

Aspirin does not thin the blood.

In fact, it is a myth that aspirin thins the blood. How “thin” a person’s blood is depends on the content of hemoglobin and red blood cells in it (a person with anemia has more “watery” blood), as well as on the amount of fluid consumed. Aspirin reduces the ability of blood to clot, that is, to form blood clots, and does not affect its “thickness.”

Pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics

What is Aspirin?

The active substance of the drug - acetylsalicylic acid (sometimes mistakenly called “acetylic acid”) - belongs to the group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs , the mechanism of action of which is realized through the irreversible inactivation of the COX enzyme, which plays an important role in the synthesis of thromboxanes and Pg.

Thus, to the question acetylsalicylic acid is aspirin or not, we can confidently answer that Aspirin and acetylsalicylic acid are the same thing.

Natural source of Aspirin: Salix alba (white willow) bark.

Chemical formula of Aspirin: C₉H₈O₄.

Pharmacodynamics

Oral administration of ASA in a dose of 300 mg to 1 g helps relieve pain (including muscle and joint pain) and conditions that are accompanied by mild fever (for example, colds or flu). Similar doses of ASA are prescribed for temperature.

The properties of ASA make it possible to use the drug also in acute and chronic inflammatory diseases . The list of indications for which Aspirin helps includes osteoarthritis , rheumatoid arthritis , and ankylosing spondylitis .

For these diseases, as a rule, higher doses are used than, for example, for fever or colds. To alleviate the condition, an adult, depending on the characteristics of the course of the disease, is prescribed from 4 to 8 g of ASA per day.

By blocking the synthesis of thromboxane A2, ASA inhibits platelet . This makes it advisable to use it for a large number of vascular diseases. The daily dose for this type of pathology varies from 75 to 300 mg.

Pharmacokinetics

After taking an Aspirin tablet, ASA is quickly and completely absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. During and after absorption, it is biotransformed into salicylic acid (SA), the main, pharmacologically active metabolite .

TSmax ASA - 10-20 minutes, salicylates - from 20 minutes to 2 hours. ASA and SA are completely bound to plasma proteins in the blood and are quickly distributed in the body. SA crosses the placenta and enters breast milk.

in the metabolism of SC. The products of metabolism of the substance are: gentisic, gentisin-uric, salicylic uric acids, as well as salicylacyl and salicylphenol glucuronides.

The kinetics of SA elimination is dose dependent, since metabolism is limited by the activity of liver enzymes . T1/2 is also a dose-dependent value: in the case of low doses, T1/2 is from 2 to 3 hours, in the case of high doses it increases to 15 hours.

SA and its metabolic products are excreted mainly by the kidneys.

Description of the drug ACETYLSALICYLIC ACID

When used simultaneously, antacids containing magnesium and/or aluminum hydroxide slow down and reduce the absorption of acetylsalicylic acid.

With the simultaneous use of calcium channel blockers, drugs that limit the intake of calcium or increase the excretion of calcium from the body, the risk of bleeding increases.

When used simultaneously with acetylsalicylic acid, the effect of heparin and indirect anticoagulants, hypoglycemic agents, sulfonylurea derivatives, insulins, methotrexate, phenytoin, and valproic acid is enhanced.

When used simultaneously with GCS, the risk of ulcerogenic effects and gastrointestinal bleeding increases.

With simultaneous use, the effectiveness of diuretics (spironolactone, furosemide) decreases.

With the simultaneous use of other NSAIDs, the risk of side effects increases. Acetylsalicylic acid may reduce plasma concentrations of indomethacin and piroxicam.

When used simultaneously with gold preparations, acetylsalicylic acid can induce liver damage.

With simultaneous use, the effectiveness of uricosuric drugs (including probenecid, sulfinpyrazone, benzbromarone) is reduced.

With the simultaneous use of acetylsalicylic acid and sodium alendronate, severe esophagitis may develop.

With simultaneous use of griseofulvin, the absorption of acetylsalicylic acid may be impaired.

A case of spontaneous hemorrhage into the iris was described when taking Ginkgo biloba extract during long-term use of acetylsalicylic acid at a dose of 325 mg/day. It is believed that this may be due to an additive inhibitory effect on platelet aggregation.

With simultaneous use of dipyridamole, an increase in Cmax of salicylate in blood plasma and AUC is possible.

When used simultaneously with acetylsalicylic acid, the concentrations of digoxin, barbiturates and lithium salts in the blood plasma increase.

With the simultaneous use of salicylates in high doses with carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, salicylate intoxication is possible.

Acetylsalicylic acid in doses less than 300 mg/day has a minor effect on the effectiveness of captopril and enalapril. When using acetylsalicylic acid in high doses, the effectiveness of captopril and enalapril may be reduced.

With simultaneous use, caffeine increases the rate of absorption, plasma concentration and bioavailability of acetylsalicylic acid.

With simultaneous use, metoprolol may increase the Cmax of salicylate in the blood plasma.

When using pentazocine against the background of long-term use of acetylsalicylic acid in high doses, there is a risk of developing severe adverse reactions from the kidneys.

With simultaneous use, phenylbutazone reduces uricosuria caused by acetylsalicylic acid.

With simultaneous use, ethanol may enhance the effect of acetylsalicylic acid on the gastrointestinal tract.

Indications for use of Aspirin

Aspirin (ASA) is a symptomatic drug used for conditions involving pain, inflammation and fever.

Indications for use:

headache;
toothache;
algodismenorrhea;
sore throat caused by a cold;
muscle and joint pain;
backache;
ARVI and colds;
moderate pain due to inflammation of the joints.

Contraindications for Aspirin

Contraindications are divided into absolute and relative.

Taking the drug is strictly prohibited if you are allergic to ASA or any other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs ( Analgin , Paracetamol , etc.), as well as in conditions that are characterized by an increased tendency to bleeding.

The following contraindications are relative:

simultaneous use of anticoagulants ;
deficiency of the cytosolic enzyme G6PD;
bronchial asthma;
renal dysfunction;
chronic diseases of the stomach and duodenum;
diabetes;
gout;
children under 12 years of age;
pregnancy;
lactation.

If there are relative contraindications, Aspirin Bayer can be taken only after the doctor approves it.

Side effects

Side effects:

hypersensitivity reactions ( skin rashes , bronchospasm );
decreased platelet in the blood;
stomach pain.

Frequent and long-term use of ASA in some cases may be accompanied by the development of bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract, the signs of which are:

tarry stools;
anemia;
general weakness;
persistent abdominal pain.

The appearance of such symptoms requires stopping taking Aspirin and immediately contacting a doctor.

Long-term treatment with high doses of ASA can also provoke:

damage to the juxtaglomerular apparatus (periglomerular complex) of the kidneys;
formation of oxalate and/or urate stones in the urinary tract and kidneys;
renal failure;
damage to the pancreas insular apparatus;
disruption of glycogen synthesis (in some cases, even leading to the development of diabetes mellitus );
thrombocytosis;
myocardial dystrophy;
hemolytic anemia, erythrocytopenia, hyperprothrombinemia, neutrophilic leukocytosis;
decreased capillary permeability (possibly increased blood pressure and deterioration of tissue trophism);
hemolysis of erythrocytes (in patients with G6PD deficiency);
violation of copper and zinc metabolism;
dysbacteriosis of the oral cavity.

Side effects

Sometimes taking Aspirin can cause negative effects, these include:

Pain in the stomach
Decreased platelets in the blood
Bronchospasm
Various skin rashes

Taking Aspirin for a long time sometimes leads to the development of bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract. Signs characterizing this pathology:

Anemia
Tarry stool
Weakness, excruciating abdominal pain

If the above symptoms appear, you should stop taking Aspirin and seek medical help.

Aspirin tablets, instructions for use

The instructions for use of Aspirin indicate that the tablets should be taken orally after meals with a sufficient amount of liquid.

The maximum duration of treatment with the drug without consulting a doctor is 5 days.

As a single dose, adults are prescribed from 300 mg to 1 g of ASA. Repeated use is possible after 4-8 hours. The permissible upper limit of the daily dose is 4 g.

Aspirin: how to drink to prevent heart and vascular diseases?

A systematic review of various studies showed that the use of Aspirin after myocardial infarction can reduce the incidence of non-fatal heart attacks , the incidence of non-fatal strokes of recurrent strokes and heart attacks by 25% , and vascular death by 15%.

Moreover, the positive effect of ASA does not depend on gender, age, the presence of diabetes mellitus and blood pressure .

Studies have found that after myocardial infarction, ASA should be prescribed immediately, and treatment should continue until specific contraindications are identified. The optimal dosage for vascular prevention is 160-325 mg/day.

What to take with Aspirin?

It is recommended to drink Aspirin tablets with milk, jelly or sodium bicarbonate mineral water.

Aspirin for blood thinning: does ASA thin the blood?

ASA is a disaggregant . This property of the drug allows it to be used in conditions where it is necessary to create obstacles to induced or spontaneous platelet .

There are 2 groups of blood thinning drugs: without ASA and based on this substance. Blood thinners without ASA are anticoagulants . Medicines based on ASA belong to the group of antiplatelet agents .

When asked whether Aspirin thins the blood or not, doctors answer that the point of the effect of antiplatelet agents (and, in particular, ASA) is that they reduce the ability of platelets to stick together, and this in turn reduces the risk of blood clots .

What is Aspirin used for? The instructions and Wikipedia provide the following recommendations in this regard: the drug should be prescribed to patients with high cardiovascular risk, people who have had a myocardial infarction , as well as during the acute period of ischemic stroke , circulatory disorders in the brain and other manifestations of atherosclerosis .

Elena Malysheva says the following about the drug: “A cure for old age. There are no blood clots in the vessels, good blood flow in the brain, heart, legs, arms. In leather! She also notes that the product reduces the risk of atherosclerosis and protects the body from cancer.

Tips on how to take Aspirin for blood thinning correctly are as follows: the optimal dose of the drug when used to prevent vascular complications is a dose of 75-100 mg/day. This is the dose that is considered the most well balanced in terms of safety/efficacy.

Western doctors do not practice using Aspirin to thin the blood, however, in Russia it is recommended quite often for these purposes. Knowing the benefits of ASA for blood vessels, some people begin to take the drug uncontrollably.

Doctors never tire of reminding you that before taking Aspirin to cleanse the vascular walls of cholesterol and “soften” the blood, you must obtain a doctor’s approval.

How is Aspirin harmful? Studies conducted by scientists in the 70s of the 20th century showed that ASA drugs affect blood viscosity, thereby helping to reduce the load on the heart muscle and preventing an increase in blood pressure.

However, to achieve these effects, 50-75 mg of the substance per day is usually sufficient. Regularly exceeding the recommended preventive dose can give exactly the opposite results and cause harm to the body.

In other words, taking ASA to thin the blood, if there are no signs of heart disease, has a negative effect on the body.

How to replace ASA?

Patients often wonder what thins the blood other than Aspirin. As an alternative to medications, you can use individual blood thinning products - analogues of antiplatelet agents .

The main ones are those containing salicylic acid , vitamin E and iodine . Herbal substitutes for Aspirin include licorice, sage, aloe, and horse chestnut. Also, to thin the blood, it is good to include cherries, oranges, cranberries, raisins, grapes, tangerines, blueberries, thyme, mint, ginger and curry in your diet.

Meat, fish and dairy products do not thin the blood, but regular consumption of fish helps improve the blood count. becomes less viscous when the body receives a sufficient amount of vitamin D.

Pregnant women are recommended to thin their blood with eggplants, zucchini, cabbage, onions, horseradish, capsicums, lemons, pomegranates, currants, cranberries, and viburnum.

Does Aspirin Lower or Increase Blood Pressure? Aspirin for headaches

Aspirin for headaches is especially effective if the pain is caused by increased intracranial pressure (ICP). This is due to the fact that ASA has a blood-thinning effect and thus helps reduce ICP.

For headaches (depending on its intensity), adults are usually prescribed to take from 0.25 to 1 g of ASA every 6-8 hours.

How to take Aspirin for varicose veins for prevention?

The action of ASA is aimed at suppressing platelet . As a result, for varicose veins regular use of the drug helps reduce the risk of thrombosis .

However, doctors answer the question “Can I take Aspirin every day?” They answer that it is still not worth varicose veins The optimal way to use the product is with special medicinal compresses.

To prepare a compress, it is recommended to pour 200 ml of alcohol (vodka) into crushed Aspirin tablets (10 pieces) and leave the medicine for 48 hours. Compresses are applied to the area of dilated veins daily, at night. This procedure for varicose veins helps eliminate pain.

How is Aspirin useful in cosmetology?

In cosmetology, ASA is used for hair (in particular, as a remedy for dandruff), to treat acne and improve skin. The effectiveness of the product is confirmed by a large number of positive reviews and pictures in which you can evaluate the appearance of the face before and after using Aspirin.

For facial skin, ASA is used in creams for daily care, as well as in masks. The benefit of this treatment for the face is that inflammation and redness disappear from the skin quite quickly - within a few hours - and tissue swelling subsides.

In addition, face masks with Aspirin help exfoliate the layer of dead cells and cleanse the pores of subcutaneous sebum.

When asked how Aspirin helps with acne on the face , cosmetologists answer that the ability to cleanse pores is due to its drying effect and good solubility in fats, thanks to which ASA can penetrate deep enough into pores clogged with sebum.

Light peeling is guaranteed due to the granular structure of the dissolved drug. At the same time, the product does not injure healthy areas of the skin. This is due to the fact that ASA works somewhat differently than abrasive scrubs, the exfoliating effect of which is realized due to the presence of coarse particles in their composition.

The action of ASA, unlike such agents, is aimed at weakening the adhesive bonds between cells, which in turn helps remove dead cells from the surface of the skin without damaging young healthy cells in the deeper layers.

The simplest recipe against acne is to put half a tablet of the drug on the inflamed area.

You can also add crushed Aspirin tablets to the cream. To prepare the composition, 4 tablets of the drug are placed in a bowl and water is dripped onto them. When the medicine begins to dissolve, rub it with your fingers to a pasty consistency and then mix it with 2 tbsp using a spatula. spoons of cream.

To make the acne remedy have a finer texture, you can add up to 1 tbsp to the mixture. spoons of warm water. The cream is applied to the face and washed off after 15 minutes with warm water.

Aspirin for acne can also be used in combination with freshly squeezed lemon juice.

The recipe for such an anti-acne Aspirin mask is simple: 6 tablets of the drug are ground with lemon juice until a homogeneous mass is obtained (reviews suggest that the process of dissolving the tablets can take 10 minutes), and then the resulting paste is applied pointwise to the pimples and left to dry.

It is recommended to remove the paste from the skin with a solution of baking soda to neutralize the acid.

There are also good reviews about the face mask with Aspirin and honey. To prepare the medicinal composition, you need to place 3 tablets in a bowl (not effervescent Aspirin UPSA is used, but regular tablets) and drop water on them. When the tablets become loose, add 0.5-1 teaspoon of honey to them and mix thoroughly.

If the honey is too thick, you can add a few drops of water to the mixture. The mask is applied to dry skin for 15 minutes, and then gently, in a circular motion, wash your face with warm water.

A mask made of honey and Aspirin is most suitable for aging, oily and porous skin, but cosmetologists say that you can use such a mask with honey for acne.

A good anti-acne mask with Aspirin and clay. To prepare it, you need to take 6 ASA tablets, 2 teaspoons of cosmetic clay (blue or white) and a small amount of warm water.

All ingredients are stirred in a convenient container until a paste is obtained, after which the composition is applied to the face with a cotton pad for 15 minutes. If unpleasant sensations (burning, itching) occur, the mask can be washed off earlier. After the procedure, it is recommended to wipe the skin with a sponge soaked in a decoction of chamomile or chamomile.

To eliminate small acne and blackheads, Aspirin is used in combination with carbonated mineral water and black cosmetic clay. For 1 tbsp. a spoonful of clay you need to take 1 tablet of ASA. First, the clay is diluted with mineral water, then Aspirin is added to the resulting slurry.

The composition is applied to the skin in a thin layer. Exposure time is 20 minutes. After the procedure, it is recommended to apply the cream no earlier than 10-15 minutes (this will allow the skin to “breathe”).

Levomycetin , calendula and Aspirin in the form of a talker are effective against acne To prepare the product, add 4 tablets of each drug to 40 ml of calendula tincture and shake the bottle well. The solution is used to wipe the face.

Facial cleansing with Aspirin is carried out using only tablets in their pure form. It should be remembered that there are different types of ASA on sale. However, tablets without additional coating should be used for peeling; coated aspirin is not used for these purposes.

The soaked tablet of the drug is placed on a cotton pad, and then applied to the skin of the face in a circular motion for 3 minutes and then washed off with warm water.

For blackheads, against pimples (comedones) and to prevent the appearance of acne, you can use Aspirin as part of a mask with coffee and clay. At 2 tbsp. spoons of white or blue cosmetic clay, it is recommended to use 1 teaspoon of natural medium-ground coffee and 4 ASA tablets.

Carbonated mineral water is poured into the finished mixture in small portions in the amount necessary to obtain a thick slurry. The product is applied to the skin with slow massaging movements, covering all areas except the area of the upper and lower eyelids. Exposure time is 20 minutes, after which the mask is washed off. To enhance the effect, problem areas can be wiped with an ice cube.

Aspirin for hair is used mainly as a remedy for dandruff. The easiest way to treat hair diseases is to use shampoo with ASA.

To prepare the healing composition, measure out the amount of shampoo required for one hair wash into a separate container (it is better if it contains a minimum of dyes and fragrances), and then add 2 crushed ASA tablets (uncoated) to it.

How does aspirin work?

It blocks the action of the enzyme cyclooxygenase in the body, thus reducing the synthesis of special substances - prostaglandins.

Prostaglandins are involved in the processes of inflammation, in the regulation of vascular tone, muscle contractions, protect the wall of the stomach and intestines from chemical damage and promote the formation of blood clots when the walls of blood vessels are damaged.

Platelets are pieces of cells that constantly float through the bloodstream. In some situations, they can “activate” and stick together, forming a blood clot. As a rule, this occurs when a vessel is damaged - an injury or a cut, and helps the body avoid large blood losses.

Cardiovascular diseases are currently the leading cause of death in the world and in Russia, and first of all we are talking about coronary heart disease and myocardial infarction, as well as ischemic stroke.

Cardiovascular diseases are currently the leading cause of death in the world.

Most heart attacks and strokes occur when blood flow to an area of the heart or brain is blocked by a blood clot.

And it all begins gradually, with the development of atherosclerotic vascular disease. This is the name of the process in which a gradual accumulation of cholesterol, cellular breakdown products and calcium occurs in the inner layer of the vascular wall - an atherosclerotic plaque is formed. Atherosclerosis usually affects large and medium-sized arteries, and the plaques themselves often grow to such a size that they begin to significantly impede blood flow.

But the real problems begin when the plaque becomes brittle and ruptures. The body reacts to a ruptured plaque in the same way as to a ruptured vessel, saving itself from major blood loss - it tries to “patch” the damage by covering the area with a blood clot, and platelets are the first to arrive at the site of damage. A ruptured plaque “misleads the platelets” and becomes the site of the formation of a blood clot, partially or completely blocking the blood flow.

If a blood clot blocks a vessel supplying blood to the heart, myocardial infarction develops; if it supplies blood to the brain, an ischemic stroke occurs.

In recent decades aspirin has firmly entered our lives as a drug that helps maintain heart health, and has practically become a “vitamin for the myocardium.” Anyone can go to the pharmacy and buy aspirin without a prescription.

Daily use of low-dose aspirin (usually 50-100 mg per day) has been considered an effective way to reduce the risk of myocardial infarction, ischemic (that is, associated with decreased cerebral blood flow) stroke, and other problems associated with impaired vascular blood flow.

However, in 2017-2019, several large medical studies were conducted that changed the point of view of doctors on this drug.

The data obtained concerned patients who did not have coronary heart and vascular disease, heart attacks or strokes in the past, but who took the drug to prevent them in the future.

The first found no benefit from aspirin in patients at low risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

The second unexpectedly showed an increase in overall mortality in older people without cardiac disease who took aspirin as prophylaxis.

The third found a high risk of bleeding that outweighed the benefit of aspirin in most patients at moderate risk of developing cardiovascular disease, and identified a group of people who benefit from prophylactic aspirin.

Finally, to find out how many people take preventative aspirin, a survey was conducted in the United States of more than 14,000 men and women over 40 years of age. It turned out that about a quarter of healthy people take aspirin for preventive purposes, and a quarter of these people decided to take aspirin treatment on their own, without consulting a doctor. Moreover, half of respondents aged 70 years and older, and without cardiovascular disease, took aspirin daily.

A quarter of healthy people take aspirin for preventive purposes.

Unfortunately, taking any medicine, regardless of its study and breadth of use, is simultaneously associated with both health benefits and the risk of complications.

Aspirin, while reducing the formation of blood clots in the body, has serious side effects, which are the “other side of the coin” - gastrointestinal bleeding, as well as severe intracerebral, intraocular and intraarticular hemorrhages.

There must be very good reasons for recommendations for its preventive use!

So, when should a cardiologist recommend that a patient take low-dose aspirin every day?

Firstly, this is necessary for those patients who have already experienced one or more strokes or myocardial infarction. The risk of developing a recurrence in such people is almost 8 times higher compared to those who have never been sick. This kind of prevention is called secondary (we try to prevent the second and subsequent cardiovascular accidents)
Prophylactic treatment is also necessary for those who have not had a heart attack, but who previously had a stent installed in the coronary artery, or for those who have undergone coronary artery bypass surgery. The doctor will also prescribe aspirin to someone who has been diagnosed with angina pectoris - pain in the chest during physical (less often emotional) stress associated with atherosclerotic narrowing in the coronary vessels
Aspirin is infrequently prescribed to patients with atrial fibrillation, heart valve disease or prosthetic valves - usually when more effective drugs cannot be prescribed
Aspirin is used to treat atherosclerotic changes in the arteries of the legs - with these problems, patients experience severe pain in the calf muscles when walking, this is called “intermittent claudication”
And finally, the most difficult situation is prescribing aspirin to a patient who does not yet have any cardiovascular diseases in order to prevent their occurrence. The so-called “primary prevention” of the disease

Please remember that for people over 70 years of age who do not have cardiovascular disease, taking preventive aspirin is generally not recommended, it will not provide any benefit, and the risk of severe bleeding is very high.

For people over 70 years of age who do not have cardiovascular disease, preventive aspirin is generally not recommended.

Aspirin prophylaxis currently recommended for people 50–69 years of age with a low risk of bleeding and a greater than 10% risk of heart attack or stroke over the next 10 years of life. Risk factors include male gender, diabetes, frequent high blood pressure, smoking and high cholesterol levels in blood tests.

Overdose

Symptoms of a moderate overdose are: tinnitus, nausea, hearing loss, vomiting, confusion, dizziness, headache. These phenomena disappear when the dose of the drug is reduced.

Severe overdose of Aspirin is accompanied by hyperventilation, fever, metabolic acidosis , respiratory alkalosis , ketosis , cardiogenic shock , coma , severe hypoglycemia , and respiratory failure .

In such cases, the patient is hospitalized. Treatment includes the use of activated carbon , lavage, control of acid-correct reaction, forced alkaline diuresis to obtain urine pH values within 7.5-8.0, compensation for fluid loss, hemodialysis, and symptomatic therapy.

Interaction

ASA enhances the effects of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (for this reason, doctors do not recommend taking Aspirin with other drugs in this group, for example, simultaneously with Paracetamol ), non-narcotic analgesics , oral hypoglycemic drugs , indirect anticoagulants , Heparin , thrombolytics that suppress platelet aggregation, triiodothyronine , sulfonamides .

Reduces the effects of diuretics , uricosuric drugs , antihypertensive drugs .

GCS, alcohol and drugs containing ethanol enhance the damaging effect of ASA on the mucous membrane of the digestive canal, increasing the risk of developing gastric and intestinal bleeding.

ASA increases the plasma concentration of Li drugs, barbiturates and digoxin .

Absorption of ASA worsens and slows down when taking the drug simultaneously with antacids containing Al and/or Mg hydroxide.

How do you know that the benefits outweigh the harm?

The doctor, with your help, will collect and analyze many factors and then make a decision. You yourself can try to assess your risks using an online calculator developed by American cardiologists.

Remember that arterial hypertension itself is not an indication for prescribing aspirin if the patient does not have a diagnosis of coronary heart or brain disease! On the contrary, poorly controlled, high blood pressure is often a contraindication to the use of aspirin, since sudden increases in blood pressure increase the risk of intracerebral bleeding, and aspirin can significantly increase it.

In addition, aspirin may reduce the effectiveness of some drugs used to treat hypertension, such as enalapril, captopril, lisinopril, perindopril, and beta blockers.

If taking preventative aspirin turns out to be unreasonably dangerous for you, your doctor will suggest other prevention options, such as lifestyle changes or taking statins.

Currently commercially available are predominantly low-dose enteric-coated aspirin tablets. The outer shell “dissolves” only in the small intestine, protecting the stomach from irritation. These tablets must be swallowed whole without chewing.

There are also combination preparations containing the additive magnesium hydroxide. It is believed that magnesium in this combination reduces the harmful effects of acetylsalicylic acid on the mucous membrane of the stomach and intestines.

And don't use aspirin if the tablets smell strongly of vinegar—the medicine has probably gone bad!

In order for aspirin to effectively protect your blood vessels, it is prescribed for daily long-term, usually lifelong use. Most likely, you will not feel any changes in your body after starting treatment - but this does not mean that aspirin does not work!

special instructions

ASA can cause hypersensitivity reactions (for example, an attack of bronchial asthma (BA) or bronchospasm ). Risk factors are a history of asthma, nasal polyps, fever, chronic bronchopulmonary diseases, cases of allergies (skin manifestations of allergies , allergic rhinitis ).

ASA can increase the tendency to bleeding, which is due to its inhibitory effect on platelet . This must be taken into account when prescribing the drug to patients who are undergoing surgery (including minor surgery, such as tooth extraction).

The drug is stopped 5-7 days before surgery. The physician should be informed that the patient was taking Aspirin before surgery.

of gout in predisposed patients .

Aspirin - benefit or harm?

ASA is widely used as an analgesic , antipyretic and anti-inflammatory agent . In lower doses it is used to prevent the development of vascular complications.

Today, ASA is the only disaggregant whose effectiveness when used in the acute period of ischemic stroke (cerebral infarction) is supported by evidence-based medicine.

of colorectal cancer , as well as prostate , lung , esophagus and throat is significantly reduced .

An important feature of ASA is that it irreversibly inhibits COX, an enzyme that is involved in the synthesis of thromboxanes and Pg. Acting as an acetylating agent, ASA attaches an acetyl group to the serine residue in the active site of COX. This distinguishes the drug from other NSAIDs (in particular, ibuprofen and diclofenac), which belong to the group of reversible COX inhibitors.

Bodybuilders use the combination “Aspirin-Caffeine- Broncholithin ” as a fat burner (this mixture is considered the progenitor of all fat burners). Housewives have also found use of ASA in everyday life: the product is often used to remove sweat stains from white clothes and to water fungus-affected soil.

You can also use ASA for flowers: a crushed Aspirin tablet is added to water when you want to preserve cut plants longer.

Some women use Aspirin tablets as a contraceptive: the tablet is administered intravaginally 10-15 minutes before PA or dissolved in water and then douched with the resulting solution.

The effectiveness of this method of birth control has not been studied, however, gynecologists do not deny the right to its existence. At the same time, doctors note that the effectiveness of contraception using ASA is only about 10%.

There is also an opinion that using Aspirin can terminate a pregnancy. Doctors, of course, do not welcome such methods, but advise that if pregnancy is not planned and unwanted, you should still seek help from medical institutions in a timely manner.

Despite the large number of beneficial properties, the drug also has a bad reputation. Suppression of COX activity provokes a violation of the integrity of the walls of the digestive canal and is a factor in the development of peptic ulcers .

ASA can also be dangerous for children under 12 years of age. If used when a child has a viral infection, the drug can cause Reye's syndrome , a disease that poses a threat to the life of young patients.

Aspirin: yesterday and today

– Do you have acetylsalicylic acid? – Do you need aspirin? - Yes, I can’t remember this word. Aspirin is the colloquial name for acetylsalicylic acid. Today this drug is included in the list of essential medicines of the World Health Organization (WHO) and in the list of vital and essential medicines in Russia. This medicine also has a rich and interesting history.

History and reasons for popularity

It is believed that acetylsalicylic acid was first synthesized by the French scientist Charles Frederic Gerard in 1853 from the bark of the willow tree. And in a form suitable for medical use, already in 1897, in the laboratory of the Bayer company, it was created by the German chemist Felix Hoffmann, who was trying to find a cure for his father, who suffered from rheumatism.

According to the laws of the German Empire at the time, chemical compounds were not subject to patenting, but a unique trademark could be registered. Therefore, the word “aspirin” was invented to name the new drug. “A” was taken from “acetyl”, “spir” from the Latin name for the herb meadowsweet, spirea, rich in salicin, “in” - as a typical ending for a word denoting a drug. At first, aspirin was sold in powder form, and since 1904 - in tablet form. Being inexpensive, effective and relatively harmless, it quickly became the most popular pain reliever.

In the Soviet Union, aspirin was a truly universal remedy: mothers and grandmothers canned cucumbers with it, it was added to poison for cockroaches, to cosmetic masks as a remedy for acne, to remove stains from sweat and blood, and was used as a hair rinse after swimming in chlorinated pool water. , fought the effects of insect bites and fertilized plants in gardens, treated dandruff and hangovers, added them to car batteries, used them instead of flux and rosin for soldering and made roses stay fresh longer, cleared blockages in sinks, treated calluses, and used them instead of a tonic.

It seems that Soviet people tried to use penny tablets in any way they wanted, just not for their intended purpose. From time to time, “cutting-edge” discoveries of aspirin substitutes appeared in the press. In its place, they offered tomatoes, honey, prunes, raisins, dill, raspberries, ginger and saffron. And dozens more different products that are useful from the point of view of traditional medicine. But the white willow bark always prevailed in this dispute.

And it is not surprising, since Hippocrates used its decoction in combination with poppy tincture as an antipyretic and analgesic. And in the 18th century, a British abbot conducted the first “clinical trials” in history, in which fifty fever patients participated. He proved the antipyretic effect of white willow bark extract and reported the results to the Royal Society.

Multifunctional medicine

But the main task of aspirin today is to prevent strokes and heart attacks.

Aspirin is known to prevent blood clots. The results of numerous studies indicate that the maximum positive effect from the preventive use of acetylsalicylic acid can be achieved if you take the drug for at least five years. At the same time, the drug is more effective in preventing heart attack in men, and stroke in women.

Currently, acetylsalicylic acid is the only antiplatelet drug whose effectiveness when prescribed in the acute period of ischemic stroke is supported by evidence-based medicine.

American oncologists want to include aspirin in recommendations for cancer prevention.

Experts have analyzed numerous research results that confirm the antitumor effect of aspirin. According to the scientists' findings, preventive intake of 75–325 mg of aspirin per day for ten years helps reduce the likelihood of colorectal cancer by 35%, and the risk of death from it by 40%. Moreover, among patients regularly taking aspirin, cancer of the esophagus and stomach developed 30% less often.

Taking aspirin daily reduces the risk of developing breast cancer by 20%. According to other studies, regular use of acetylsalicylic acid reduces the 20-year risk of developing prostate cancer by 10%, lung cancer by 30%, colon cancer by 40%, and esophageal and throat cancer by 60%.

Researchers at Harvard Medical School, together with colleagues from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Massachusetts General Hospital, have for the first time established that taking aspirin is associated with stopping the growth of vestibular schwannoma, a benign tumor that grows from Schwann cells of the auditory nerve. In some cases, it leads to the development of a lethal intracranial tumor and also causes hearing loss and tinnitus.

According to medical observations, aspirin also:

relieves migraine attacks
(dose 2000 mg) as successfully as drugs specially developed for this purpose (the so-called triptan series), which can only be purchased with a doctor’s prescription. In fairness, it should be noted that both medications help only half of the sufferers, and only one in four bring complete relief from the attack.
lowers blood sugar levels
. This property of salicylates (the same ones that willow bark is so rich in) has been known to doctors since the 19th century. But the mechanism was discovered by young Chinese scientists only in 2003. It turned out that aspirin increases the sensitivity of cells to insulin, a decrease in which is the basis of type II diabetes. In 2011, the American Diabetes Association included 75–162 mg daily aspirin in its recommendations.
weakens the activity of Staphylococcus aureus
, a well-known hospital resident, which many become familiar with literally from birth. Staphylococcus does not bother anyone as long as it lives on the skin and mucous membranes. Its migration into the blood is dangerous. Especially for people with weakened immune systems: newborns, the elderly, postoperative patients. Alas, today the damned microbe has perfectly adapted to almost all known antibiotics. Therefore, the role of aspirin as a good ally in the fight against it is extremely important.

An unexpected use for the drug was discovered by researchers at the University of Chicago. They stated that aspirin may help combat intermittent explosive disorder. This is the inability to control aggressive impulses, which usually appears towards the end of adolescence.

Currently, studies are being conducted on aspirin as a means of primary prevention of complications of atherosclerosis and even...Alzheimer's disease.

Panacea? Not at all! Medical historians believe that mass use of aspirin (10–30 g each) significantly increased mortality during the 1918 influenza pandemic. And it has a lot of side effects... But the facts are stubborn things: more than 80 billion aspirin tablets are consumed annually, and in 2009, researchers discovered that salicylic acid, a derivative of which is acetylsalicylic acid, can be produced by the human body.

Valentina Saratovskaya

Photo thinkstockphotos.com

Product by topic: [product](acetylsalicylic acid), [product](aspirin)

Aspirin analogues

Level 4 ATC code matches:
Acetylsalicylic acid

Aspirin-S

Citropak

Citramon

Coficil-Plus

Farmadol

Askofen-P

Cefekon N

Aquacitramon

Upsarin UPSA

Citrapack

Alca Prim

Thrombopol

Citrapar

Structural analogues: Acetylsalicylic acid , Aspirin UPSA , Thrombo Ass , Taspir , Fluspirin , Asprovit , Aspirin “York” (or “American aspirin” is another name for this drug).

What can replace Aspirin?

Analogs with a similar mechanism of action: Aspirin Complex s, Askofen-P , Citrapar , Sodium salicylate , Cofitil-Plus , Asprovit-S , Aspagel , Alka-Prim , AnGricaps , Tsefekon N.

Which is better: Aspirin or Aspirin Cardio?

When asked what is the difference between Aspirin and Aspirin Cardio, doctors answer that the differences between the drugs are the dosage of the active substance (lower in Aspirin Cardio) and the fact that Aspirin Cardio tablets are produced in a special enteric coating, which protects the mucous membrane of the digestive canal from the aggressive action of ASA.

Aspirin and Aspirin Cardio have different indications for use. The first (it contains 500 mg of ASA) is used as an analgesic , antipyretic and anti-inflammatory agent . Aspirin Cardio, the concentration of ASA in which is 100 or 300 mg/tablet, is prescribed for the prevention and treatment of:

thrombosis and embolism after CABG, transdermal intravascular coronary angioplasty and other vascular operations;
myocardial infarction;
unstable angina ;
passing disturbances of blood flow in the brain and stroke at the premorbid stage;
coronary artery thrombosis in patients at risk;
migraine (including for long-term prevention).

Can children be given Aspirin?

It is recommended to give Aspirin to children from the age of 12.

It is prohibited to give drugs containing ASA to children with a fever that rises due to a viral infection

Thus, the combination of Aspirin and a viral infection can cause the development of Reye 's syndrome, a disease that affects the brain and liver and from which approximately one in five young patients die.

The risk of developing Reye's syndrome increases in cases where ASA is used as a concomitant drug, but there is no evidence of a cause-and-effect relationship in such cases. One of the signs of Reye's syndrome is prolonged vomiting.

As a single dose, children under three years old are usually given 100 mg, children four to six years old - 200 mg, and children seven to nine years old - 300 mg ASA.

The recommended dose for a child is 60 mg/kg/day, divided into 4-6 doses, or 15 mg/kg every 6 hours or 10 mg/kg every 4 hours. The drug in this dosage form is not used in children under three years of age.

Description of the drug ASPIRIN