Aspirin

What Aspirin (Acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin)) is used for

Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) from the salicylate family. It works by blocking natural substances in the body that cause pain, fever, swelling and blood clotting. It is used in two quite different ways. Aspirin for pain relief is taken only when needed to ease pain or fever. Low-dose aspirin is taken regularly, on a doctor's advice, to make blood platelets less sticky and lower the chance of a clot, heart attack or stroke. It comes as ordinary tablets, dispersible tablets that dissolve in water, chewable tablets and slow-release tablets.

• Easing mild to moderate pain, such as headache
• Lowering a fever
• Reducing swelling and inflammation
• Lowering the chance of another heart attack or stroke in people who have had one, or who have had heart bypass surgery (low-dose aspirin, on a doctor's advice)
• Lowering the chance of a heart attack or stroke in people who have had a mini-stroke (TIA) (low-dose aspirin, on a doctor's advice)
• Helping to prevent high blood pressure in pregnancy (pre-eclampsia), when a doctor recommends it (low-dose aspirin)

Side effects, warnings and interactions for Acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin)

Prepared from the sources listed by the MedInfoBase team. General information, not medical advice: it gives no doses. Your doctor or pharmacist decides the medicine and dose for you.