Acetylsalicylic acid (Aspirin) brands and prices in Pakistan

About Acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin)

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.

Who should not take it, or should take care

• Do not take it if you have ever had an allergic reaction to aspirin, ibuprofen or another NSAID, including asthma attacks, swelling, hives or a runny nose caused by these medicines.
• Do not take it if you have a stomach ulcer now or have had one in the past.
• Do not take it if you have haemophilia or another bleeding problem.
• Do not take it if you have, or have had, gout.
• Do not take it with anticoagulant blood thinners such as warfarin unless your doctor has told you to.
• Children under 16: do not give it unless a doctor prescribes it.
• Take care and ask your doctor first if you have asthma, frequent stuffy or runny nose, or nasal polyps, as these raise the chance of an allergic reaction.
• Tell your doctor if you have heart failure, liver or kidney disease, anaemia, frequent heartburn or stomach pain, or G6PD deficiency, or if you are dehydrated.
• If you drink alcohol heavily, ask your doctor whether aspirin is safe for you.
• Pregnancy: aspirin for pain is not recommended at any stage of pregnancy, and paracetamol is usually preferred. Higher amounts later in pregnancy can harm the baby and affect labour. Low-dose aspirin is sometimes recommended by a doctor in pregnancy, for example to help prevent pre-eclampsia. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a baby.
• Breastfeeding: advice differs. NHS says check with your doctor before taking low-dose aspirin and that aspirin for pain is not usually recommended (paracetamol is preferred). The UK leaflet for low-dose dispersible tablets says not to take it while breastfeeding. Ask your doctor.
• The tablets may contain lactose. Tell your doctor if you have been told you cannot digest some sugars.

Medicines and drinks that can interact

• Anticoagulant blood thinners such as warfarin, rivaroxaban and heparin, which raise the risk of bleeding
• Other antiplatelet medicines such as clopidogrel. A doctor may prescribe low-dose aspirin with clopidogrel on purpose, but people taking clopidogrel should not take aspirin for pain relief unless a doctor says so.
• Other NSAID painkillers such as ibuprofen and naproxen. If you take aspirin regularly to protect your heart, ask your doctor before taking ibuprofen; they can advise how to space the two medicines.
• Steroid medicines such as hydrocortisone
• Some antidepressants, such as citalopram
• Some blood pressure medicines, including water tablets (diuretics), ACE inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers
• Methotrexate
• Phenytoin or sodium valproate (epilepsy medicines)
• Probenecid or sulfinpyrazone (gout medicines)
• Metoclopramide (an anti-sickness medicine) and antacids
• Metamizole (a painkiller), which may reduce the effect of low-dose aspirin on blood clotting
• Paracetamol can be taken with aspirin if needed.
• Tell your doctor or pharmacist about all medicines, herbal remedies, vitamins and supplements you take.

Always tell your doctor and pharmacist about every medicine, supplement and herbal product you take.

Using it safely

• For pain or fever, follow the packet or your doctor's instructions exactly and never take more than the label says. Take it ideally with or after food.
• Dissolve dispersible tablets in a glass of water before drinking. Swallow slow-release tablets whole with water; do not break, crush or chew them.
• If you take low-dose aspirin to protect your heart, do not stop it unless your doctor tells you to.
• If you forget a dose of regular aspirin, take it when you remember unless the next one is nearly due. Never take two doses together.
• Tell your doctor, surgeon or dentist that you take aspirin before any operation or dental treatment.
• Keep alcohol low, as it can make side effects more likely.
• Throw away tablets that smell strongly of vinegar.
• Store in the original pack, out of the reach of children.

Common questions

Can I give aspirin to my child?
No, not unless a doctor prescribes it. Aspirin is linked to Reye's syndrome, a rare but serious illness, in children and young people under 16. Ask a pharmacist for a suitable alternative for pain or fever.

Can I take aspirin if I might have dengue fever?
No. CDC advises not to take aspirin or ibuprofen in dengue, and to use paracetamol for fever and pain. Go to a clinic or emergency department straight away for warning signs such as tummy pain or tenderness, repeated vomiting, bleeding from the nose or gums, vomiting blood or blood in poo, or feeling very tired, restless or irritable.

Is low-dose aspirin the same as aspirin for pain?
It is the same medicine used in a different way. Low-dose aspirin is taken regularly on a doctor's advice to prevent clots, heart attacks and strokes. Aspirin for pain relief is taken only when needed. Do not swap one for the other without asking your doctor or pharmacist.

Should I take aspirin to protect my heart?
Only if your doctor advises it. Aspirin can cause stomach bleeding and other side effects, so a doctor needs to weigh the benefits and risks for you before you start.

Can I drink alcohol while taking aspirin?
Keep alcohol low. Alcohol can increase the risk of side effects. If you drink heavily, ask your doctor whether aspirin is right for you.

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.