a·ce·tyl·sal·i·cyl·ic acid ( -s t l-s l -sl k)n. Abbr. ASA See aspirin. |
Acetylsalicylic acid
acetylsalicylic acid (ASA).
acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin)
Alka (UK), Angettes (UK), Apo-Asa (CA), Apo-ASEN (CA), Arthrinol (CA), Arthrisin (CA), Artria S.R. (CA), ASA, Aspergum, Aspercin, Aspir-Low, Astrin (CA), Bayer, Caprin (UK), Coryphen (CA), Dispirin (UK), Easprin, Ecotrin, Enpirin (UK), Entrophen (CA), Halfprin, Headache Tablet (CA), Micoprin (UK), Novasen (CA), Nu-Seals (UK), PMS-ASA (CA), PostMI (UK), Sal-Adult (CA), Sal-Infant (CA), St. Joseph, Supasa (CA), Sureprin, ZORprin
Pharmacologic class: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)
Therapeutic class: Nonopioid analgesic, antipyretic, antiplatelet drug
Pregnancy risk category C (with full dose in third trimester: D )
Action
Reduces pain and inflammation by inhibiting prostaglandin production. Fever reduction mechanism unknown; may be linked to decrease in endogenous pyrogens in hypothalamus resulting from prostaglandin inhibition. Exerts antiplatelet effect by inhibiting synthesis of prostacyclin and thromboxane A2.
Availability
Gum (chewable): 227 mg
Suppositories: 60 mg, 120 mg, 200 mg, 300 mg, 325 mg, 600 mg, 650 mg
Tablets: 81 mg, 325 mg, 500 mg
Tablets (chewable): 81 mg
Tablets (enteric-coated, delayed-release): 81 mg, 162 mg, 325 mg, 500 mg, 650 mg, 975 mg
Tablets (extended-release): 650 mg, 800 mg
Tablets (film-coated): 325 mg, 500 mg
⊘Indications and dosages
➣ Mild pain or fever
Adults: 325 to 500 mg P.O. q 3 hours, or 325 to 650 mg P.O. q 4 hours, or 650 to 1,000 mg P.O. q 6 hours, to a maximum dosage of 4,000 mg/day.
Extended-release tablets - 650 mg to 1,300 mg q 8 hours, not to exceed 3,900 mg/day; or 800 mg q 12 hours.
Children: 10 to 15 mg/kg P.O. or P.R. q 4 hours, not to exceed total daily dosage of 3.6 g, or up to 60 to 80 mg/kg/day. See chart below.
| Age | Dosage |
| 12-14 years | 648 mg q 4 hr |
| 11-12 years | 486 mg q 4 hr |
| 9-10 years | 405 mg q 4 hr |
| 6-8 years | 324 mg q 4 hr |
| 4-5 years | 243 mg q 4 hr |
| 2-3 years | 162 mg q 4 hr |
Contraindications
• Hypersensitivity to salicylates, other NSAIDs, or tartrazine
• Renal impairment
• Severe hepatic impairment
• Hemorrhagic states or blood coagulation defects
• Vitamin K deficiency caused by dehydration
• Concurrent anticoagulant use
• Pregnancy (third trimester) or breastfeeding
Precautions
Use with extreme caution, if at all, in:
• hepatic disorders, anemia, asthma, gastritis, Hodgkin's disease
• heart failure or other conditions in which high sodium content is harmful (buffered aspirin)
• patients receiving other salicylates or NSAIDs concurrently
• elderly patients
• children and adolescents.
Administration
☞ Never administer to child or adolescent who has signs or symptoms of chickenpox or flulike illness.
☞ Don't give within 6 weeks after administration of live varicella virus vaccine, because of risk of Reye's syndrome.
• Give with food or large amounts of water or milk to minimize GI irritation.
• Know that extended-release and enteric-coated forms are best for long-term therapy.
• Be aware that aspirin should be discontinued at least 1 week before surgery because it may inhibit platelet aggregation.
| Route | Onset | Peak | Duration |
| P.O. (tablets) | 15-30 min | 1-2 hr | 4-6 hr |
| P.O. (chewable) | Rapid | Unknown | 1-4 hr |
| P.O. (enteric-coated) | 5-30 min | 2-4 hr | 8-12 hr |
| P.O. (extended) | 5-30 min | 1-4 hr | 3-6 hr |
| P.R. | 5-30 min | 3-4 hr | 1-4 hr |
Adverse reactions
EENT: hearing loss, tinnitus, ototoxicity
GI: nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dyspepsia, epigastric distress, heartburn, anorexia, GI bleeding
Hematologic: thrombocytopenia, hemolytic anemia, leukopenia, agranulocytosis, shortened red blood cell life span
Hepatic: hepatotoxicity
Metabolic: hyponatremia, hypokalemia, hypoglycemia
Respiratory: wheezing, hyperpnea, pulmonary edema with toxicity
Skin: rash, urticaria, bruising, angioedema
Other: hypersensitivity reactions, salicylism or acute toxicity
Interactions
Drug-drug. Acidifying drugs (such as ammonium chloride): increased salicylate blood level
Activated charcoal: decreased salicylate absorption
Alkalinizing drugs (such as antacids): decreased salicylate blood level
Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors: decreased antihypertensive effect
Anticoagulants, NSAIDs, thrombolytics: increased bleeding risk
Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (such as acetazolamide): salicylism
Corticosteroids: increased salicylate excretion and decreased blood level
Furosemide: increased diuretic effect
Live varicella virus vaccine: increased risk of Reye's syndrome
Methotrexate: decreased methotrexate excretion and increased blood level, causing greater risk of toxicity
Nizatidine: increased salicylate blood level
Spironolactone: decreased spironolactone effect
Sulfonylureas (such as chlorpropamide, tolbutamide): enhanced sulfonylurea effects
Tetracycline (oral): decreased absorption of tetracycline (with buffered aspirin)
Drug-diagnostic tests. Alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, amylase, aspartate aminotransferase, coagulation studies, PaCO2, uric acid: increased values
Cholesterol, glucose, potassium, protein-bound iodine, sodium, thyroxine, triiodothyronine: decreased levels
Pregnancy test, protirelin-induced thyroid stimulating hormone, radionuclide thyroid imaging, serum theophylline (Schack and Waxler method), urine catecholamines, urine glucose, urine hydroxyindoleacetic acid, urine ketones (ferric chloride method), urine vanillylmandelic acid: test interference
Tests using phenosulfonphthalein as diagnostic agent: decreased urinary excretion of phenosulfonphthalein
Urine protein: increased level
Drug-food. Urine-acidifying foods: increased salicylate blood level
Drug-herbs. Anise, arnica, cayenne, chamomile, clove, fenugreek, feverfew, garlic, ginger, ginkgo biloba, ginseng, horse chestnut, kelpware, licorice: increased bleeding risk
Drug-behaviors. Alcohol use: increased bleeding risk
Patient monitoring
☞ Watch for signs and symptoms of hypersensitivity and other adverse reactions, especially bleeding tendency.
• Stay alert for signs and symptoms of acute toxicity, such as diplopia, ECG abnormalities, generalized seizures, hallucinations, hyperthermia, oliguria, acute renal failure, incoherent speech, irritability, restlessness, tremor, vertigo, confusion, disorientation, mania, lethargy, laryngeal edema, anaphylaxis, and coma.
• Monitor elderly patients carefully because they're at greater risk for salicylate toxicity.
• With prolonged therapy, frequently assess hemoglobin, hematocrit, International Normalized Ratio, and kidney function test results.
• Check salicylate blood levels frequently.
• Evaluate patient for signs and symptoms of ototoxicity (hearing loss, tinnitus, ataxia, and vertigo).
Patient teaching
• Tell patient to report ototoxicity symptoms, unusual bleeding, and bruising.
• Caution patient to avoid activities that may cause injury. Advise him to use soft toothbrush and electric razor to avoid gum and skin injury.
• Instruct patient to tell all prescribers he's taking the drug, because it may cause serious interactions with many common medications.
• Tell patient not to take other over-the-counter preparations containing aspirin.
• Inform patient that he may need to undergo regular blood testing during therapy.
• As appropriate, review all other significant and life-threatening adverse reactions and interactions, especially those related to the drugs, tests, foods, herbs, and behaviors mentioned above.
acetylsalicylic acid
Patient discussion about Enpirin.
Q. Is it safe to take aspirin during pregnancy? I have been having headaches and want to take an aspirin to relieve the pain however I am pregnant. Can I take aspirin whilst pregnant?
Check the labels of all over-the-counter drugs to make sure they don't contain aspirin or other NSAIDs. Better yet, check with your caregiver or pharmacist. It can be hard to tell because some products list their ingredients under different names. Aspirin is sometimes called salicylate or acetylsalicylic acid, for example.
When you need to take something for pain relief while you're pregnant, acetaminophen (Tylenol) is considered safe to use as directed on the label.
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