Maybe you are dealing with chest pains, you are in need of a blood thinner or a painkiller? Than it might be that your doctor prescribed you Acetylsalicylic Acid, better known as Aspirin.

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Generic name: Acetylsalicylic Acid.
•Brand names: Aspirin.
•Available as: tablet, suppository or effervescent tablet.

How to use it?
- Tablet; Just swallow it with half a glass of water.
- Suppository; Insert it into the anus. If necessary you can first moisten it with a little water. This makes it easier to insert
- Effervescent tablet; dissolve the tablet in a glass of water. Wait a moment for the fizzing to stop and then drink the glass. Afterwards rinse the glass with a little water and drink that water as well.

When using aspirin as a tablet or effervescent tablet, than make sure to do so after a meal. This will decrease the side effects you might experience.

When to use it?
Aspirin inhibits prostaglandin synthesis. This causes a painkilling, fever reducing and inflammation reducing effect. In a low dose Aspirin also inhibits platelet aggregation, prolonging bleeding time. This makes it an effective blood thinning medication.
That is why Aspirin can be used to treat angina pectoris, it can be used to prevent a heart or cerebral infarction and it can be used to reduce fever and pain.

What is the correct dosage?
The precise dose will depend on your specific indication of use, the side effect you might experience and the severity of your symptoms. Therefore always use the precise amount and frequency your doctor prescribed you.
- However, when using it as a painkiller, most doctors will start with an initial dose of 500–1000 mg 4-8 times per day (when using tablets). For a max. Dose of 4 g per day.
- When using as a blood thinner, most doctor will prescribe a dose of 160 (–200) mg/day on the first day and 80 (–100) mg 1×/day for the following days.

What are the side-effects?
The following side effects are seen when using aspirin as a painkiller:
- Common (1-10%): stomach pain, nausea, vomiting and dyspepsia.
- Uncommon (0.1-1%): Skin reactions such as rash, urticaria, edema and itching.
- Rare (0.01-0.1%): hypersensitivity reactions, gastrointestinal haemorrhage, gastrointestinal ulcer, severe skin reactions or severe bleeding.
- Very rare (0.01%): Reye's syndrome.

The following side effects are seen when using aspirin as a blood thinner:
- Common (1-10%): hypersensitivity symptoms and prolonged bleeding time.
- Uncommon (0.1-1%): nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, flatulence, constipation and dyspepsia.
- Rare (0.01-0.1%): gastrointestinal bleeding, anaemia.
- Very rare (0.01%): Blood abnormalities, blistering rash, Reye's disease in adults, cataract and cerebral or intracranial haemorrhage.

Safety:
- The usage of aspirin can lead to dizziness or fatigue. Please do not drive while experiencing this.
- Furthermore, alcohol increases stomach complaints. If you do experience nausea or stomach pains after the usage of aspirin, than be carefull with alcohol, as this can increase those complaints.
- Lastly, Aspirin could be dangerous for pregnant women and women who are breastfeeding. Therefore always discuss this with your personal doctor.

- Disclaimer: this video and the comments are meant purely informational! This is not medical advice! If you are looking for medical advice always contact your own doctor. -

Literature:
1: Farmacotherapeutisch Kompas. (2022). Acetylsalicylzuur.
2: Apotheek.nl (2022). Acetylsalicylzuur bij pijn of ontsteking.

* The images in this video are used for educational purposes only. Most of the images and videos in this video come from https://www.canva.com/.

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