Aspirin

Question 1

Aspirin Overview

4 actions

Answer 1

Aspirin has the following pharmacological actions:

Analgesic
Antipyretic
Anti-inflammatory
Anti-platelet aggregation agent

Reduces mortality significantly in Acute Myocardial Infarction by minimising platelet aggregation and thrombus formation in order to retard the progression of coronary artery thrombosis.

Question 2

1 Aspirin Indications

Answer 2

Chest pain / discomfort of presumed cardiac origin.

Question 3

2 Aspirin Contraindications

Answer 3

Known hypersensitivity to aspirin / salicylates / NSAIDs.
Children < 16 years of age.

Question 4

3 Aspirin Precautions / Notes

Answer 4

Actively bleeding peptic ulcers.
Suspected AAA (abdominal aortic aneurysm).
Aspirin / salicylate-sensitive asthmatics

Question 5

Aspirin Special Considerations (Side Effects)

Answer 5

• Heart burn, nausea, GI bleeding.
• Increased bleeding time.
• Anaphylactic reaction (some patients, especially asthmatics) exhibit notable sensitivity to aspirin, which may provoke various hypersensitivity / allergic reactions