Aspirin

Aliases: ASA

Indications: Analgesic, Nonopioid; Antiplatelet Agent; Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug (NSAID), Oral; Salicylate

Contraindications:  Allergy, hypersensitivity to NSAIDs; patients with asthma, rhinitis, and nasal polyps; use in children or teenagers for viral infections, with or without fever.

Concentrations: 

Tablets: 81mg, 325mg, 500mg

Dosing

Adult:

Indication Dose Route Note 
Chest Pain 324mg, 325mgPO One time only 
Pain, Analgesia325mg, 500mgPOOne time only

Pediatric:  Do not use aspirin in pediatric patients <18 years who have or who are recovering from chickenpox or flu symptoms (eg, viral illness) due to the association with Reye syndrome. Can be used for treatment of Kawasaki disease.

Precautions: Use with caution in patients who have history of gastric ulcers, bariatric surgeries, GI bleeds, alcohol abuse, bleeding disorders, kidney disease, severe liver disease

Adverse/Side Effects: gastric irritation, gastric ulcers, GI bleed, increased bleeding, chronic urticaria, eosinophilia, drug rash, reactive airway disease

Class: Analgesic, Nonopioid; Antiplatelet Agent; Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug (NSAID), Oral; Salicylate

Mechanism of Action:

Onset of ActionPeak EffectDuration of Action 
Chewed: <20 Minutes Immediate release: < 1 hour Enteric Coated: 3-4 hours4 to 6 hours 4 to 6 hours  (platelet inhibition lasts 10 days)

Reyes Disease

Reye syndrome is a rapidly progressive encephalopathy with hepatic dysfunction, which often begins several days after apparent recovery from a viral illness, especially varicella or influenza A or B. Most cases occur in spring or winter. It is characterized by vomiting and confusion, rapidly evolving to seizures and coma.  Rates of Reye syndrome fell dramatically following the identification of salicylate use as a risk factor and advisories against use of aspirin in febrile children, especially in cases with varicella or influenza. Reye syndrome is a rare occurrence, with rates of one case per million children in the United States.