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Aspirin – low dose

Sounds like 'ass-prin'

Key points about aspirin low dose

Low strengths of aspirin are used to make it less likely for your blood to clot.
Aspirin is also called Aspec®, Cartia®, Aspirin (Ethics)® or HeartCare®.
Find out how to take it safely and possible side effects.

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Low strengths or "doses" of aspirin are used to make it less likely for your blood to clot. It blocks certain blood cells called platelets and slows down your body’s ability to clot blood. It is used to prevent blood clots forming in blood vessels that lead to your brain and heart muscle. Preventing blood clots in these vessels helps lower your risk of stroke and heart attack.

Aspirin is especially effective if you have had a heart attack, angina (chest pain), stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA or mini-strokes). Taking low-dose aspirin reduces the risk of a further event by about 25% over 5 years.
You may be prescribed aspirin if you have unstable angina or if you have not had a heart attack or stroke but are at high risk of having one – this is checked at a cardiovascular or heart risk assessment. You will also be advised to make lifestyle changes to reduce your risk of having a heart attack or stroke.

Aspirin may not be suitable if you don’t have heart disease and are not considered to be at high risk of developing it. The risk of side effects (particularly the risk of bleeding) outweighs the benefit of preventing blood clots.

The following animation describes how aspirin works in the body (British Heart Foundation).

To prevent blood clots, the usual dose of aspirin is 75 to 150 milligrams once a day.

Take your aspirin dose at the same time each day.
There are different forms of aspirin available:
- Enteric coated tablet: some aspirin tablets have a special coating, to reduce the risk of stomach irritation. These are called 'enteric coated' or EC tablets. If you are taking a coated aspirin tablet, swallow the tablet whole with a glass of water. Do not crush or chew. This affects the special coating. It does not matter if you take the coated aspirin tablets with or without food.
- Dispersible tablet: if you have been given dispersible tablets, stir each tablet in a glass of water and swallow when dissolved.
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember that day. Do not take 2 doses on the same day.

Do you have problems with your kidneys or liver?
Do you have heart failure?
Have you ever had a stomach ulcer or bleeding in your brain?
Do you have gout?
Do you have asthma?
Do you have problems controlling your high blood pressure?
Have you ever had a reaction to aspirin?

If so, it’s important that you tell your doctor or pharmacist before you start aspirin. Sometimes a medicine isn’t suitable for a person with certain conditions, or it can only be used with extra care.

Here are some things to know when you're taking aspirin. Other things may be important as well, so ask your healthcare provider what you should know about.

Aspirin interacts with some medications, herbal supplements and rongoā Māori, so check with your doctor or pharmacist before starting aspirin and before starting any new products.

Also check with your pharmacist before taking:

over-the-counter anti-inflammatories such as diclofenac (eg, Voltaren Rapid), ibuprofen (eg, Nurofen), naproxen (eg, Naprogesic)
herbal extracts such as garlic, ginkgo or ginseng.

Taking these together with aspirin may increase your risk of bleeding and should be avoided.

Like all medicines, aspirin can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them. Often side effects improve as your body gets used to the new medicine.

Bleeding in the stomach or gut

Most people do not have any side-effects with low-dose aspirin, but some people may develop bleeding in the stomach or gut. This is more common if you

have a stomach or duodenal ulcer
are also taking an anti-inflammatory medicine (such as ibuprofen, diclofenac or naproxen)
are also taking a steroid medicine such as prednisone or dexamethasone
are also taking herbal extracts such as garlic, ginkgo or ginseng.

If you get tummy (stomach) pains, pass blood or black stools (poos), or bring up (vomit) blood, stop taking aspirin and call your doctor immediately. Always check with your doctor or pharmacist before starting aspirin or before starting any new medicines including herbal supplements.

Side effects	What should I do?
Stomach upset or indigestion	Try taking aspirin with or after a meal Tell your doctor if troublesome
Signs of stomach bleeding such as dark coloured vomit or dark stools (poo)	Tell your doctor immediately or ring HealthLine 0800 611 116
Signs of an allergic reaction such as skin rash, itching, swelling of the lips, face, and mouth or difficulty breathing	Tell your doctor immediately or ring HealthLine 0800 611 116
Read more about medicines and side effects and reporting a reaction you think might be a side effect.

Angina
Stroke | Mate rehu ohotata

The following links have more information on low-dose aspirin.
Aspirin (low dose)(external link) (te reo Māori(external link)) NZ Formulary Patient Information