Aspirin – low dose
Sounds like 'ass-prin'
Key points about low-dose aspirin
- In Aotearoa New Zealand low strengths of aspirin are available as 75 mg or 100 mg tablets.
- Low-dose aspirin is taken daily to prevent blood clots.
- Find out how to take it safely and possible side effects.
Aspirin is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). In Aotearoa New Zealand, low strengths or 'doses' of aspirin are available as 75 mg or 100 mg. It’s taken long-term to prevent your blood from forming clots by making it less sticky.
Preventing clots in blood vessels that lead to your brain and heart muscle helps lower your risk of having a stroke and heart attack.
- Aspirin is especially effective if you've had a heart attack, angina (chest pain), stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA or mini-strokes).
- You may be prescribed aspirin if you have unstable angina or if you haven’t 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’ll 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 you're 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.
In Aotearoa New Zealand low-dose aspirin is also called Aspec®, Cartia®, Aspirin-AFT, Aspirin (Ethics®, Pharmacy Health®, Medco®) or Medreich Aspirin® . These are available to buy over the counter or on a prescription from your doctor.
The information on this page is about low-dose aspirin. For short-term pain relief, higher doses of aspirin are used. Read more about using non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) for pain relief.
Video: How does aspirin work?
The following animation describes how aspirin works in the body.
(British Heart Foundation, UK, 2018)
To prevent blood clots, the usual dose of aspirin is 75 to 150 mg once a day.
There are different forms of aspirin available, but low-dose aspirin usually comes as an enteric-coated tablet that protects your stomach from irritation. This is important because low-dose aspirin is usually taken long-term.
- Enteric coated tablet: If you’re taking a coated aspirin tablet, swallow the tablet whole with a glass of water. Don’t crush or chew the tablet.
- Dispersible tablet: If you’ve been given dispersible (dissolvable) tablets, stir each tablet in a glass of water and swallow when it's dissolved.
- Timing: Take your aspirin dose at the same time each day.
- Food: It doesn’t matter if you take enteric coated aspirin tablets with or without food.
- Missed dose: If you forget to take your dose, take it as soon as you remember. But if it's nearly time for your next dose, just take the next dose at the usual time. Don't take double the dose. If you're not sure what to do, ask your healthcare provider.
- It's important to take it as prescribed: See tips to help you remember to take your medicines regularly.
- Are you under 16 or over 70 years of age?
- Do you have problems with your kidneys or liver?
- Do you have heart failure or a bleeding disorder?
- 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?
- Are you pregnant or breastfeeding?
If so, it’s important that you tell your healthcare provider 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.
Aspirin is not suitable for children under the age of 16 years unless it’s been prescribed by a healthcare provider.
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.
Other medicines
Taking some medicines together with aspirin may increase your risk of bleeding and should be avoided.
- Aspirin interacts with some medicines, herbal supplements (eg, garlic and ginseng) and rongoā Māori, so check with your healthcare provider before starting aspirin and before starting any new products.
- Also check with your pharmacist before taking any over-the-counter anti-inflammatories such as diclofenac (eg, Voltaren Rapid) or ibuprofen (eg, Nurofen). These can also be found in cold and flu medicines.
- Indigestion medicines: If you also take indigestion remedies, take them at least 2 hours before or after you take your aspirin.
Surgical procedures including dental work
It’s important to let any healthcare providers know that you’re taking aspirin. You may need to stop taking aspirin for a short time before your procedure.
70 years of age or over
If you're 70 years of age or over, talk to your healthcare provider about the benefits and risks of continuing to take low-dose aspirin.
Pregnancy or breastfeeding
Talk to your healthcare provider if you're pregnant, planning a pregnancy or want to breastfeed. Read more about low-dose aspirin in pregnancy.
Like all medicines, low-dose 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 your stomach or gut
Most people don't have any side-effects with low-dose aspirin, but some people may develop bleeding in their 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 or ginseng.
If you get tummy (stomach) pains, pass blood or black stools (poo), or bring up (vomit) blood, stop taking aspirin and call your doctor immediately. Always check with your healthcare provider before starting aspirin or before starting any new medicines including herbal supplements.
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Read more about medicines and side effects and reporting a reaction you think might be a side effect.
The following links have more information on low-dose aspirin.
Aspirin (low dose)(external link) NZ Formulary Patient Information te reo Māori(external link)
Brochures
Medicines and side effects(external link) Healthify He Puna Waiora, NZ, 2024
5 questions to ask about your medications(external link) Health Quality and Safety Commission, NZ, 2019 English(external link), te reo Māori(external link)
Apps/tools
Aspirin bleeding risk calculator
Medication reminder apps
References
- (external link)Aspirin(external link) New Zealand Formulary, NZ
- Cardiovascular disease risk assessment in primary care – the role of aspirin(external link) BPAC, NZ, 2018
- A follow-up to acute coronary syndromes(external link) BPAC, NZ, 2015
- Managing patients taking anticoagulants and antiplatelets prior to minor procedures and surgery(external link) BPAC, NZ, 2018
Brochures
Medicines and side effects
Healthify He Puna Waiora, NZ, 2024
Health Quality and Safety Commission, NZ, 2019 English, te reo Māori
Free helplines
Credits: Sandra Ponen, Pharmacist, Healthify He Puna Waiora. Healthify is brought to you by Health Navigator Charitable Trust.
Reviewed by: Stephanie Yee, Pharmacist, Auckland
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