Aspirin, also known chemically as acetylsalicylic acid, is a medication with a long history of clinical use, primarily as an analgesic, antipyretic, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID).
Basic Information
English Name: Aspirin
CAS Number: 50-78-2
Molecular Formula: C9H8O4
Molecular Weight: 180.16
Pharmacological Effects
Analgesic and Antipyretic: Aspirin has a pronounced analgesic and antipyretic effect, reducing fever in patients and generally not affecting normal body temperature. Its analgesic effect is particularly effective for mild to moderate pain, especially inflammatory pain. It is commonly used for headaches, migraines, toothaches, neuralgia, arthralgia, myalgia, and menstrual pain.
Anti-inflammatory and Anti-rheumatic: At its maximum tolerated dose, aspirin demonstrates significant anti-inflammatory and anti-rheumatic effects, alleviating symptoms and reducing the erythrocyte sedimentation rate in patients with acute rheumatic fever. Therefore, it is used diagnostically and therapeutically, also effectively reducing inflammation and pain in patients with rheumatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Antiplatelet Aggregation: Aspirin inhibits platelet aggregation, thereby preventing thrombus formation. This effect has led to aspirin's widespread use in the prevention of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, such as transient ischemic attacks, myocardial infarction, atrial fibrillation, artificial heart valves, arteriovenous fistulas, or postoperative thrombosis.
Clinical Applications
Analgesic and Antipyretic: Used to relieve mild to moderate pain and reduce fever caused by illnesses like colds and flu.
Anti-inflammatory and Anti-rheumatic: The preferred drug for treating rheumatic fever, it reduces inflammation and improves joint symptoms, along with decreasing the erythrocyte sedimentation rate.
Antithrombotic: Prevents and treats cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases like myocardial infarction, unstable angina, cerebral infarction, and transient ischemic attacks.
