Aspirin does two quite different jobs depending on the dose. At 300mg and above it is a painkiller and anti-inflammatory. At 75mg it is barely a painkiller at all — it is a blood-thinning medicine taken every day to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke. People sometimes confuse the two, which matters.
Low-dose aspirin, usually 75mg once daily, makes platelets less likely to clump together and form a clot. It is prescribed for people who have had a heart attack, a stroke or a mini-stroke (TIA), for those with angina or peripheral arterial disease, and after certain heart procedures.
It is not recommended for healthy people as a general precaution — the bleeding risk outweighs the benefit unless you have established cardiovascular disease. Do not start taking it daily off your own bat; that is a conversation with your GP.
If you have been prescribed it, take it at the same time each day, with or after food. Do not stop it without medical advice, including before dental work, unless you have been told to.
At painkilling doses aspirin works much like ibuprofen, treating headache, period pain, toothache and fever. In practice paracetamol and ibuprofen have largely replaced it, because they are gentler on the stomach or have fewer restrictions.
It is not suitable for anyone under 16 years old.
Also avoid, or check first, if you:
Indigestion and stomach irritation are the most common. Because aspirin thins the blood, bruising and nosebleeds are more likely, and cuts take longer to stop bleeding.
Get urgent help for vomiting blood or coffee-ground vomit, black tarry stools, or any bleeding that will not stop.
Aspirin interacts with a long list of medicines including ibuprofen and other anti-inflammatories, anticoagulants, methotrexate and some diabetes medicines. Tell us what you take before buying it.
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