aspirin

= acetylsalicylic acid; n.

a widely used drug that relieves pain and also reduces inflammation and fever. It is taken by mouth – alone or in combination with other analgesics – for the relief of the less severe types of pain, such as headache, toothache, neuralgias, and the pain of rheumatoid arthritis. It is also taken to reduce fever in influenza and the common cold. Daily low doses of aspirin are used in the prevention of coronary thrombosis and strokes in those at risk, and it has been shown to have a protective effect against a range of other conditions, including cataracts, colorectal cancer, and Behçet's syndrome. Aspirin works by inhibiting the production of prostaglandins; it may irritate the lining of the stomach, causing nausea, vomiting, pain, and bleeding. Tablets should not be held on the gum adjacent to a painful tooth as ulceration may occur. High doses cause dizziness, disturbed hearing, mental confusion, and overbreathing (see salicylism). Aspirin has been implicated as a cause of Reye's syndrome and should therefore not be given to children below the age of 16 years unless specifically indicated.

See also: analgesic