Aspirin and Antiplatelet Medications (cont.)
What are the side effects of aspirin?
Serious side effects of aspirin and other NSAIDs occur infrequently. However,
they may occur and generally tend to be more frequent with higher doses.
Therefore, it is advisable to use the lowest effective dose to minimize side
effects.
The most common side effects of aspirin involve the gastrointestinal system.
Aspirin can cause:
- ulcers of the stomach and duodenum (first part of
the small intestine),
- abdominal pain,
- nausea,
- gastritis
(inflammation of the stomach), and
- even serious gastrointestinal bleeding from ulcers.
Occasionally,
aspirin may be toxic to the liver.
Sometimes, ulcers of the stomach and bleeding
occur without any abdominal pain, and the only signs of bleeding may be:
Another serious but rare side effect of aspirin is intracranial hemorrhage
(bleeding into the tissues of the brain), similar to a hemorrhagic stroke.
Aspirin can impair function of the kidney and liver,
especially in patients who already have liver and kidney disease. Other side
effects of aspirin include easy bruising, vertigo, ringing in the ears
(tinnitus), and lightheadedness.
Serious side effects of aspirin, such as bleeding ulcers
or intracranial bleeding, are rare (less than 1% of patients) among patients
taking moderate doses of aspirin (for example, 325 mg/d). Serious side effects of
aspirin should be even lower with low doses such as 75-160 mg/d. However, the
actual incidence of
serious bleeding with long-term use of low dose aspirin has not been clearly
determined.
Next: What is aspirin allergy? »
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