Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is Aspirin?DangersList of Medications With ASAWhen to Contact a Provider
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Is Aspirin?
Dangers
List of Medications With ASA
When to Contact a Provider
Which drug products containacetylsalicylicacid, otherwise known as aspirin or ASA? If you areexperiencing low platelet countsas a result of leukemia or lymphoma, or due to certain medical treatments, your healthcare provider will likely recommend that you avoid acetylsalicylic acid to prevent complications.
This article includes examples of aspirin and drug combinations that contain aspirin. It also goes over some of the reasons why you might want to avoid medications that contain aspirin.
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What Is Aspirin (Acetylsalicylic Acid or ASA)?
Aspirin is anonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug(NSAID), which means that it works to decrease inflammation, but it is not a steroid. Other medications are also considered NSAIDs, though these work in a slightly different way from aspirin.
Aspirin Uses
Aspirin may be used for conditions that range from minor aches and pains to arthritis and theprevention of heart attacks and strokes.Due to its effectiveness with fevers and minor aches and pains, it is a component of a very wide array of over-the-counter pain relievers, cold preparations, and more.
How Aspirin Works
Why Aspirin Can Sometimes Be Dangerous
With Leukemia or Lymphoma
There are a few reasons why aspirin may not be a wise choice during treatment for leukemia and lymphomas. Many of thetreatments for blood cancersreduce the number or effectiveness of platelets. Aspirin use could make this problem worse.
In addition, treatments for leukemias and lymphomas may result in a low red blood cell count. An increased risk of bleeding due to platelet dysfunction could further this problem. For these reasons, talk with your healthcare provider before taking aspirin or NSAIDs while undergoing treatment.
Before Surgery
If you take aspirin because you’ve had a problem with your heart or because you’ve had a stroke, you should talk with your healthcare provider specifically about this part of your medical history before you stop taking it.
List of Medications That Contain Acetylsalicylic Acid (ASA) or Aspirin
Here is a list of some medications that contain ASA or related chemicals.This is not an all-inclusive list.Before starting any new medication, or if you are unsure whether a medication contains aspirin, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist.
How to Find a Medicine or Supplement’s Active Ingredients on the LabelOver-the-counter medications have their active ingredients clearly listed on the label under the header “Active Ingredients.” Other ingredients will be listed as “Inactive Ingredients.“Supplements may not have an “Active Ingredients” header but will usually list the active ingredients under “Supplement Facts.” Any inactive ingredients should appear below the supplement facts as “Other Ingredients.”
How to Find a Medicine or Supplement’s Active Ingredients on the Label
Over-the-counter medications have their active ingredients clearly listed on the label under the header “Active Ingredients.” Other ingredients will be listed as “Inactive Ingredients.“Supplements may not have an “Active Ingredients” header but will usually list the active ingredients under “Supplement Facts.” Any inactive ingredients should appear below the supplement facts as “Other Ingredients.”
Over-the-counter medications have their active ingredients clearly listed on the label under the header “Active Ingredients.” Other ingredients will be listed as “Inactive Ingredients.”
Supplements may not have an “Active Ingredients” header but will usually list the active ingredients under “Supplement Facts.” Any inactive ingredients should appear below the supplement facts as “Other Ingredients.”
When to Check With Your Healthcare Provider
Since so many drug preparations contain aspirin, and because they may be labeled with a number of different names, talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist before taking any medication.
This is important for other reasons as well. Some drugs that appear relatively safe may in actuality be unsafe or otherwise cause problems for people going through medical treatment.
Keep in mind that this doesn’t apply just to medications. For example, somevitamin and mineral preparations may decrease the effectiveness of certain treatments, such as chemotherapy, even though they may be very safe for someone who is not being treated for cancer.
Summary
Aspirin is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug used to treat pain and inflammation. Although it is an over-the-counter drug, you should not take it in certain situations or if you have specific medical conditions, especially when there is an increased risk of bleeding such as during leukemia or lymphoma treatment or before surgery.
7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Montinari MR, Minelli S, De Caterina R.The first 3500 years of aspirin history from its roots - A concise summary.Vascul Pharmacol. 2019;113:1-8. doi:10.1016/j.vph.2018.10.008National Library of Medicine.Aspirin.Giménez-Bastida JA, Boeglin WE, Boutaud O, Malkowski MG, Schneider C.Residual cyclooxygenase activity of aspirin-acetylated COX-2 forms 15 R-prostaglandins that inhibit platelet aggregation.FASEB J. 2019;33(1):1033-1041. doi:10.1096/fj.201801018RU.S. Food and Drug Administration.Aspirin: Questions and answers.Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.Blood transfusion.American Family Physician.Perioperative cardiovascular medication management in noncardiac surgery: Common questions.Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.Common Medications Containing Aspirin and Other Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs).
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Montinari MR, Minelli S, De Caterina R.The first 3500 years of aspirin history from its roots - A concise summary.Vascul Pharmacol. 2019;113:1-8. doi:10.1016/j.vph.2018.10.008National Library of Medicine.Aspirin.Giménez-Bastida JA, Boeglin WE, Boutaud O, Malkowski MG, Schneider C.Residual cyclooxygenase activity of aspirin-acetylated COX-2 forms 15 R-prostaglandins that inhibit platelet aggregation.FASEB J. 2019;33(1):1033-1041. doi:10.1096/fj.201801018RU.S. Food and Drug Administration.Aspirin: Questions and answers.Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.Blood transfusion.American Family Physician.Perioperative cardiovascular medication management in noncardiac surgery: Common questions.Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.Common Medications Containing Aspirin and Other Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs).
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Montinari MR, Minelli S, De Caterina R.The first 3500 years of aspirin history from its roots - A concise summary.Vascul Pharmacol. 2019;113:1-8. doi:10.1016/j.vph.2018.10.008National Library of Medicine.Aspirin.Giménez-Bastida JA, Boeglin WE, Boutaud O, Malkowski MG, Schneider C.Residual cyclooxygenase activity of aspirin-acetylated COX-2 forms 15 R-prostaglandins that inhibit platelet aggregation.FASEB J. 2019;33(1):1033-1041. doi:10.1096/fj.201801018RU.S. Food and Drug Administration.Aspirin: Questions and answers.Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.Blood transfusion.American Family Physician.Perioperative cardiovascular medication management in noncardiac surgery: Common questions.Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.Common Medications Containing Aspirin and Other Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs).
Montinari MR, Minelli S, De Caterina R.The first 3500 years of aspirin history from its roots - A concise summary.Vascul Pharmacol. 2019;113:1-8. doi:10.1016/j.vph.2018.10.008
National Library of Medicine.Aspirin.
Giménez-Bastida JA, Boeglin WE, Boutaud O, Malkowski MG, Schneider C.Residual cyclooxygenase activity of aspirin-acetylated COX-2 forms 15 R-prostaglandins that inhibit platelet aggregation.FASEB J. 2019;33(1):1033-1041. doi:10.1096/fj.201801018R
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Aspirin: Questions and answers.
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.Blood transfusion.
American Family Physician.Perioperative cardiovascular medication management in noncardiac surgery: Common questions.
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.Common Medications Containing Aspirin and Other Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs).
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