Aspirin (Disprin direct)

How does it work?

Disprin direct tablets contain the active ingredient acetylsalicylic acid, otherwise known as aspirin. (NB. Aspirin is also available without a brand name, ie as the generic medicine.)

Aspirin belongs to a group of medicines called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). It works by blocking the action of a substance in the body called cyclo-oxygenase.

Cyclo-oxygenase is involved in the production of various chemicals in the body. These are known as prostaglandins, prostacyclins and thromboxane. By blocking the action of cylo-oxygenase, aspirin prevents the production of these chemicals.

High doses of aspirin (300mg and over) prevent the production of prostaglandins. Prostaglandins are produced in response to injury or certain diseases and would otherwise go on to cause pain, swelling and inflammation. Hence a 300mg dose of aspirin is seen as a pain-relieving dose. Disprin direct tablets contain 300mg of aspirin and can be used to relieve pain and inflammation. The tablets dissolve on the tongue and can then be swallowed without water.

Aspirin in low doses, eg 75-100mg, does not have this effect and is used instead as an anti-clotting or blood-thinning agent. Low doses of aspirin prevent the production of thromboxane by blood cells called platelets. Thromboxane is one of the chemicals that causes platelets to clump together and start off the clotting process. Stopping its production therefore reduces the likelihood of clots forming in the blood. Clots in the blood can cause a heart attack or stroke, and low dose aspirin is therefore used to prevent this in people who are at risk. See the factsheets linked at the end of this page for more information about this use of aspirin.

Aspirin is also used in the emergency situation of a heart attack. Anyone who has the symptoms of a heart attack (chest pain, possibly radiating towards the arm or neck, shortness of breath) should take one 300mg aspirin tablet as soon as possible, as this has been shown to increase the chances of surviving a heart attack. This is because the aspirin prevents the blood clot that is blocking the supply of blood to the heart from growing any bigger.

What is it used for?

Mild to moderate pain including headache, migraine, nerve pain (neuralgia), toothache, sore throat, period pain.
Relieving aches, pains and fever associated with colds and flu.
Relieving pain and inflammation of sprains and strains, rheumatic pain, sciatica, backache, fibrositis, muscular aches and pains, joint swelling, and stiffness.
To improve survival in emergency situation of a heart attack.

Warning!

Children under 16 years of age should not take aspirin, unless on the advice of a doctor. This is because aspirin use in children has been associated with a rare condition called Reye's syndrome. This condition affects the brain and liver and though extremely rare, can be fatal. The causes of Reye's syndrome are not fully understood, but use of aspirin to treat fever in children with a virus has been implicated. There are many paracetamol and ibuprofen products not associated with Reye's syndrome available to treat pain and fever in this age group. For more advice talk to your pharmacist.
Do not exceed the recommended dose of this medicine, which will be stated in the product packaging or information leaflet supplied with the medicine.

Use with caution in

Elderly people.
Decreased kidney function.
Decreased liver function.
Dehydration.
Asthma.
History of allergies.

Not to be used in

Children and adolescents under 16 years of age, unless on the advice of a doctor (see warning above).
Bleeding disorders such as haemophilia.
Gout.
People in whom aspirin or other NSAIDs, eg ibuprofen, cause allergic reactions such as asthma attacks, itchy rash (urticaria), nasal inflammation (rhinitis) or swelling of the lips, tongue and throat (angioedema).
Peptic ulcer or a history of this.
Third trimester of pregnancy.
Breastfeeding.

This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy.If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.

This medicine should be avoided in the third trimester of pregnancy, as it may affect the growth and development of the foetus or have harmful effects on foetal tissues. Seek medical advice from your doctor before using this medicine during any stage of pregnancy.
Significant amounts of this medicine may pass into breast milk. It should not be used by breastfeeding mothers as it may be harmful to the nursing infant. Seek medical advice from your doctor.

Label warnings

This medication contains aspirin.

Side effects

Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Just because a side effect is stated here does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.

Indigestion (dyspepsia).
Nausea.
Stomach or intestinal discomfort.
Sensation of ringing, or other noise in the ears (tinnitus).
Worsening of asthma.
Allergic reactions such as skin rash, swelling of the lips, tongue and throat (angioedema) or narrowing of the airways (bronchospasm).
Increased bleeding time.
Ulceration or bleeding in the stomach or intestines.
Blood disorders.

The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug's manufacturer.For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.

How can this medicine affect other medicines?

If you are taking any other medicines you should check with your pharmacist before taking this one to ensure that the combination is safe.

People taking anticoagulant medicines used to prevent the blood clotting, eg warfarin, should not take aspirin to relieve pain or inflammation. This is because the higher doses of aspirin used for pain relief can irritate the stomach lining, as well as increasing the effects of warfarin, both of which increase the likelihood of bleeding. Lower doses of aspirin used for a blood-thinning effect are safer, but should only be used by people taking anticoagulants such as warfarin on the advice of a doctor.

There may be an increased risk of bleeding if aspirin is taken with other 'blood-thinning' (antiplatelet) medicines such as clopidogrel or dipyridamole.

Aspirin reduces the rate at which the body can remove the medicine methotrexate. The two should not usually be used together.

There is an increased risk of side effects if aspirin is taken with other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), eg ibuprofen, diclofenac, indometacin. For this reason, aspirin should not be taken with any other NSAID. Low-dose aspirin used for anti-blood-clotting purposes is an exception to this, but should only be used with other NSAIDs on the instruction of a doctor.

There may be an increased risk of bleeding or ulceration of the stomach or intestines if aspirin is taken with corticosteroids, eg prednisolone, dexamethasone.

There may be an increased risk of side effects if aspirin is taken with acetazolamide.

Other medicines containing the same active ingredient

Angettes 75	Aspro clear	Caprin (300mg)
Caprin (75mg)	Disprin	Maximum strength aspro clear
Micropirin	Nu-seals aspirin (300mg)	Nu-seals aspirin (75mg)

Aspirin tablets, dispersible tablets, enteric-coated tablets and suppositories are also available without a brand name, ie as the generic medicine.