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Aspirin

CLASS

  • antiplatelet agent

MECHANISM OF ACTION

  • irreversible acetylation of cyclooxygenase -> blocks the production of prostaglandins from membrane phospholipids -> inactivation of platelet aggregation by arachidonic acid and collagen.

PHARMACEUTICS

  • tablets: 75-600mg
  • EC form available

DOSE

  • PO or PR
  • 75-300mg PO

INDICATIONS

  • antipyretic
  • analgesic

ADVERSE EFFECTS

  • GI ulceration
  • hypoprothrombinemia
  • vertigo
  • deafness
  • idiosyncratic reactions: asthma, urticaria, angioneurotic oedema

PHARMACOKINETICS

  • Absorption – high bioavailability (70%)
  • Distribution – 90% protein bound
  • Metabolism – converted to salicyclic acid in GIT and liver
  • Elimination – urinary
  • it is ionized at a high pH -> doesn’t cross lipid membranes (ion trapping) -> this can be achieved with bicarbonate therapy.

EVIDENCE

-> antiplatelet agent that decreases subsequent risk of coronary and cerebrovascular events.

CCC Pharmacology Series

Critical Care

Compendium

Chris is an Intensivist and ECMO specialist at The Alfred ICU, where he is Deputy Director (Education). He is a Clinical Adjunct Associate Professor at Monash University, the Lead for the  Clinician Educator Incubator programme, and a CICM First Part Examiner.

He is an internationally recognised Clinician Educator with a passion for helping clinicians learn and for improving the clinical performance of individuals and collectives. He was one of the founders of the FOAM movement (Free Open-Access Medical education) has been recognised for his contributions to education with awards from ANZICS, ANZAHPE, and ACEM.

His one great achievement is being the father of three amazing children.

On Bluesky, he is @precordialthump.bsky.social and on the site that Elon has screwed up, he is @precordialthump.

| INTENSIVE | RAGE | Resuscitology | SMACC

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