Aspirin is a common medicine that has many uses. It can relieve pain and reduce the risk of serious problems like heart attacks and strokes.
It comes in many forms, including:
Some types of aspirin can be bought over the counter from pharmacies. Others are only available on prescription.
At high doses (usually 300mg) aspirin can:
It’s often used for short-term relief from:
Long-term treatment with low doses of aspirin (usually 75mg) has an antiplatelet effect. This means it makes the blood less sticky and can stop blood clots developing.
A doctor may recommend this if you have or have had:
Aspirin may also be prescribed for children after heart surgery or to treat Kawasaki disease. It shouldn’t be given to anyone under 16 years old without medical supervision.
Most people can take aspirin safely. However, you should get advice from a pharmacist or doctor before taking it if you:
You may still be able to take aspirin in these cases. However, you should only do so if advised that it’s safe by a healthcare professional.
If you can’t take aspirin, a different medicine may be recommended. This could include paracetamol (for pain) or clopidogrel (to prevent blood clots).
Your pharmacist or doctor can tell you how often to take your aspirin and how much you should take. You can also check the recommendations in the leaflet that comes with your medicine.
Generally speaking:
Some medicine leaflets advise you to take aspirin with water. Others may recommend taking it with or after food.
Visit our self-help guide on accessing medicines if you have difficulty getting the medicines you need.
Like all medications, there’s a risk of side effects from aspirin.
The most common side effects are:
Speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you experience any concerning or troublesome side effects while taking aspirin.
You are taking aspirin and have symptoms like:
Aspirin can interact with other medications, including some complementary and herbal medicines. This could alter their effects or increase your risk of side effects.
Medicines that can interact with aspirin include:
This is not a complete list. If you want to check whether a medicine is safe to take with aspirin, ask your doctor or pharmacist. You should also read the leaflet that comes with the medicine.
There are no known interactions between aspirin and food.
The risk of bleeding in the stomach may be higher if you drink alcohol while taking aspirin. You may want to consider reducing how much you drink or avoiding alcohol completely.
If you’re taking aspirin to reduce your risk of blood clots and you forget to take a dose, take that dose as soon as you remember. You should then continue to take your course of aspirin as normal.
If it’s almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular schedule. Don’t take a double dose to make up for a missed one.
If your GP or pharmacy are closed, phone 111 for advice.
Last updated:
16 December 2022