Mechanism of action

Aspirin inhibits platelet aggregation. Blocking the platelet cyclooxygenase by acetylation, it inhibits thromboxane A2 synthesis, a physiological activating substance released by the platelets and which would play a role in the complications of the atheromatosic lesions.

Contraindications:

- Hypersensitivity to salicylic acid compounds or prostaglandin synthetase inhibitors (e.g. certain asthma patients who may suffer an attack or faint and certain patients who may suffer from bronchospasm, rhinitis and urticaria), or to any of the excipients.

- Active, or history of recurrent peptic ulcer and/or gastric/intestinal haemorrhage, or other kinds of bleeding such as cerebrovascular haemorrhages.

- Haemorrhagic diathesis; coagulation disorders such as haemophilia and thrombocytopenia.

- Patients who are suffering from gout.

- Severe hepatic impairment.

- Severe renal impairment.

- Doses >100 mg/day during the third trimester of pregnancy.

- Methotrexate used at doses >15mg/week.