Aspirin

Aspirin


Aspirin was one of the first synthetic drugs, which was developed in 1899. Although usually made synthetically now, was originally derived from salicin, the active ingredient in willow bark. Willow bark had been used for centuries in folk medicine in certain parts of the world. The German chemist Felix Hoffman first prepared acetylsalicylic acid in 1897.

Aspirin is currently the first-choice drug for fever, mild-to-moderate pain, and inflammation due to arthritis or injury. It acts at the site of tissue damage rather than in the pain centres of the brain, as do opiates such as codeine. It is more effective analgesic than codeine. Aspirin causes insignificant gastrointestinal bleeding that can over time, however, cause iron deficiency; gastric ulcers may also occur with long-term use. Complications can be avoided by using enteric-coated aspirin, which does not dissolve until reaching the intestine. Aspirin should not be given to children because it increases the risk of...