When should aspirin be taken, before or after meals, in the morning or before bed?

A friend asked Huazi, when is the best time to take aspirin? He asked several doctors, but the answers were different. Some said to take it before meals, some said to take it after meals, some said to take it in the morning, and some said to take it before going to bed. Huazi said that for specific medication matters, you need to consult a professional pharmacist to get the correct answer. Regarding aspirin, different dosage forms have different medication time requirements, so please explain in detail.

1. Effects and side effects of aspirin Large doses of aspirin produce antipyretic, analgesic and anti-rheumatic effects, but now low doses of aspirin (75-150 mg per day) are commonly used, and their main effect is to inhibit platelets. This is because aspirin can irreversibly bind to cyclooxygenase on platelets, inhibiting platelet aggregation. In this way, when atherosclerotic plaques rupture, thrombi caused by platelet aggregation can be avoided.

However, aspirin can also inhibit cyclooxygenase in other parts of the body, leading to a decrease in prostaglandin production. Prostaglandins have a protective effect on the gastric mucosa, and when their production decreases, the barrier function of the gastric mucosa will be reduced. In other words, taking aspirin will cause damage to the gastric mucosa, which is the most common side effect of aspirin.

2. When to take aspirin 1. Ordinary aspirin: Aspirin itself is acidic, and after oral administration, it will irritate the stomach wall and aggravate the damage to the gastric mucosa. Therefore, ordinary aspirin tablets should be taken after meals. Mixing with food can reduce direct irritation to the stomach wall and reduce adverse reactions.

2. Enteric-coated aspirin: including enteric-coated aspirin tablets and enteric-coated aspirin capsules. They are made by wrapping an acid-resistant layer on the outside of the drug to resist the erosion of gastric acid. The drug will only dissolve and release in the alkaline environment of the intestine. It needs to be taken 30 minutes before meals to allow the drug to pass through the stomach as quickly as possible to avoid the alkaline substances in the food affecting the drug, causing the drug to be released prematurely and irritating the stomach.

3. Enteric-coated aspirin sustained-release tablets: Enteric-coated aspirin sustained-release tablets are similar to enteric-coated tablets. They also have an acid-resistant layer on the outside of the tablets, but the tablets themselves are made into sustained-release preparations. After taking, the drug is slowly released to reduce adverse reactions. The instructions for taking it are to take it after meals, not on an empty stomach.

Although enteric-coated tablets may be affected by food, causing the drug to be released prematurely, aspirin is mainly absorbed in the upper small intestine. If taken on an empty stomach, the drug may pass through the small intestine too quickly. It takes a certain amount of time for sustained-release tablets to release the drug, resulting in incomplete absorption of the drug and insufficient dosage. Therefore, enteric-coated aspirin sustained-release tablets should be taken after meals.

3. Should aspirin be taken in the morning or at night? The instructions do not specify the specific time period for taking aspirin. As long as aspirin is taken at a fixed time every day, it can produce a stable antiplatelet effect. Most people take it in the morning with antihypertensive drugs, which is conducive to improving medication compliance and not forgetting to take the medicine.

However, a study on the effect of aspirin on blood pressure found that taking aspirin in the morning had no effect on blood pressure, but taking aspirin before bedtime would reduce nighttime blood pressure, with the effects on high and low blood pressure reaching 6 mmHg and 4 mmHg respectively. Therefore, for those with normal blood pressure, they can take the medicine in the morning, and for those with elevated blood pressure at night, they can take the medicine before bedtime.

In summary, ordinary aspirin tablets are rarely seen now. Enteric-coated aspirin should be taken on an empty stomach half an hour before meals; enteric-coated aspirin sustained-release tablets should be taken after meals. Those with normal blood pressure should take the medicine in the morning; those with elevated blood pressure at night should take the medicine before going to bed. I am pharmacist Huazi, welcome to follow me and share more health knowledge.