aspirin

aspirin
/as"peuhr in, -prin/, n., pl. aspirin, aspirins.
1. Pharm. a white, crystalline substance, C9H8O4, derivative of salicylic acid, used as an anti-inflammatory agent and to relieve the pain of headache, rheumatism, gout, neuralgia, etc.; acetylsalicylic acid.
2. an aspirin tablet: I took two aspirin and went right to bed.
[1899; orig. G trademark, equiv. to A(cetyl) ACETYL + Spir(säure) salicylic acid (see SPIRAEA) + -in -IN2]

* * *

Common name of acetylsalicylic acid, an organic compound introduced in 1899.

The ester of salicylic acid and acetic acid, it inhibits production of prostaglandins in the body. Its analgesic, fever-reducing, and anti-inflammatory effects make it useful in treating headaches, muscle and joint aches, arthritis pain, and the symptoms of mild fevers and infections. It also has anticoagulant activity and is taken in low doses by coronary heart disease patients to prevent heart attack. Prolonged use may cause stomach bleeding and peptic ulcer, and its use in children with fever has been linked to Reye syndrome. See also acetaminophen; ibuprofen; NSAID.

* * *

drug
also called  acetylsalicylic acid 

      derivative of salicylic acid that is a mild, nonnarcotic analgesic useful in the relief of headache and muscle and joint aches. Aspirin is also effective in reducing fever, inflammation, and swelling and thus has been used for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatic fever, and mild infection. In these instances, aspirin generally acts on the symptoms of disease and does not modify or shorten the duration of a disease. It has been used, however, as an anticoagulant in the treatment of such conditions as unstable angina or following a minor stroke or heart attack because of its ability to inhibit the production of blood platelet aggregates (which may cut off the blood supply to regions of the heart or brain).

      The drug acts by inhibiting the production of prostaglandins (prostaglandin), body chemicals that are necessary for blood clotting and are noted for sensitizing nerve endings to pain. The use of aspirin has been known to cause allergic reaction and gastrointestinal problems in some people. It has also been linked to the development in children (primarily those 2 to 16 years old) of Reye's syndrome (Reye syndrome), an acute disorder of the liver and central nervous system that may follow viral infections such as influenza and chicken pox. Like almost all drugs, aspirin is to be avoided during pregnancy. Compare acetaminophen; ibuprofen.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • aspirin — aspìrīn m <G aspirína> DEFINICIJA 1. (Aspirin) farm. lijek u obliku praška ili tablete, po kemijskom sastavu acetilsalicilna kiselina, bijeli kristalni prah C6H4 (OCOCH3)COOH, teško topljiv u vodi 2. razg. svaki lijek slična izgleda i… …   Hrvatski jezični portal

  • Aspirin — 아스피린 (Aspirin) Type Shōnen Genre aventure, comédie Manhwa Auteur Kim Eun jeong Éditeur …   Wikipédia en Français

  • aspìrīn — m 〈G aspirína〉 1. {{001f}}(Aspirin) farm. lijek u obliku praška ili tablete, po kemijskom sastavu acetilsalicilna kiselina, bijeli kristalni prah teško topljiv u vodi 2. {{001f}}razg. svaki lijek slična izgleda i namjene [popiti ∼; uzeti ∼] ✧… …   Veliki rječnik hrvatskoga jezika

  • Aspirin — er et indregistreret varemærke, som blev lanceret i 1899 af det tyske medicinalfirma Bayer. Aspirin er sammensat af: a for acetyl, spir for spiræasyre (salicylsyre) og in en almindelig kemisk endelse …   Danske encyklopædi

  • aspirin — coined 1899 (H. Dresser) in German as a trademark name, from Gk. a without + L. Spiraea (ulmaria) meadow sweet, the plant in whose flowers or leaves the processed acid in the medicine is found naturally, + chemical ending in (see INE (Cf. ine)… …   Etymology dictionary

  • aspirin — [as′pə rin΄, as′prin΄] n. [Ger < Gr a , without + ModL Spiraea, SPIREA + IN1: so named (1899) by H. Dreser, Ger chemist, because compounded without use of spirea (in which the natural acid is found)] 1. a white, crystalline powder,… …   English World dictionary

  • Aspirin — As pi*rin, n. (Pharm.) A white crystalline compound, acetyl salicylic acid ({CH3.CO.O.C6H4.CO.OH}) widely used as a drug for relief of pain and alleviation of fever. It has analgesic, antipyretic, and antiinflammatory properties, and is one of a… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Aspirīn — (Acetylsalizylsäure) C9H8O4 oder CH3CO.O.C6H4.CO2H, kleine, weiße Kristallnadeln, schmeckt schwach säuerlich, löst sich schwer in kaltem, leicht in heißem Wasser und in Alkohol, schmilzt bei 128° und wird durch Kochen mit Natronlauge in seine… …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • Aspirin — Aspirīn, Salizylessigsäureester, bei Gelenk und Muskelrheumatismus, auch gegen Kopfschmerz angewendet …   Kleines Konversations-Lexikon

  • Aspirin — [Network (Rating 5600 9600)] …   Deutsch Wörterbuch

  • aspirin — ► NOUN (pl. same or aspirins) ▪ a medicine used in tablet form to relieve pain and reduce fever and inflammation. ORIGIN from the chemical name, acetylated salicylic acid …   English terms dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”