Do you take aspirin? This is a trade name for the drug acetylsalicylic acid. Many people take aspirin for aches and pains occasionally. Some people troubled by regular or frequent pains, such as headaches, may take aspirin quite often. Of course acetylsalicylic acid has a few clinical applications since it functions as an analgesic (pain remover), an antipyretic (lowers temperature of fever) and an anticoagulant (reduces blood clotting).

Interestingly, acetylsalicylic acid may be purchased over the counter without need for a prescription, usually in tablet form. This is common knowledge so why is this interesting?

I consider it interesting since acetylsalicylic acid (most commonly purchased as Aspirin) is actually quite dangerous. A fairly common class of allergens is known as the salicylates. Aspirin, being acetylsalicylic acid, is a salicylate and for those who are sensitive enough, it can cause very serious allergic reactions, even life threatening and fatal ones.

Additionally, acetylsalicylic acid is quite irritating to the gastric mucosa (lining of the stomach). It can quite easily erode the lining resulting in ulceration and gastric bleeding, which again, can be serious, even fatal. This is a very high risk for anyone who accidentally or deliberately takes an overdose of the drug.

So clearly, many adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are caused directly by taking this drug. Yet many people take the view that unless one has an obvious reaction, it is clearly safe since very large numbers of people are told to take it every day to prevent complications from heart disease. This is a dangerous error.

One serious but hidden problem that is commonly overlooked is that of drug-induced nutritional deficiencies. Aspirin is a glaring example of this problem. It is an antinutrient. Marketed and prescribed for daily use to prevent heart attack, aspirin depletes the body of the life-saving nutrient folic acid (as well as iron, potassium, sodium, and vitamin C). Symptoms of folic acid depletion include anemia, birth defects, elevated homocysteine (itself a significant risk factor for heart disease), headache, fatigue, hair loss, insomnia, diarrhea, and increased infection.

This should be taken as a warning about this drug and it should not be taken lightly. Studies show that the side effects of aspirin are so severe they can increase the risk of death in people who take it regularly.