• Mechanism of Action
• Inhibits cyclooxygenase, the enzyme responsible for production of thromboxanes, prostacyclin and prostaglandins from arachidonic acid.
• • Pharmacology
  • Binds irreversibly to COX, unlike other NSAIDs. Though COX can resynthesize in minutes, platelets (which lack a nucleus) cannot create new COX and thus new platelets need to be produced, which can take up to a week. As a result aspirin is the only NSAID that significantly inhibits platelets and thus is also used for cardiovascular protection.

Clinical Use

• • Indications
• • Adverse Effects