What is with the 81mg in 81mg aspirin?

[TheFied]

How is the magic number 81mg? I posted this before but my father-in-law just passed away from a massive heart attack. At the funeral, I was talking to my cousin's husband who is a family doctor. He told me that he recommends anyone over 45 to take 1 81mg aspirin every day. Thins the blood,....

I have looked it up and there is a 81mg aspirin, basically baby aspirin. Talked to my dad and he takes it every day with his regular medication.

So I'm wondering, where did they get 81mg? Seems like not a round number. I'm just over 30 so I'm not taking that but will as soon as I turn 40.

 

[Ribby Paultz]

Just a guess but it probably has something to do with 81 mg being the lowest possible therapuetic dose. In other words, it takes at least 81 mg of acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) to have "blood thinning" effects.

 

[zzzz]

I think there was a range and baby aspirin fell within it, so they recommended that dosage because it's easily found.

Didn't know this:

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[Anastasis]

I was under the impression that 81mg was a left over from an old apothecary scale of measurement, kind of like how some thyroid supplements are still measured in 1/4 grain and whatnot.

 

[mishatx]

It's because the studies were done with 81mg aspirin - children's aspirin.

Children's aspirin is 81mg because that's a rounded off value of 1/4 of the standard adult 325mg aspirin.

 

[utmck]

I was told the exact same thing when I went in for my yearly physical. I have been takng a baby aspirin every day for the last 3+ years.

 

[Doughbroz]

Since I take aspirin and Plavix every day, I have instructed my friends to place a tourniquet around my neck if I get a nosebleed. If the way I bleed from the slightest nick is any indication, I will die from a fkn nosebleed anyway.

 

[sessamoid]

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