Cancer Leukemia Living With Drug Products Containing Acetylsalicylic Acid (Aspirin) By Karen Raymaakers linkedin Karen Raymaakers RN, CON(C) is a certified oncology nurse that has worked with leukemia and lymphoma patients for over a decade. Learn about our editorial process Karen Raymaakers Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Doru Paul, MD on July 17, 2020 Doru Paul, MD, is board-certified in internal medicine, medical oncology, and hematology. Learn about our Medical Review Board Doru Paul, MD on July 17, 2020 Print Which drug products contain acetylsalicylic acid, otherwise known as aspirin or ASA? If you are experiencing low platelet counts as a result of your leukemia or lymphoma, or as a result of other treatments, your healthcare provider will likely recommend that you avoid acetylsalicylic acid (also known as ASA or aspirin) to prevent complications. Yuriy_K / Getty Images What Is Aspirin (Acetylsalicylic Acid or ASA)? Aspirin is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), which means that it works to decrease inflammation, but is not a steroid. There are other medications that are considered NSAIDs, though these work in a slightly different way from aspirin. The use of aspirin in history goes back to the early 1800s, when a compound in willow bark, termed salicin, was found to reduce pain. Uses Aspirin may be used for conditions that range from minor aches and pains to arthritis and the prevention of heart attacks and strokes. Unfortunately, due to its effectiveness with fevers and minor aches and pains, it is a component of a very wide array of over-the-counter pain relievers, cold preparations, and more. How It Works Aspirin works in a few ways. It can help to prevent clot formation (such as in heart attacks and strokes) by inhibiting platelet function. Platelets are the particles in the blood that cause a clot to form when you get a cut. It does this through inhibiting something called cyclooxygenase (COX) activity, which in turn inhibits compounds known as prostaglandins. Prostaglandins are also responsible for fevers and pain. So by inhibiting cyclooxygenase, ASA may reduce not only clot formation but also fever and pain. Why Aspirin Can Sometimes Be Dangerous Aspirin can be dangerous medically in two primary ways. It can directly cause problems or interact with medical treatments, or it can accentuate problems caused by other drugs or medical treatments that work in the same way. Use With Leukemia or Lymphoma There are a few reasons why aspirin may not be a wise choice during treatment for leukemia and lymphomas. Many of the treatments for blood cancers reduce the number or effectiveness of platelets. Aspirin use could augment this problem. In addition, treatments for leukemias and lymphomas may result in a low red blood cell count. An increased risk of bleeding due to platelet dysfunction could further this problem. For these reasons, talk with your doctor or nurse before taking aspirin or NSAIDs while undergoing treatment. Use Before Surgery Sometimes, surgical interventions are a part of the management of cancer or other illnesses. It is common that your healthcare team will ask you to stop medications that contain aspirin seven days before your surgery (or as directed by your doctor). If you take aspirin because you’ve had a problem with your heart or because you’ve had a stroke, you should be sure to talk with your doctor specifically about this part of your medical history before you stop taking it. List of Medications That Contain Acetylsalicylic Acid (ASA) or Aspirin Here is a list of some medications that contain ASA or related chemicals. This is not an all-inclusive list. Before starting any new medications, or if you are unsure, be sure to ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist. Acetylsalicylic acid Acuprin Aggrenox Alka-Seltzer products (Regular, Extra Strength, Plus Flu, PM) Alor Anacin products (Regular, Advanced Headache Formula, With Codeine) Asacol tablets Ascriptin tablets Aspergum tablets Aspircaf tablets Aspirin tablets, coated and uncoated Aspirin Plus Stomach Guard tablets Aspir-Mox tablets Aspirtab tablets Aspir-trin tablets Axotal Azdone Bayer Aspirin products (Regular, Plus Calcium, PM, Back and Body Pain, Children's chewable) BC Headache tablets Bufferin tablets Buffex Damason-P tablets Darvon-N with ASA capsules Darvon Compound capsules Easprin tablets Ecotrin tablets Emagrin tablets Empirin tablets Endodan tablets Entaprin tablets Entercote tablets Equagesic tablets Excedrin products (Regular, Back and Body) Fasprin tablets Genacote Gennin-FC Genprin Goody’s Body Pain Halfprin tablets Levacet Lortab ASA Magnaprin Micrainin Miniprin Minitabs Momentum Norgesic tablets Orphengesic Oxycodan Panasal Percodan tablets Percodan Demi tablets Propoxyphene Compound Ridiprin Robaxisal products Roxiprin Salofalk tablets and enema Sloprin Soma Compound Soma Compound with caffeine Supac Synalgos-DC Uni-Buff tablets Uni-Tren tablets Valomag Vanquish Zorprin tablets A Word From Verywell Since so many drug preparations contain aspirin, and since they may be labeled with a number of different names, it's important to talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking any medication. This is important for other reasons as well. Some drugs that appear relatively safe may in actuality be unsafe or otherwise cause problems for people going through cancer treatment. Keep in mind that this doesn't apply just to medications. Some vitamin and mineral preparations may decrease the effectiveness of cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy, even though they may be very safe for someone who is not being treated for cancer. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Limiting processed foods and red meats can help ward off cancer risk. These recipes focus on antioxidant-rich foods to better protect you and your loved ones. Sign up and get your guide! Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Aspirin: Questions and Answers. Updated December 18, 2015. Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Blood Transfusion. American Family Physician. Perioperative Cardiovascular Medication Management in Noncardiac Surgery: Common Questions. Published May 15, 2017. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Common Medications Containing Aspirin and Other Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs). Updated April 15, 2019.