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acetylsalicylic acid



The active ingredient in Aspirin®, acetylsalicylic acid, was synthesized for the first time in a chemically pure and thus stable form in 1897 by a young chemist working for Bayer, Dr. Felix Hoffmann. At that time, there were very few options for the treatment of patients suffering from pain.

acetylsalicylic acid, or ASA. In contrast to many other commonly used drugs, acetylsalicylic acid's mechanism of action has been thoroughly documented and described. We now know that even small doses of less than 100 mg acetylsalicylic acid, equivalent to, for example, one 100 mg Aspirin® tablet, inhibit the body's production of prostaglandins. Prostaglandins are extremely effective, hormone-like substances that are produced by the body in miniscule quantities and are involved in the regulation of such varied processes as pain, fever and inflammation, the inducement of birth contractions, the development of malignant tumors (cancer) or the obstruction of blood vessels.

While some people have shied away from acetylsalicylic acid because they fear it will upset their stomach, most people have no trouble taking acetylsalicylic acid - in fact, less than six percent of the population cannot take acetylsalicylic acid due to stomach upset.

Acetylsalicylic acid is both well tolerated and effective, yet like all drugs, it may have undesirable side effects. People who are allergic to acetylsalicylic acid, or have asthma, persisting or recurring stomach problems (such as heartburn, upset stomach or stomach pain), ulcers or bleeding problems should not take acetylsalicylic acid unless directed by a doctor. Diabetics should take acetylsalicylic acid as analgesic only under a doctor's supervision, with careful blood glucose monitoring. Combining acetylsalicylic acid or similar drugs with oral anti-diabetes drugs can decrease blood sugar levels more than expected. It is especially important not to use Aspirin® during the last three months of pregnancy unless specifically directed to do so by a doctor, because it may cause problems in the unborn child or complications during delivery.

Effect on blood: The first step in our body's blood clotting mechanism is for particles in the blood, called platelets, to stick together and form a clot. This process is triggered by certain chemical messengers. Acetylsalicylic acid reduces the effect of these messengers, thus decreasing the ability of the platelets to clump together, so that clots cannot form as easily.





source: www.aspirin.com

The ingredients in a product that are specifically designed to achieve the product performance objectives.

For example, an antacids active ingredient is calcium carbonate. Antacids may also contain: corn starch, talc, artificial colors etc...that do not help with acid reduction.

The most common production process used for obtaining..dicalcium phosphate dihydrate is dissolving either rock phosphate ..or bones in hydrochloric acid, purification and precipitation in .crystals. Under very precise and controlled process parameters ..Dicalcium phosphate dihydrate can also be produced from purified ..feed grade phosphoric acid with a calcium source. The grade of ..hydration can be checked by means of X-ray diffraction analysis or .by the thermo-gravimetric method

The triglyceride 1,2,3-triacetoxypropane is more generally known as triacetin and glycerin triacetate. It is the triester of glycerol and acetic acid.



It is an artificial chemical compound, commonly used as a food additive, for instance as a solvent in flavourings, and for its humectant function, with E number E1518 and Australian approval code A1518. Triacetin is also a component of casting liquor with TG and as an excipient in pharmaceutical products where it is used as a humectant, a plasticizer, and as a solvent.[2]



Triacetin can also be used as a fuel additive as an antiknock agent which can reduce engine knocking in gasoline, and to improve cold and viscosity properties of biodiesel.



In a 1994 report released by five top cigarette companies, triacetin was listed as one of the 599 cigarette additives. [1] The triacetin is applied to the filter as a plasticizer.[3]



Because it is in some sense the simplest possible fat after glyceryl triformate, it is being considered a possible source of food energy in artificial food regeneration systems on long space missions. It is believed to be safe to get over half of one's dietary energy from triacetin.

Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose belongs to the group of medicines known as artificial tears. It is used to relieve dryness and irritation caused by reduced tear flow. It helps prevent damage to the eye in certain eye diseases. Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose may also be used to moisten hard contact lenses and artificial eyes. In addition, it may be used in certain eye examinations.

Starch, the major component of flour, potatoes, and corn, is used in many foods as a thickening agent. However, starch does not dissolve in cold water. Chemists have solved this problem by reacting starch with various chemicals to create MODIFIED STARCHES

Talc is a mineral, produced by the mining of talc rocks and then processed by crushing, drying and milling. Processing eliminates a number of trace minerals from the talc, but does not separate minute fibers which are very similar to asbestos.

Talc is toxic. Talc particles cause tumors in human ovaries and lungs. Numerous studies have shown a strong link between frequent use of talc in the female genital area and ovarian cancer. Talc particles are able to move through the reproductive system and become imbedded in the lining of the ovary. Researchers have found talc particles in ovarian tumors and have found that women with ovarian cancer have used talcum powder in their genital area more frequently than healthy women.2



Talc poses a health risk when exposed to the lungs. Talc miners have shown higher rates of lung cancer and other respiratory illnesses from exposure to industrial grade talc, which contains dangerous silica and asbestos. The common household hazard posed by talc is inhalation of baby powder by infants. Since the early 1980s, records show that several thousand infants each year have died or become seriously ill following accidental inhalation of baby powder.3



Q. What about infants?



A. Talc is used on babies because it absorbs unpleasant moisture. Clearly, dusting with talcum powder endangers an infant's lungs at the prospect of inhalation. Exposing children to this carcinogen is unnecessary and dangerous.



Source:

Cancer Prevention Coalition c/o School of Public Health

University of Illinois Medical Center

2121 West Taylor Street

Chicago, IL 60612

Tel: (312) 996-2297, Fax: (312) 996-1374

Email: epstein@uic.edu

Inactive ingredients are also called excipients -- these are ingredients that are found in the dosage form being consumed that are not considered active ingredients