Aspirinette in pregnancy: active ingredient, risk and side effects of cardioaspirin
Aspirin in pregnancy is one of the anti-inflammatory drugs used to prevent diseases such as preeclampsia and reduce the risk of miscarriage. Its active ingredient is acetylsalicylic acid, known for its analgesic and antipyretic properties. However, aspirin in pregnancy (also known as cardioaspirin) can involve more than one risk and have unwanted effects, so you have to take it carefully. Here is all there is to know, meanwhile watch this video on how to pamper your baby in the belly:
Aspirinette in pregnancy: what it is for and when to take cardioaspirin
Aspirin in pregnancy is often prescribed for the prevention of certain diseases. Its active ingredient, acetylsalicylic acid, acts as a fever-lowering antipyretic, anti-inflammatory and analgesic or pain reliever. The package of aspirinette or cardioaspirin tablets contains 24 or 30 tablets of 100 mg of acetylsalicylic acid, together with other components such as powdered cellulose, corn starch, sodium saccharin and raspberry flavor.
Aspirin, in general, is one of the anti-inflammatory drugs used to treat rheumatic disease or Kawasaki syndrome, common in children. During pregnancy it is used by some women at risk to prevent placenta problems and diseases such as preeclampsia, delay. in the growth or detachment of the placenta, also reducing the possibility of a new abortion in women who have already had others. At the origin of these pathologies, in fact, there would be blood clotting problems that lead to inflammation: the aspirinetta in pregnancy , thanks to acetylsalicylic acid, it therefore acts as an anticoagulant, inhibiting the aggregation of platelets in the blood and reducing the risk of inflammation.
The aspirinetta, therefore, is useful during pregnancy for all those women who are at risk of severe preeclampsia, but to be truly effective it must be taken within the twelfth week of pregnancy and no later than the sixteenth week: it is precisely in this first phase of gestation that the placenta is formed and the risk of preeclampsia or miscarriage is higher!
The main difficulty in deciding to prescribe aspirin to a pregnant woman lies precisely in being able to diagnose preeclampsia, the risk of which is not always easy to identify. Preeclampsia, in fact, is a complication of pregnancy that is dangerous for both women and women. for future children, which is manifested by high blood pressure, the presence of protein in the urine and other disorders that can range from headaches to vision problems, from abdominal pain and vomiting to sudden weight gain.
Unfortunately, the causes of preeclampsia, the risks of which can be avoided by the controlled intake (and in the right dose) of the drug Aspirinetta tablets, have not yet been fully identified. However, the risk factors are known: the presence of preeclampsia during a previous pregnancy or in one's family history, hypertension, obesity, the presence of kidney disease, diabetes or antiphospholipid antibody syndrome. Mother's age can also have its influence: in women with an older age at 40, the risk is greater.
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Aspirinette in pregnancy: this is who is at risk of taking it
However, taking cardioaspirin during pregnancy can pose a risk to some pregnant or would-be mothers: if you are looking for a child, are pregnant or breastfeeding, you should always contact your doctor before taking the aspirinetta!
Aspirinetta tablets should only be taken after consulting your doctor and evaluating with him the risk of taking it during the first and second trimester of pregnancy. For no reason, however, should be taken in the third month of pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
The risks of taking aspirin in pregnancy
According to what is reported by the same package insert of the Aspirinetta tablets, cardioaspirin could adversely affect pregnancy or the development of the fetus: inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis could lead to an increased risk of miscarriage or cardiac malformation and cleft grastroschisis in the early stages of pregnancy. The absolute risk of malformations, on the other hand, increases from less than 1% to approximately 1.5% based on the dose and duration of intake.
In the first and second trimester of pregnancy, therefore, acetylsalicylic acid should not be taken except in case of real need, which will be evaluated by the specialist doctor.During the third trimester, however, aspirin entails serious risks for the fetus: cardiopulmonary toxicity, renal dysfunction. Both mother and baby would then be exposed to bleeding, inhibition of uterine contractions and prolongation of labor.
Side effects of aspirinetta during pregnancy
The undesirable effects, or side effects, of aspirinetta are different. In women with a particular hypersensitivity, allergic reactions to acetylsalicylic acid are quite common and present with the following signs and symptoms: asthma, rhinitis, swelling of the face and mucous membranes, itching, hives. Allergic reactions to aspirin in pregnancy are at higher risk in women who have already experienced allergic reactions to other drugs or substances.
Other undesirable effects may affect the grastrointestinal system (attention: cardioaspirin should be taken on a full stomach to limit these effects!); Nervous system disorders (headache, dizziness), ear and labyrinth disorders; respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal pathologies (from asthmatic syndrome to nasal congestion and epistaxis); heart or eye disorders (conjunctivitis); skin disorders such as rash or hives, caused by hypersensitivity and allergic reactions.
Even a high dosage of aspirinetta can lead to undesirable effects, even very serious, ranging from taste alterations to skin rashes and itching, from conjunctivitis to drowsiness and reduced vision. The important thing, we remind you, is to always take aspirinetta during pregnancy and only under medical advice and supervision.
What about aspirin in pregnancy instead?
Acetylsalicylic acid is not only the basis of aspirin, but also of aspirin, one of the most popular medicines, useful for an anti-inflammatory, antifebrile and analgesic treatment. If you are wondering if aspirin is also allowed during pregnancy or if it is better to avoid it, it is soon said: aspirin is to be avoided during the first trimester, and this is because it increases the risk of malformations in the stomach of the fetus.
Furthermore, aspirin, just like aspirin, belongs to NSAIDs, ie non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which lead to an observed increase in the risk of spontaneous abortion, which however is not scientifically proven at the moment. In the second and third trimester of pregnancy, however, the green light to aspirin, but (like all NSAIDs) no later than the thirtieth week of gestation. In short, even in the case of aspirin, caution and a due medical consultation will be absolutely recommended before to proceed with the treatment.
For more information on aspirin in pregnancy, you can consult this pdf of the Italian Medicines Agency.
See also: The problems of pregnancy: daily difficulties of a pregnant woman according to Line Severinsen
