The effects of aspirin do not include

RRB Staff Nurse Jaipur-6th June 2018

Pharmacology

Easy

Appeared in: RRB Staff Nurse Jaipur-6th June 2018

Explanation

The statement 'Reduction of bleeding tendency' is incorrect because aspirin has an antiplatelet effect.
Aspirin irreversibly inhibits the COX-1 enzyme in platelets, which prevents the synthesis of thromboxane A₂.
Thromboxane A₂ is necessary for platelet aggregation and clot formation.
By inhibiting thromboxane A₂, aspirin prolongs bleeding time and increases the tendency to bleed, rather than reducing it.

Option A: This is a known therapeutic effect of aspirin. Aspirin is an antipyretic that reduces fever by acting on the hypothalamus.
Option B: This is the primary mechanism of aspirin's anti-inflammatory and analgesic action. It blocks COX enzymes to reduce prostaglandin levels.
Option C: This is a known adverse effect of aspirin. By inhibiting renal prostaglandins, aspirin can impair the kidney's ability to maintain blood flow, especially in at-risk patients.

Visual 1: Diagram: A flowchart showing the arachidonic acid pathway and indicating where aspirin inhibits the COX enzyme to block the production of prostaglandins and thromboxanes. This visual helps clarify the drug's mechanism of action.
Visual 2: Infographic: A summary of the main effects of aspirin, categorizing them into therapeutic effects (anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, analgesic, antiplatelet) and adverse effects (GI irritation, bleeding, renal impairment).

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Pharmacological Effects of Aspirin as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
A key nursing responsibility is to monitor patients on aspirin for signs of bleeding, such as petechiae, ecchymosis, melena (black, tarry stools), or hematemesis. This is crucial due to aspirin's antiplatelet effect.
Patient education is vital. Nurses must instruct patients to take aspirin with food to minimize GI distress and to report any signs of bleeding or tinnitus (a sign of salicylism).
What if the patient was scheduled for surgery? A patient on regular aspirin therapy would likely be instructed to stop taking it 7-10 days before a planned surgery to reduce the risk of excessive intraoperative and postoperative bleeding. The nurse must ensure these instructions are followed and communicated to the surgical team.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the negative framing of the question indicated by the words 'do not include'. This means you are looking for the option that is false or not an effect of aspirin.
Next, recall the main pharmacological properties of aspirin. It is known as an anti-inflammatory, analgesic (pain reliever), antipyretic (fever reducer), and antiplatelet agent.
Evaluate each option against this knowledge.
Option A (Reduction of fever) is a known antipyretic effect.
Option B (Reduction of prostaglandin synthesis) is the mechanism for its anti-inflammatory effect.
Option C (Impaired kidney function) is a known potential adverse effect.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Pharmacological Effects of Aspirin
Stem keywords: aspirin, effects
Lead-in keywords: do not include
Negative lead-in flag: The question asks to identify the option that is NOT an effect of aspirin.

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