Key Facts
- Drug Class
- Salicylate NSAID / antiplatelet
- Prescription
- Over the counter
- NAFDAC Status
- NAFDAC Registered
- Forms
- Tablet, Dispersible tablet, Powder
- Online price
- ~₦5,875see prices
- WHO Essential
- Yes
What is Aspirin?
Aspirin, or acetylsalicylic acid, is one of the oldest medicines still in everyday use and one of the few that does two quite different jobs depending on the dose. At 300mg it is a painkiller and fever reducer, familiar to most Nigerians through Emprin and through the aspirin-and-caffeine sachet powders such as Alabukun that sell in enormous quantities in markets and motor parks. At 75mg or 100mg once a day it is not really a painkiller at all — it is a blood thinner, taken for years at a time to stop a second heart attack or stroke.
The difference is not marketing. Aspirin permanently switches off an enzyme inside platelets, the cells that make blood clot. A platelet cannot repair that damage, so a single small daily dose keeps the blood slightly less sticky for the platelet's whole lifespan of about a week. Higher doses add pain and inflammation relief by acting on the same enzyme elsewhere in the body, but they do not thin the blood any further — they only add to the risk of bleeding and stomach damage. This is why a cardiologist prescribes 75mg and not 300mg.
Aspirin is registered with NAFDAC in several forms in Nigeria, from locally made tablets by Emzor, Avro Pharma and SKG-Pharma to Bayer's imported Aspirin Cardio. It is sold over the counter, which is both its great advantage and its main danger: the people most likely to be harmed by it — those with ulcers, bleeding problems, or asthma, and children with a fever — can buy it as easily as anyone else.
What is Aspirin used for?
In Nigeria, Aspirin is commonly used for:
- Preventing a further heart attack, stroke or clot in people who have already had one (secondary prevention, 75-100mg daily)
- Keeping coronary stents open, almost always taken together with clopidogrel for a period after the procedure
- Emergency treatment during a suspected heart attack, where a single 300mg tablet is chewed while waiting for help
- Mild to moderate pain and fever at 300-600mg, including headache, toothache, period pain and muscular pain
- Reducing the risk of pre-eclampsia in pregnancies assessed as higher risk, at low dose and under antenatal supervision
Dosage
IMPORTANT
Always follow your doctor's or pharmacist's instructions. The information below is for general reference only.
Adults
For long-term heart and stroke protection the dose is 75mg to 100mg once daily, taken with or just after food. For pain or fever the dose is 300mg to 600mg every four to six hours, up to a maximum of 4g in twenty-four hours, and should not be continued for more than a few days without advice. In a suspected heart attack, a single 300mg tablet chewed rather than swallowed whole gets into the blood fastest — call for emergency help first, then chew it.
Children
Aspirin must not be given to children or teenagers under 16 with a fever or a viral illness such as flu or chickenpox, because of the risk of Reye's syndrome, a rare but frequently fatal swelling of the brain and liver. Use paracetamol or ibuprofen for children instead. The only exceptions are specific conditions such as Kawasaki disease, where a specialist prescribes and supervises it.
Elderly
Older adults get the same benefit from low-dose aspirin but bleed more easily, particularly from the stomach. Doctors often add a stomach-protecting medicine, and will weigh the bleeding risk carefully before starting aspirin in someone who has never had a heart attack or stroke.
Low-dose aspirin is a long-term medicine — it works by being taken every day, not by being taken when you feel unwell. Do not stop it on your own, especially in the first year after a stent, because stopping suddenly raises clot risk sharply. Take it with food to reduce stomach irritation, and swallow dispersible tablets dissolved in water. Tell any dentist, surgeon or doctor that you take aspirin before any procedure.
Side Effects
Common side effects
- •Stomach irritation, indigestion or heartburn — the most frequent reason people stop taking it
- •Nausea and mild abdominal discomfort
- •Bruising more easily than usual, and small cuts bleeding for longer
- •Nosebleeds and bleeding gums when brushing
- •Ringing in the ears (tinnitus), usually a sign the dose is too high
Serious side effects — seek medical help immediately
- Bleeding from the stomach or gut: black tarry stools, vomiting blood or material like coffee grounds, or severe stomach pain — seek care urgently
- Signs of bleeding in the brain: sudden severe headache, weakness on one side, confusion, or loss of vision or speech — this is an emergency
- Severe allergic reaction, including swelling of the face or throat, rash or collapse
- Wheezing or breathlessness in people with aspirin-sensitive asthma, which can be sudden and severe
- Reye's syndrome in a child or teenager given aspirin during a viral illness: persistent vomiting, drowsiness, confusion or seizures
When to see a doctor
Go to hospital immediately for black or tarry stools, vomiting blood, sudden severe headache, or one-sided weakness. Stop and seek advice if you develop wheezing after taking aspirin, or ringing in the ears. See your doctor or pharmacist if heartburn or stomach pain becomes a regular feature — that is treatable and is not a reason to quietly abandon a medicine protecting you from a stroke. Never give aspirin to a feverish child; if it has already been given and the child becomes drowsy or keeps vomiting, treat that as an emergency.
Warnings & Precautions
Do not take Aspirin if you have:
- Do not give to children or teenagers under 16 with fever or a viral illness, because of the risk of Reye's syndrome
- Do not take if you have an active stomach or duodenal ulcer, or a history of bleeding from the gut
- Do not take if you have haemophilia or another bleeding disorder, or severe liver or kidney disease
- Do not take if aspirin or another NSAID has ever caused you asthma, wheezing, hives or facial swelling
- Avoid in the last three months of pregnancy unless a doctor has specifically prescribed low-dose aspirin
Drug interactions
- •Warfarin and other anticoagulants — the combination raises bleeding risk substantially and needs medical supervision
- •Clopidogrel — deliberately combined after a stent, but only for a defined period decided by a cardiologist
- •Ibuprofen and other NSAIDs — regular use can block low-dose aspirin's heart protection and adds to stomach risk; take ibuprofen well after the aspirin if it is unavoidable
- •Methotrexate — aspirin raises its levels and toxicity
- •ACE inhibitors such as lisinopril, and diuretics — aspirin can blunt their effect and strain the kidneys
- •Alcohol — significantly increases the chance of stomach bleeding
- •Some diabetes medicines — aspirin at higher doses can lower blood sugar further
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Full-dose aspirin should be avoided in pregnancy, and particularly in the third trimester, where it can affect the baby's circulation and prolong labour and bleeding. Low-dose aspirin is a different matter: it is deliberately prescribed at antenatal clinics to women assessed as being at higher risk of pre-eclampsia, usually started before 16 weeks and continued until near delivery. Take low-dose aspirin in pregnancy only when a doctor or midwife has prescribed it, and do not start it on your own. Small amounts pass into breast milk, so regular aspirin is generally avoided while breastfeeding — paracetamol is the usual alternative.
Brands of Aspirin in Nigeria
The NAFDAC registry holds 19 Aspirin products from 12 manufacturers, including combination products and older listings whose status you can check in the full list. Of the 8 active registrations whose factory country our Greenbook copy records, 5 are made in Nigeria. Below are some of the most common brands — see the full, searchable list for all of them.
| Brand Name | Manufacturer | Strength | Form | NAFDAC Reg. No. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emprin | Emzor Pharmaceutical Industries | 300mg | Tablet | 04-0264 |
| Avroprin-75 | Avro Pharma | 75mg | Tablet | A11-1095 |
| ASA 75 | SKG - Pharma | 75mg | Tablet | A4-2187 |
| Aspirin Cardio | Bayer Nigeria | 100mg | Tablet | A4-4447 |
How to Verify Your Aspirin is Genuine
- 1Check for a NAFDAC registration number on the pack — every genuine aspirin brand sold in Nigeria must carry one
- 2Verify the number in the NAFDAC Green Book or the NAFDAC verification app, which is quick and free
- 3Check the strength before you buy: 75mg and 100mg are heart doses, 300mg is a painkiller dose, and the two are not interchangeable
- 4Buy from a licensed pharmacy or registered patent medicine vendor rather than a hawker, particularly for daily long-term use
- 5Check the expiry date and that the blister or sachet is intact; aspirin that smells strongly of vinegar has broken down and should be discarded
- 6For sachet powders, remember these are usually aspirin combined with caffeine — read the ingredients if you are already taking aspirin for your heart
Aspirin Price in Nigeria
As of July 2026, Aspirin tablets sells for about ₦287 per tablet online in Nigeria (packs ₦4,100–₦29,550) across HealthPlus and MedPlus. Open-market prices (e.g. Idumota, Ogbogwu) are often lower.
Online retail (sampled)
HealthPlus + MedPlus₦4,100 – ₦29,550median ₦5,875
From 6 listings across HealthPlus + MedPlus — brands and pack sizes vary · updated July 2026.
Tablets: about ₦287 per tablet (₦125–₦410), from the 4 listings that state a pack size.
Brands sampled: speed.
Same medicine, different price
Every listing below contains Aspirin — the spread is brand and pack size, not the medicine inside. Grouped by form so packs compare fairly.
Tablet/Capsule
Cheapest sampled
Beechams Aspirin & Caffeine Sachets Powder x10(HealthPlus)
₦4,100
Priciest sampled
BAYER ASPIRIN 81MG * 120 TABS(MedPlus)
₦29,550
Check the pack size and strength on each listing before comparing — and ask your pharmacist about the generic option.
Price trend
We've tracked Aspirin online prices since July 2026 — median ₦5,875 (range ₦4,100–₦29,550, from 6 listings). This updates monthly, and the month-on-month trend will appear here — see the Nigerian Medicine Price Index for prices across all tracked drugs.
Where to Buy
Purchase Aspirin only from licensed pharmacies and verified distributors. Avoid buying medicines from unverified sources, roadside vendors, or unregistered market stalls.
Before you buy, verify the product's NAFDAC registration and check the current online prices above so you know a fair price before you pay.
Buying Aspirin in bulk or for resale? Our guide on how to buy medicines in bulk in Nigeria safely covers verifying a supplier and spotting fakes before a large order.
Need Aspirin in bulk, or can't find it near you?
Tell us what you need and we'll connect you with a verified, NAFDAC-registered source.
Related Resources for Aspirin
Guides, articles, and tools related to Aspirin and other blood thinners medicines in Nigeria.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources
- •NAFDAC Greenbook — the official database of all products registered with Nigeria's National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control. Brand-level NAFDAC numbers for Aspirin on this page were cross-referenced against the Greenbook.
- •WHO Model List of Essential Medicines — Aspirin is included in the WHO's list of essential medicines, meaning it is considered essential for basic healthcare needs.
- •British National Formulary (BNF) dosing and interaction guidance for Aspirin.
- •Nigerian Standard Treatment Guidelines (Federal Ministry of Health).
Daily puzzle: Meddle — pair five brands with their medicines. New game at midnight.