If you’re taking aspirin tablets or dissolvable aspirin then they usually come in doses of 300mg of aspirin in each tablet.

When you’re taking these tablets then you should usually take one or two tablets every 4 – 6 hours, making sure that you do not take more than 12 tablets within a 24-hour period.

If you’re ever unsure about how much aspirin you should take, follow the instructions found in the patient information leaflet that comes with your medicine or speak to your doctor or pharmacist for advice.

Like all medications, aspirin can have side effects, although not everyone will experience them.

Some of the most common side effects of aspirin include:

• Feeling sick and vomiting
• Bleeding more easily than usual
• Ringing in your ears
• Indigestion

If you experience these or any other side effects after taking aspirin, stop use and speak to your doctor or pharmacist right away.

For a complete list of possible side effects, please see the patient information leaflet that’s included with your own medication.

Aspirin and ibuprofen are not the same medication, but they do come from the same family of medicines.

Aspirin and ibuprofen are both NSAIDs, which stands for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

This means that they both work in a similar way when helping you to manage pain and inflammation, and should not be taken at the same time unless you’ve specifically told to do so by your doctor and follow the dosages carefully.

Aspirin does work as an anti-inflammatory, as well as an analgesic (pain relief medication), a blood thinner (when taken in small daily doses), and an antipyretic (which reduces fever).

Aspirin typically takes around 20 – 30 minutes to work after you’ve taken it, so you should feel the effects of your medication quickly.