アスピリン

Originally the trade name of the drug developed by the German company Bayer in 1899; now used generically in Japanese to refer to acetylsalicylic acid (アセチルサリチル酸(さん)) tablets.

Usage

• Most commonly used with 飲(の)む ('to take [medicine]') or 服用(ふくよう)する ('to take [a drug], more formal medical register').
• In casual speech, aspirin, ibuprofen, and similar pills may all be lumped together as 頭痛薬(ずつうやく) ('headache medicine') or 痛(いた)み止(ど)め ('painkiller'). アスピリン specifies this one drug.
• Aspirin is contraindicated for children with viral illness (Reye's syndrome risk); in Japanese package inserts this warning appears as a standard precaution.

Common collocations

• アスピリンを飲(の)む: to take aspirin
• アスピリンを服用(ふくよう)する: to take aspirin (formal/medical)
• アスピリン一錠(いちじょう): one aspirin tablet
• 低(てい)用量(ようりょう)アスピリン: low-dose aspirin
• アスピリン療法(りょうほう): aspirin therapy

Similar words

• 鎮痛剤(ちんつうざい): painkiller; analgesic — the general category; アスピリン is one specific example.
• 解熱剤(げねつざい): fever reducer — another functional category that aspirin falls under.
• 頭痛薬(ずつうやく): headache medicine — everyday term covering aspirin, ibuprofen, and similar drugs.
• イブプロフェン: ibuprofen — a different NSAID with a similar purpose, generally considered gentler on the stomach.