Tag: Aspirin metabolism

The well-known anti-inflammatory and antiplatelet drug aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) has an astonishingly short plasma half-life of just 15 to 20 minutes. This rapid degradation is a direct result of several key enzymes that metabolize aspirin almost immediately upon absorption, converting it into its main active metabolite, salicylic acid, and other excretable compounds.

Approximately 75% of salicylate at therapeutic doses is metabolized via conjugation with glycine in the liver to form salicyluric acid, the primary metabolite. A comprehensive understanding of what is the method of metabolism of salicylates in our body is crucial for appreciating its dose-dependent pharmacokinetics and potential for toxicity.