A: rapidly and almost completely absorbed from the stomach and small intestine

D: widely distributed into most body tissues and fluids

M: prodrug=active metabolite is salicylate.

It is hydrolyzed to salicylate in the mucosa of the GI tract and on first pass through the liver.

E: Other metabolites and some salicylate is excreted unchanged in urine.

Salicylates:
Pharmacologic Effects

■Analgesic: relieves mild to moderate pain such as arthritis, headache, or toothache.

■Antipyretic: reduces fever; no effect on normal body temperature

■Antiinflammatory : causes decreased erythema ( vasodilation) and swelling

■Uricosuric: large doses produce increase in uric acid secretion in urine; small doses of aspirin produce uric acid retention.

■Antiplatelet: irreversibly binds to platelets, results in reduced clotting