Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) products with the fewest additives
Many aspirin brands contain questionable additives that you might not expect. For example, silica or silicon dioxide are often added to prevent caking, magnesium stearate or stearic acid for easier manufacturing, artificial colors for visual appeal, hypromellose (hydroxypropyl methylcellulose) as an emulsifier or thickener, sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate (SLS/SLES) as an emulsifier, titanium dioxide for whitening, propylene glycol as a preservative, and povidone as a binder.
I try to avoid those additives because they may have questionable health effects. If you want to do the same, I have some recommended brands depending on your needs:
Suggestions for those who don't need an enteric/safety coating
For most people that don't need an enteric coating, the simplest approach is to buy aspirin tablets with the fewest excipients. I buy this brand:
Online sources
Finding locally
I don't think this brand will be easy to find locally.
Aspirin, corn starch.
And I recently learned about this brand with the same ingredients (thanks G Forrest):
Online sources
Finding locally
I don't think this brand will be easy to find locally.
Aspirin, corn starch.
Walmart had a similar product under the name Quality Plus, but I suspect it's stopped being produced. But feel free to check the listing for it in case it's somehow in stock near you.
Another alternative is to check discount or dollar stores, who will sometimes carry off-brands that are also just aspirin and starch. Dollar Tree is one example; you can try their store finder to ask if your local store has Assured brand non-enteric aspirin. However, they may be switching suppliers or formulations recently, so be sure to check the ingredients.
Don't bother hunting for the uncoated Kroger/King Soopers aspirin I had suggested in the past, it has been discontinued.
Suggestion for those who do need an enteric/safety coating
Unfortunately, the enteric-coated brands I've been able to find still have some undesirable excipients. I think best of the bunch is:
Online sources
Available from Walmart.comFinding locally
This product should be common in most local store pharmacy area. Don't confuse it with the common Bayer Coated Tablets, which are not truly enteric-coated. The label should explicitly mention "Safey Coated."
Aspirin, black iron oxide, brown iron oxide, carnauba wax, corn starch, D&C yellow #10 aluminum lake, FD&C yellow #6 aluminum lake, hypromellose, methacrylic acid copolymer type C, polysorbate 80, powdered cellulose, propylene glycol, shellac, sodium lauryl sulfate, triacetin, triethyl citrate.
This is the best enteric coated-product I've been able to find, but it unfortunately contains artificial colors, hypromellose, sodium lauryl sulfate, and propylene glycol.
Veterinary and research-grade powders
These products are all intended for animal use or research. I'd suggest smelling them for a "pickley" odor that indicates the aspirin is degrading and losing effectiveness, which I think happens more rapidly with powders because more of their surface area is exposed to air compared to tablets. Storing them away from light in tightly sealed containers should slow that degradation.
Online sources
Available on healthnatura.comFinding locally
Only available online.
USP aspirin powder.
Online sources
Finding locally
Try AniMed's retailer locator.
USP aspirin powder.
Online sources
Available from Walmart.comFinding locally
This may have limited local availability.
Aspirin powder.
Online sources
Available on entirelypets.comFinding locally
This may have limited local availability.
Aspirin powder.
Overseas manufacturing-supply aspirin powders
Sites like Alibaba can help you order aspirin powder from manufacturing companies (usually located in China), as long as you don't mind purchasing very large quantities.
Non-recommended aspirins and their ingredients
The following are other aspirins I'm aware of, sorted alphabetically.
| Name | Ingredients |
|---|---|
| Anacin Max Strength Coated Aspirin | Aspirin, Corn Starch, Hypromellose, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Polyethylene Glycol, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate. |
| Anacin Pain Reliever Coated 400mg Aspirin | Aspirin, Hypromellose, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Polyethylene Glycol, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Starch. |
| BC Headache Pain Reliever Powder (New Formula) | Aspirin, Caffeine, Docusate Sodium, Fumaric Acid, Lactose Monohydrate, Potassium Chloride. |
| Bayer 325mg Non-Enteric-Coated Aspirin | Aspirin, carnauba wax, corn starch, hypromellose, powdered cellulose, triacetin. |
| Bayer 81mg Enteric-Coated Aspirin | Aspirin, black iron oxide, brown iron oxide, carnauba wax, corn starch, D&C yellow #10 aluminum lake, FD&C yellow #6 aluminum lake, hypromellose, methacrylic acid copolymer type C, polysorbate 80, powdered cellulose, propylene glycol, shellac, sodium lauryl sulfate, triacetin, triethyl citrate. |
| Bayer Advanced 500mg Aspirin | Aspirin, carnauba wax, colloidal silicon dioxide, hypromellose, sodium carbonate, zinc stearate. |
| Bayer Back & Body 500mg Aspirin | Aspirin, carnauba wax, corn starch, D&C red #30 aluminum lake, D&C yellow #10 aluminum lake, hypromellose, powdered cellulose, propylene glycol, shellac, titanium dioxide, triacetin. |
| Bayer Chewable 81mg Aspirin, Cherry Flavored | Aspirin, colloidal silicon dioxide, corn starch, D&C red #27 aluminum lake, dextrose, FD&C red #40 aluminum lake, flavor, microcrystalline cellulose, saccharin sodium. |
| Bayer Chewable 81mg Aspirin, Orange Flavored | Aspirin, colloidal silicon dioxide, corn starch, dextrose, FD&C yellow #6 aluminum lake, flavor, microcrystalline cellulose, saccharin sodium. |
| Bayer PM NightTime Relief 500mg Aspirin | Aspirin, Diphenhydramine Citrate, Carnauba Wax, Citric Acid, Colloidal Silicon Dioxide, FD&C Blue 1 Aluminum Lake, FD&C Blue 2 Aluminum Lake, Hypromellose, Microcrystalline Cellulose. |
| Bayer Plus 500mg Aspirin | Aspirin, calcium carbonate, carnauba wax, colloidal silicon dioxide, corn starch, D&C red #7 calcium lake, FD&C blue #2 aluminum lake, FD&C red #40 aluminum lake, hypromellose, microcrystalline cellulose, pregelatinized starch, propylene glycol, shellac, sodium starch glycolate, titanium dioxide, zinc stearate. |
| Bayer Women's 81mg Calcium-Carbonate Buffered Aspirin | Aspirin, carnauba wax, colloidal silicon dioxide, crospovidone, hypromellose, lactose, magnesium stearate, maltodextrin, microcrystalline cellulose, mineral oil, polydextrose, powdered cellulose, pregelatinized starch, sodium starch glycolate, stearic acid, titanium dioxide, triacetin, zinc stearate. |
| CVS Regular Strength Aspirin | Aspirin, dicalcium phosphate dihydrate, glyceryl triacetate, hypromellose, starch, talc. |
| Ecotrin 325mg Safety Coated Enteric Regular Strength Aspirin | Aspirin, carnauba wax, colloidal silicon dioxide, edta, FD&C yellow #6, glyceryl monostearate, hypromellose, methacrylic acid copolymer, methylparaben, microcrystalline cellulose, polysorbate 80, pregelatinized starch, propylparaben, sodium starch glycolate, stearic acid, talc, titanium dioxide, triethyl citrate. Printed with edible black ink. |
| Ecotrin Adult Low Strength 81mg Aspirin | Aspirin, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax, Colloidal Silicon dioxide, EDTA, FD&C Yellow 6 (CI 15985), Glyceryl Monostearate, Hypromellose, Methacrylic Acid Copolymer, Methylparaben, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Polysorbate 80, Propylparaben, Starch, Stearic Acid, Talc, Titanium Dioxide, Triethyl Citrate, Printed with Edible Black Ink. |
| Kirkland Enteric Coated 325mg Aspirin | Aspirin, black iron oxide, cellulose, colloidal silicon dioxide, D&C yellow #10 aluminum lake, FD&C yellow #6 aluminum lake, hypromellose, polydextrose, polyethylene glycol, polyvinyl acetate phthalate, propylene glycol, shellac wax, sodium alginate, sodium bicarbonate, starch, stearic acid, talc, titanium dioxide, triacetin, triethyl citrate. |
| Kirkland Low-dose 81mg Aspirin | Aspirin, black iron oxide, colloidal silicon dioxide, corn starch, D&C yellow #10 aluminum lake, FD&C yellow #6 aluminum lake, hypromellose, microcrystalline cellulose, polydextrose, polyethylene glycol, polyvinyl acetate phthalate, propylene glycol, shellac wax, sodium alginate, sodium bicarbonate, stearic acid, talc, titanium dioxide, triacetin, triethyl citrate. |
| Life Extension 81mg Enteric-Coated Aspirin | Aspirin, acetylated monoglycerides, anhydrous lactose, carnauba wax, colloidal silicon dioxide, corn starch, croscarmellose sodium, D&C Yellow #10 Aluminum Lake, FD&C Yellow #6 Aluminum Lake, hypromellose, hypromellose phthalate, iron oxide Yellow (iron oxide ochre), methacrylic acid, copolymer, microcrystalline cellulose, mineral oil, polyethylene glycol (PEG)-400, polysorbate 80, povidone, pregelatinized starch, propylene glycol, simethicone, silicon dioxide, sodium bicarbonate, sodium hydroxide, sodium lauryl sulfate, starch, stearic acid, talc, titanium dioxide, triacitin, and triethyl citrate. |
| Qualitest 325mg Aspirin | Aspirin, Acetylated Monoglycerides, Cornstarch, Croscarmellose Sodium, D&C Yellow 10 (CI 74005), FD&C Yellow 6 (CI 15985), Hypromellose, Hypromellose Phthalate, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Mineral Oil, Polyethylene Glycol 400, Polysorbate 80, Titanium Dioxide. |
| St. Joseph Safety Coated 81mg Aspirin | Aspirin, FD&C Red 40 (CI 16035), FD&C Yellow 6 Aluminum Lake, Hypromellose, Methacrylic Acid Copolymer, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Pregelatinized Starch, Silica, Silicon Dioxide, Sodium Bicarbonate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Stearic Acid, Talc, Triethyl Citrate. |
| Walgreens Adult Low Strength Enteric-Coated 81mg Aspirin | Aspirin, Cellulose, Colloidal Silicon dioxide, Croscarmellose Sodium, FD&C Red 40 (CI 16035), FD&C Yellow 6 Aluminum Lake, Hypromellose, Polydextrose, Polyethylene Glycol, Polyvinyl Acetate Phthalate, Shellac Wax, Simethicone, Sodium Alginate, Sodium Bicarbonate, Starch, Stearic Acid, Talc, Titanium Dioxide, Triacetin, Triethyl Citrate. |
| Walgreens Enteric-coated 325mg Aspirin | Aspirin, Black Iron Oxide, Cellulose, Colloidal Silicon dioxide, FD&C Yellow 6 Aluminum Lake, Hypromellose, Polydextrose, Polyethylene Glycol, Polyvinyl Acetate Phthalate, Propylene Glycol, Shellac Wax, Sodium Alginate, Sodium Bicarbonate, Starch, Stearic Acid, Talc, Titanium Dioxide, Triacetin, Triethyl Citrate. |
| Walgreens Low-dose 81mg Chewable Aspirin, Cherry | Aspirin, Cherry Flavor, D&C Red 27 Aluminum Lake, D&C Red 30 Lake (CI 73360), Dextrates, Ethyl Cellulose, Sodium Saccharin, Starch. |
| Walgreens Low-dose 81mg Chewable Aspirin, Orange | Aspirin, Dextrates, Ethyl Cellulose, FD&C Yellow 6 Aluminum Lake, Orange Flavor, Sodium Saccharin, Starch. |
| Walgreens Non-enteric 325mg Aspirin | Aspirin, Hypromellose, Starch, Titanium Dioxide. |
| Walgreens Tri-Buffered 325mg Aspirin | Aspirin, Citric Acid, Corn Starch, Dibasic Sodium Phosphate, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Hypromellose, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Polyethylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Shellac Wax, Simethicone, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Talc, Titanium Dioxide. |
I hope this overly-long aspirin page hasn't given you even more of a headache than you had at the start.