Which statement accurately distinguishes acetaminophen from aspirin?

Which statement accurately distinguishes acetaminophen from aspirin?

• A. Acetaminophen has strong anti-inflammatory effects while aspirin does not.
• B. Acetaminophen reduces clotting while aspirin has no effect on clotting.
• C. Acetaminophen has no significant anti-inflammatory or anticlotting effects, whereas aspirin does have anti-inflammatory and anticoagulant effects.
• D. Acetaminophen causes more GI irritation than aspirin.

Answer: (C)

Acetaminophen and aspirin differ in how they affect inflammation and blood clotting. Acetaminophen relieves pain and fever but has little to no peripheral anti-inflammatory activity and does not affect platelet function. Aspirin, on the other hand, has anti-inflammatory effects at higher doses and, importantly, inhibits platelet aggregation (an anticoagulant effect) by irreversibly blocking COX-1 and reducing thromboxane A2. So the statement that acetaminophen has no significant anti-inflammatory or anticlotting effects, whereas aspirin does have anti-inflammatory and anticoagulant effects, accurately distinguishes the two. The other options misstate these properties: acetaminophen isn’t a strong anti-inflammatory and doesn’t typically affect clotting; aspirin’s GI irritation is more associated with aspirin than with acetaminophen.

Acetaminophen and aspirin differ in how they affect inflammation and blood clotting. Acetaminophen relieves pain and fever but has little to no peripheral anti-inflammatory activity and does not affect platelet function. Aspirin, on the other hand, has anti-inflammatory effects at higher doses and, importantly, inhibits platelet aggregation (an anticoagulant effect) by irreversibly blocking COX-1 and reducing thromboxane A2.

So the statement that acetaminophen has no significant anti-inflammatory or anticlotting effects, whereas aspirin does have anti-inflammatory and anticoagulant effects, accurately distinguishes the two. The other options misstate these properties: acetaminophen isn’t a strong anti-inflammatory and doesn’t typically affect clotting; aspirin’s GI irritation is more associated with aspirin than with acetaminophen.