The Annals of pharmacotherapy
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Comparison of oral aspirin versus topical applied methyl salicylate for platelet inhibition.
Oral acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) is the primary antiplatelet therapy in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction and acute coronary syndrome. Methyl salicylate (MS; oil of wintergreen) is compounded into many over-the-counter antiinflammatory muscle preparations and has been shown to inhibit platelet aggregation locally and to be absorbed systemically. ⋯ Topical MS and oral aspirin both significantly decrease platelet aggregation in healthy human volunteers.