Physicochemical basis of the buffered acetylsalicylic acid controversy.

NUMEROUS conflicting reports about the relative efficacy of regular acetylsalicylic acid and the form in combination with buffering agents have appeared in the literature. The purpose of this paper is to present data that may explain the apparent contradictions in the results obtained by different investigators. In addition, the physicochemical principles outlined here have been utilized to interpret and correlate the relevant data found in the clinical literature. The controversy over buffered and unbuffered drug is centered upon two principal factors — namely, the incidence and severity of gastric irritation and the rate and extent of absorption of acetylsalicylic acid . . .