# How much salicylic acid is allowed in ''aspirin''? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 10, 2010, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-salicylic-acid-is-allowed-in-aspirin/524405 "2010-01-10T17:31:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![janeslogin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@janeslogin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/janeslogin)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2010, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-salicylic-acid-is-allowed-in-aspirin/524405/1 "2010-01-10T17:31:02Z")
We were taught in grade school, and several websites seem to confirm, that ‘aspirin’ is acetylsalicylic acid. How much salicylic acid does the FDA allow in a pill sold as ‘aspirin’? ---
**Author:** ![TaterRecon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f14d63/32.png) [@TaterRecon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TaterRecon)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2010, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-salicylic-acid-is-allowed-in-aspirin/524405/2 "2010-01-10T17:59:32Z")
5 grains (325mg) is the usual dose for adults. Of course, there are multiples of that for extra strength, and there is also the low-dose (~81mg) tablets. Some say you’ve had too much asprin when your ears start ringing. ---
**Author:** ![janeslogin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@janeslogin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/janeslogin)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2010, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-salicylic-acid-is-allowed-in-aspirin/524405/3 "2010-01-10T18:46:33Z")
Sorry, unclear perhaps. The question is how much **salicylic acid** does the FDA allow in the \*\* _acety_lsalicylic acid\*\* marketed as “ **aspirin** ”? Again: How much salicylic acid does the FDA allow in a pill sold as ‘aspirin’? ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2010, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-salicylic-acid-is-allowed-in-aspirin/524405/4 "2010-01-10T21:51:17Z")
In references I’ve seen, the USP limit is 0.3% salicylic acid. The FDA does not set specifications. ---
**Author:** ![Hirka\_T\_Bawa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/db5fbb/32.png) [@Hirka\_T\_Bawa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hirka_T_Bawa)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2010, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-salicylic-acid-is-allowed-in-aspirin/524405/5 "2010-01-10T23:53:04Z")
One thing to keep in mind with Asprin, salicylic acid is a decomposition byproduct of Asprin. As the drug ages, there will be more salicylic acid. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2010, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-salicylic-acid-is-allowed-in-aspirin/524405/6 "2010-01-11T02:19:11Z")
> [@Hirka\_T\_Bawa](#): > > One thing to keep in mind with Asprin, salicylic acid is a decomposition byproduct of Asprin. As the drug ages, there will be more salicylic acid. I agree with this, save for the repeated mis-spelling of aspirin. Pedantically, QtM 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2010, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-salicylic-acid-is-allowed-in-aspirin/524405/7 "2010-01-11T04:17:51Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > I agree with this, save for the repeated mis-spelling of aspirin. > > Pedantically, > > QtM 😃 Have you never told an SF fan, “Take two [Asprin](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Asprin) and talk to me in the morning”? 😃