Comprehensive medication guide to Vazalore including estimated pricing, availability information, side effects, and how to find it in stock at your local pharmacy.
Estimated Insurance Pricing
$0–$30 copay if covered with a physician prescription; most insurance plans do not cover OTC Vazalore without a prescription. Some Medicare Part D plans may cover it — check your plan's formulary. Vazalore is FSA and HSA eligible.
Estimated Cash Pricing
$25–$45 retail for a 30-count box (30-day supply at 81 mg); as low as $24–$26 with GoodRx or SingleCare discount cards. No generic equivalent available — generic aspirin tablets are far cheaper but use a different formulation.
Medfinder Findability Score
45/100
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Vazalore is a brand-name formulation of aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid), available as a liquid-filled capsule in 81 mg and 325 mg doses. It was FDA-approved in March 2021 and is the first and only liquid-filled aspirin capsule available in the United States. Vazalore is manufactured by Greenwood Brands (formerly PLx Pharma) using their proprietary PLxGuard delivery technology.
Unlike conventional aspirin tablets, Vazalore uses a phospholipid-aspirin complex that releases aspirin in the duodenum (first part of the small intestine) rather than the stomach. This targeted release approach is designed to provide the fast, reliable antiplatelet absorption of immediate-release aspirin while significantly reducing the direct gastric mucosal contact that causes stomach ulcers, erosions, and heartburn.
Vazalore is available over the counter (OTC) without a prescription. It is primarily recommended for patients with existing cardiovascular disease who take daily aspirin therapy to prevent a second heart attack or clot-related stroke. It may also be used for pain relief and fever reduction in adults.
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Vazalore works through aspirin's well-established mechanism of action: irreversible inhibition of COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes (cyclooxygenase). By blocking COX-1 in platelets, aspirin prevents the production of thromboxane A2 — a chemical that signals platelets to clump together and form clots. Because platelets cannot regenerate COX-1, this antiplatelet effect lasts for the platelet's entire 7–10 day lifespan. Daily dosing keeps the platelet pool continuously inhibited, which is why low-dose aspirin is so effective for secondary cardiovascular prevention.
What sets Vazalore apart from other aspirin formulations is its PLxGuard delivery technology. The aspirin is dissolved in a liquid formulation combined with a phospholipid (lecithin). The liquid capsule passes through the stomach without dissolving in the acidic environment, then releases in the duodenum. The phospholipid component reduces direct mucosal contact while the aspirin is rapidly absorbed from the intestinal lining — achieving antiplatelet effect within approximately 1 hour, compared to 2+ hours for enteric-coated aspirin.
For pain and fever, aspirin's COX inhibition also reduces prostaglandin production — the chemicals responsible for pain signals, fever responses, and inflammatory processes. This makes Vazalore effective for mild to moderate pain relief and fever reduction in adults, with the added benefit of stomach protection compared to plain immediate-release aspirin.
81 mg — liquid-filled capsule
Low-dose aspirin; standard dose for cardiovascular secondary prevention (one capsule daily)
325 mg — liquid-filled capsule
Regular-strength aspirin; used for pain relief, fever reduction, and higher-dose cardiovascular indications
Vazalore is intermittently available at retail pharmacies in 2026 — with significant variation by region, pharmacy chain, and dose. The 81 mg version is more consistently stocked than the 325 mg. Major chains like CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, and Target carry Vazalore, but individual stores often have spotty inventory. Online retailers like Amazon and Walmart.com tend to have more consistent stock than brick-and-mortar locations.
The supply variability stems from PLx Pharma's Chapter 11 bankruptcy in April 2023 and subsequent asset sale to Greenwood Brands, which disrupted manufacturing and distribution. The PLxGuard liquid-filled capsule format is also more complex to manufacture than standard aspirin tablets, making supply ramp-up inherently slow. Vazalore is not listed on the FDA's official drug shortage database, indicating the issue is commercial rather than a declared clinical shortage.
To find Vazalore in stock near you without calling a dozen pharmacies yourself, use medfinder. medfinder calls pharmacies near your location and texts you back with results — making it the fastest way to locate Vazalore when it's hard to find.
Vazalore is not a controlled substance and is available OTC, so no prescription is required to purchase it. However, any licensed prescriber can write a prescription for Vazalore — which can be helpful for insurance coverage or mail-order pharmacy benefits. As an OTC medication with no DEA scheduling, there are no prescriber restrictions.
Clinicians who most commonly recommend or prescribe Vazalore include:
Cardiologists — primary recommenders for patients with coronary artery disease, post-MI, post-PCI, or post-CABG
Primary Care Physicians (PCPs) — internists and family medicine doctors managing cardiovascular secondary prevention
Neurologists — for stroke and TIA patients on antiplatelet therapy
Nurse Practitioners (NPs) and Physician Assistants (PAs) — licensed in all 50 states to recommend and prescribe Vazalore
Telehealth providers can also discuss Vazalore and issue prescriptions remotely. Platforms like Teladoc, MDLive, and others offer general internal medicine or cardiology consults that can facilitate a Vazalore prescription for insurance purposes without an in-person visit.
No. Vazalore is not a controlled substance. It is classified as an over-the-counter (OTC) non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) and antiplatelet agent. The DEA does not schedule aspirin, and there are no federal restrictions on purchasing quantity, no prescription requirement, and no special dispensing rules.
You can purchase Vazalore without a prescription at pharmacies and online retailers. However, it is strongly recommended that you discuss daily aspirin therapy with your physician before starting, as the risks and benefits are individualized — particularly for primary prevention (people who have not yet had a heart attack or stroke). A physician prescription is also useful if you want to seek insurance coverage or use a mail-order pharmacy benefit.
Vazalore is designed to minimize stomach-related side effects compared to regular aspirin, but as an NSAID, it still carries GI and bleeding risks. Common side effects include:
Mild stomach upset or heartburn
Nausea (particularly at higher doses)
Increased bruising
Minor or prolonged bleeding from cuts
Serious side effects requiring immediate medical attention:
Gastrointestinal bleeding (vomiting blood, black/tarry stools, stomach pain that won't resolve)
Severe allergic reaction (hives, facial swelling, wheezing, shock)
Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) or hearing loss — especially at high doses
Reye's syndrome in children/teenagers with viral illness — DO NOT give to children or teenagers with chickenpox or flu
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Enteric-coated aspirin (Ecotrin, generic)
OTC, widely available, very inexpensive. Stomach-protective but slower and less reliable absorption than Vazalore. Best widely-available substitute when Vazalore is out of stock.
Buffered aspirin (Bufferin, generic)
OTC, contains antacid buffer for mild stomach protection. Fast absorption like immediate-release aspirin. Less stomach protection than Vazalore or enteric-coated for patients with GI history.
Clopidogrel (Plavix, generic)
Prescription antiplatelet medication. Works via different mechanism (P2Y12 inhibitor). Used as aspirin alternative for truly aspirin-intolerant patients. Requires physician evaluation.
Immediate-release aspirin (Bayer, generic)
OTC, very cheap, fastest absorption of all aspirin types. Highest direct stomach contact and GI irritation risk. Best for acute chest pain situations (chew immediately). Not ideal for long-term daily use in GI-sensitive patients.
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Warfarin (Coumadin)
majorMajor interaction: additive bleeding risk when combined with aspirin. Combination sometimes used intentionally in high-risk cardiac patients but requires close physician monitoring and regular INR checks.
Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and other NSAIDs
majorMajor interaction: regular ibuprofen can compete with aspirin at the COX-1 enzyme binding site, potentially blocking aspirin's irreversible antiplatelet effect. Avoid concurrent daily use; use acetaminophen for pain relief instead.
Methotrexate
majorMajor interaction: aspirin inhibits renal excretion of methotrexate, causing toxic blood levels. Can result in bone marrow suppression and kidney damage.
Clopidogrel (Plavix)
moderateModerate interaction (dual antiplatelet therapy): commonly prescribed together intentionally for post-ACS/PCI patients, but increases bleeding risk significantly. Should only be used under physician supervision.
ACE inhibitors and ARBs (lisinopril, losartan)
moderateModerate interaction: aspirin may reduce antihypertensive effectiveness. Combined with diuretics, may increase risk of renal impairment.
Corticosteroids (prednisone, dexamethasone)
moderateModerate interaction: additive gastrointestinal bleeding risk. Consider adding a PPI if concurrent long-term use is necessary.
SSRIs/SNRIs (sertraline, fluoxetine)
moderateModerate interaction: SSRIs impair platelet serotonin function; combined with aspirin, increases GI bleeding risk, particularly in elderly patients.
Vazalore represents a meaningful innovation in aspirin delivery for the millions of Americans on daily antiplatelet therapy. Its liquid-filled capsule design delivers the fast, reliable platelet inhibition of immediate-release aspirin with the stomach protection patients with GI histories desperately need. For the right patient — particularly those with cardiovascular disease who have struggled with GI side effects from other aspirin formulations — it can make a real clinical difference.
The practical challenge is finding it. Supply has been inconsistent since PLx Pharma's 2023 bankruptcy, and availability remains variable across pharmacy locations and regions. The 81 mg dose is more reliably available than 325 mg. Buying in bulk when you find it and checking online retailers are the most practical strategies for maintaining a consistent supply.
If you're struggling to find Vazalore in stock, medfinder can help. medfinder calls pharmacies near you to check which ones have Vazalore available, texting you results so you can skip the phone marathon and get your medication faster.
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