Which medication is included in the initial treatment for unstable chest pain?

• A. Aspirin
• B. Antibiotics
• C. Lidocaine
• D. Calcium channel blocker

Answer: (A)

When a patient has unstable chest pain, the first medication given is aspirin because it acts quickly to prevent clot growth by inhibiting platelets. Chewing aspirin speeds absorption, so the effect happens sooner, which is crucial in suspected acute coronary syndrome. A typical emergency dose is around 162–325 mg, unless there’s a contraindication like allergy, active bleeding, or a history of aspirin sensitivity.

Antibiotics aren’t part of the initial treatment for chest pain since infection isn’t the cause here. Lidocaine is an antiarrhythmic used in certain rhythm problems, not for treating chest pain itself in the field. Calcium channel blockers aren’t routinely used in the initial management of unstable chest pain because they can lower blood pressure and don’t improve outcomes in this acute setting.