Which medication should be administered to a patient experiencing chest pain?

Aspirin is the recommended medication for a patient experiencing chest pain, particularly when there is a suspicion of a myocardial infarction (heart attack). The primary purpose of administering aspirin in this scenario is to inhibit platelet aggregation, which helps prevent further clot formation in the coronary arteries. By doing so, aspirin can potentially improve blood flow to the heart muscle and reduce the severity of the heart attack. The typical dose is between 162 to 325 mg orally.

In the context of chest pain, particularly if related to cardiac issues, ibuprofen is not indicated because it is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) and does not possess the antiplatelet properties that aspirin has. Lisinopril, an ACE inhibitor, and metoprolol, a beta-blocker, may be used in managing hypertension or heart failure, but they are not first-line medications for immediate treatment of chest pain related to potential ischemic heart disease. Therefore, administering aspirin promptly is crucial in such situations to improve outcomes.