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- $Unique_ID{BRK03029}
- $Pretitle{}
- $Title{aspirin}
- $Subject{ A.S.A. Enseals Lilly Bayer Glenbrook Children's Easprin Parke-Davis
- Ecotrin SK-Beecham Empirin Burroughs Wellcome Measurin Winthrop
- Pharmaceuticals zorprin Boots Analgesic anti-inflammatory pain fever
- inflammatory conditions rheumatic fever rheumatoid arthritis osteoarthritis
- prevents blood clots transient ischemic attacks strokes heart attacks angina
- chest pain}
- $Volume{}
- $Log{}
-
- Copyright (C) 1993 Publications International, Ltd.
-
-
- aspirin
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- BRAND NAMES (Manufacturers)
-
- A.S.A. Enseals [*] (Lilly)
- aspirin [*] (various manufacturers)
- Bayer [*] (Glenbrook)
- Bayer Children's [*] (Glenbrook)
- Easprin (Parke-Davis)
- Ecotrin [*] (SK-Beecham)
- Empirin [*] (Burroughs Wellcome)
- Measurin [*] (Winthrop Pharmaceuticals)
- ZORprin (Boots)
- * Available over-the-counter (without a prescription)
-
- TYPE OF DRUG
-
- Analgesic and anti-inflammatory
-
- INGREDIENT
-
- aspirin
-
- DOSAGE FORMS
-
- Tablets (65 mg, 81 mg, 325 mg, and 500 mg)
- Chewable tablets (81 mg)
- Enteric-coated tablets (325 mg, 500 mg, 650 mg, and 975 mg)
- Sustained-release tablets (650 mg and 800 mg)
- Caplets (325 mg and 500 mg)
- Suppositories (60 mg, 120 mg, 130 mg, 195 mg, 200 mg, 300 mg, 325 mg, 600
- mg, 650 mg, and 1.2 g)
-
- STORAGE
-
- Store at room temperature in a tightly closed container. Moisture causes
- aspirin to decompose. Discard the medicine if it has a vinegary odor.
-
- USES
-
- Aspirin is used to treat mild to moderate pain, fever, and inflammatory
- conditions, such as rheumatic fever, rheumatoid arthritis, and osteoarthritis.
- Because it prevents the formation of blood clots, aspirin has also been shown
- to be effective in reducing the risk of transient ischemic attacks (small
- strokes) and to have a protective effect against heart attacks in men with
- angina (chest pain).
- Aspirin is a useful medication that is utilized in the treatment of a
- wide variety of diseases. Because it is so common and so readily available,
- you may not think of it as "real medicine." This is a common misconception;
- aspirin certainly is "real medicine." If your doctor prescribes or recommends
- aspirin for your condition, it is for a good reason. FOLLOW YOUR DOCTOR'S
- DIRECTIONS CAREFULLY!
-
- TREATMENT
-
- To avoid stomach irritation, you should take aspirin with food or with a
- full glass of water or milk.
- Chewable aspirin tablets may be chewed, dissolved in fluid, or swallowed
- whole.
- Swallow the sustained-release or enteric-coated tablets whole. Crushing,
- chewing, or breaking these tablets destroys their sustained-release activity
- and increases side effects.
- To use the suppository, remove the foil wrapper and moisten the
- suppository with water (if it is too soft to insert, refrigerate the
- suppository for half an hour or run cold water over it before you remove the
- wrapper). Lie on your left side with your right knee bent. Push the
- suppository into the rectum, pointed end first. Lie still for a few minutes.
- Avoid having a bowel movement for at least an hour to give the drug time to be
- absorbed.
- If you are using aspirin to treat an inflammatory condition, it may take
- two or three weeks until the full benefits are observed.
- If you are taking aspirin on a regular schedule and you miss a dose, take
- the missed dose as soon as possible, unless it is almost time for the next
- dose. In that case, do not take the missed dose at all; just return to your
- regular dosing schedule. Do not double the next dose.
-
- SIDE EFFECTS
-
- Minor.
-
- Heartburn, nausea, or vomiting. These side effects should disappear as
- your body adjusts to the medication.
-
- Major.
-
- Tell your doctor about any side effects that are persistent or
- particularly bothersome. IT IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT TO TELL YOUR DOCTOR about
- any loss of hearing or ringing in the ears; bloody or black, tarry stools;
- confusion; difficult or painful urination; difficulty in breathing; dizziness;
- severe stomach pain; skin rash; or unusual weakness.
-
- INTERACTIONS
-
- Aspirin interacts with a number of other types of medications:
- 1. Aspirin can increase the effects of anticoagulants (blood thinners),
- such as warfarin, leading to bleeding complications.
- 2. The antigout effects of probenecid and sulfinpyrazone may be blocked
- by aspirin.
- 3. Aspirin can increase the gastrointestinal side effects of nonsteroidal
- anti-inflammatory drugs, alcohol, phenylbutazone, and adrenocorticosteroids
- (cortisone-like medicines).
- 4. Ammonium chloride, methionine, and furosemide can increase the side
- effects of aspirin.
- 5. Acetazolamide, methazolamide, antacids, and phenobarbital can decrease
- the effectiveness of aspirin.
- 6. Aspirin can increase the side effects of methotrexate, penicillin,
- thyroid hormone, phenytoin, sulfinpyrazone, naproxen, valproic acid, insulin,
- and oral antidiabetic medications.
- 7. Aspirin can decrease the effects of spironolactone.
- Before starting to take aspirin, BE SURE TO TELL YOUR DOCTOR about any
- medications you are currently taking, especially any of those listed above.
-
- WARNINGS
-
- * Tell your doctor about unusual or allergic reactions you have had to
- any medications, especially to aspirin, methyl salicylate (oil of
- wintergreen), tartrazine, diclofenac, diflunisal, flurbiprofen, fenoprofen,
- ibuprofen, indomethacin, ketoprofen, meclofenamate, mefenamic acid, naproxen,
- piroxicam, sulindac, or tolmetin.
- * Before starting to take aspirin, be sure to tell your doctor if you now
- have or if you have ever had asthma, bleeding disorders, congestive heart
- failure, diabetes, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency, gout,
- hemophilia, high blood pressure, kidney disease, liver disease, nasal polyps,
- peptic ulcers, or thyroid disease.
- * Before having surgery or any other medical or dental treatment, be sure
- to tell your doctor or dentist that you are taking aspirin. Aspirin is
- usually discontinued five to seven days before surgery, in order to prevent
- bleeding complications.
- * The use of aspirin in children (about 16 years of age or less) with the
- flu or chicken pox has been associated with a rare, life-threatening condition
- called Reye's syndrome. Aspirin should, therefore, not be given to children
- with signs of an infection.
- * Large doses of aspirin (greater than eight 325-mg tablets per day) can
- cause erroneous urine glucose test results. Diabetics should, therefore,
- check with their doctor before changing insulin doses while taking this
- medication.
- * Additional medications that contain aspirin should not be taken without
- your doctor's approval. Be sure to check the labels on over-the-counter
- (nonprescription) pain, sinus, allergy, asthma, cough, and cold preparations
- to see if they contain aspirin.
- * Be sure to tell your doctor if you are pregnant. Aspirin has been
- shown to cause birth defects in the offspring of animals that received large
- doses during pregnancy. Large doses of aspirin given to a pregnant woman
- close to term can prolong labor and cause bleeding complications in the mother
- and heart problems in the infant. Also, tell your doctor if you are
- breast-feeding an infant. Small amounts of aspirin pass into breast milk.
-
- ----------------
-
- The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
- the counsel and advice of your personal physician. Promptly consulting your
- doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
- problem.
-