Brand Name: Aspirin
Drug Name:
Acetylsalicylic Acid
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DESCRIPTION
Salicylates are used to relieve pain and
reduce fever. Most salicylates are also used to relieve some
symptoms caused by arthritis (rheumatism), such as swelling,
stiffness, and joint pain. However, they do not cure arthritis
and will help you only as long as you continue to take them.
Aspirin may also be used to lessen the chance
of heart attack, stroke, or other problems that may occur when a
blood vessel is blocked by blood clots. Aspirin helps prevent
dangerous blood clots from forming. However, this effect of
aspirin may increase the chance of serious bleeding in some
people. Therefore, aspirin should be used for this purpose only
when your doctor decides, after studying your medical condition
and history, that the danger of blood clots is greater than the
risk of bleeding. Do not take aspirin to prevent blood clots
or a heart attack unless it has been ordered by your doctor.
| FDA Alert [12/23/04]: Based
on emerging information, the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events may increase among patients taking
naproxen (Aleve). FDA recommends patients not exceed the recommended
dose. For more information about these risks, refer to the FDA
Alert for Healthcare Providers. |
Cautions
Allergies—Tell
your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic
reaction to aspirin or other salicylates, including methyl
salicylate (oil of wintergreen), or to any of the following
medicines:
- Diclofenac (e.g., Voltaren)
- Diflunisal (e.g., Dolobid)
- Etodolac (e.g., Lodine)
- Fenoprofen (e.g., Nalfon)
- Floctafenine (e.g., Idarac)
- Flurbiprofen, oral (e.g., Ansaid)
- Ibuprofen (e.g., Motrin)
- Indomethacin (e.g., Indocin)
- Ketoprofen (e.g., Orudis)
- Ketorolac (e.g., Toradol)
- Meclofenamate (e.g., Meclomen)
- Mefenamic acid (e.g., Ponstel)
- Nabumetone (e.g., Relafen)
- Naproxen (e.g., Naprosyn)
- Oxaprozin (e.g., Daypro)
- Oxyphenbutazone (e.g., Tandearil)
- Phenylbutazone (e.g., Butazolidin)
- Piroxicam (e.g., Feldene)
- Sulindac (e.g., Clinoril)
- Suprofen (e.g., Suprol)
- Tenoxicam (e.g., Mobiflex)
- Tiaprofenic acid (e.g., Surgam)
- Tolmetin (e.g., Tolectin)
- Zomepirac (e.g., Zomax)
Pregnancy—Salicylates
have not been shown to cause birth defects in humans. Studies on
birth defects in humans have been done with aspirin but not with
other salicylates. However, salicylates caused birth defects in
animal studies.
Some reports have suggested that too much use
of aspirin late in pregnancy may cause a decrease in the
newborn's weight and possible death of the fetus or newborn
infant. However, the mothers in these reports had been taking
much larger amounts of aspirin than are usually recommended.
Studies of mothers taking aspirin in the doses that are usually
recommended did not show these unwanted effects. However, there
is a chance that regular use of salicylates late in pregnancy
may cause unwanted effects on the heart or blood flow in the
fetus or in the newborn infant.
Use of salicylates, especially aspirin, during
the last 2 weeks of pregnancy may cause bleeding problems in the
fetus before or during delivery or in the newborn infant. Also,
too much use of salicylates during the last 3 months of
pregnancy may increase the length of pregnancy, prolong labor,
cause other problems during delivery, or cause severe bleeding
in the mother before, during, or after delivery. Do not take
aspirin during the last 3 months of pregnancy unless it has been
ordered by your doctor. |
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Breast-feeding—Salicylates
pass into the breast milk. Although salicylates have not been
reported to cause problems in nursing babies, it is possible that
problems may occur if large amounts are taken regularly, as for
arthritis (rheumatism).
Children—Do
not give aspirin or other salicylates to a child or a teenager with
a fever or other symptoms of a virus infection, especially flu or
chickenpox, without first discussing its use with your child's
doctor. This is very important because salicylates may cause a
serious illness called Reye's syndrome in children and teenagers
with fever caused by a virus infection, especially flu or
chickenpox.
Older adults—Elderly
people are especially sensitive to the effects of salicylates.
This may increase the chance of side effects during treatment.
Other medicines—Although
certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other
cases two different medicines may be used together even if an
interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to
change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you
are taking a salicylate, it is especially important that your
health care professional know if you are taking any of the
following:
- Anticoagulants (blood thinners) or
- Carbenicillin by injection (e.g., Geopen) or
- Cefamandole (e.g., Mandol) or
- Cefoperazone (e.g., Cefobid) or
- Cefotetan (e.g., Cefotan) or
- Dipyridamole (e.g., Persantine) or
- Divalproex (e.g., Depakote) or
- Heparin or
- Inflammation or pain medicine, except
narcotics, or
- Pentoxifylline (e.g., Trental) or
- Plicamycin (e.g., Mithracin) or
- Ticarcillin (e.g., Ticar) or
- Valproic acid (e.g., Depakene)—Taking these
medicines together with a salicylate, especially aspirin, may
increase the chance of bleeding
- Antidiabetics, oral (diabetes medicine you
take by mouth)—Salicylates may increase the effects of the
antidiabetic medicine; a change in dose may be needed if a
salicylate is taken regularly
- Ciprofloxacin (e.g., Cipro) or
- Enoxacin (e.g., Penetrex) or
- Itraconazole (e.g., Sporanox) or
- Ketoconazole (e.g., Nizoral) or
- Lomefloxacin (e.g., Maxaquin) or
- Norfloxacin (e.g., Noroxin) or
- Ofloxacin (e.g., Floxin) or
- Tetracyclines (medicine for infection), taken
by mouth—Buffered aspirin, choline and magnesium salicylates,
and magnesium salicylate may keep these medicines from working
properly if taken too close to them
- Methotrexate (e.g., Mexate) or
- Vancomycin (e.g., Vancocin)—The chance of
serious side effects may be increased
- Probenecid (e.g., Benemid)—Salicylates can
keep probenecid from working properly for treating gout
- Sulfinpyrazone (e.g., Anturane)—Salicylates
can keep sulfinpyrazone from working properly for treating gout;
also, taking a salicylate, especially aspirin, with
sulfinpyrazone may increase the chance of bleeding
- Urinary alkalizers (medicine that makes the
urine less acid, such as acetazolamide [e.g., Diamox], calcium-
and/or magnesium-containing antacids, dichlorphenamide [e.g.,
Daranide], methazolamide [e.g., Neptazane], potassium or sodium
citrate and/or citric acid, sodium bicarbonate [baking
soda])—These medicines may make the salicylate less effective by
causing it to be removed from the body more quickly
Other medical problems—The
presence of other medical problems may affect the use of
salicylates. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other
medical problems, especially:
- Anemia or
- Overactive thyroid or
- Stomach ulcer or other stomach problems—Salicylates
may make your condition worse
- Asthma, allergies, and nasal polyps (history
of) or
- Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD)
deficiency or
- High blood pressure (hypertension) or
- Kidney disease or
- Liver disease—The chance of side effects may
be increased.
- Gout—Salicylates can make this condition
worse and can also lessen the effects of some medicines used to
treat gout
- Heart disease—The chance of some side effects
may be increased. Also, the caffeine present in some aspirin
products can make some kinds of heart disease worse
- Hemophilia or other bleeding problems—The
chance of bleeding may be increased, especially with aspirin
Side Effects of Aspirin
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause
some unwanted effects. When this medicine is used for short
periods of time at low doses, side effects usually are rare.
Although not all of the following side effects may occur, if they
do occur they may need medical attention.
Get emergency help immediately
if any of the following side effects occur:
- Any loss of hearing; bloody urine;
confusion; convulsions (seizures); diarrhea (severe or
continuing); difficulty in swallowing; dizziness,
lightheadedness, or feeling faint (severe); drowsiness
(severe); excitement or nervousness (severe); fast or deep
breathing; flushing, redness, or other change in skin color;
hallucinations (seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not
there); increased sweating; increased thirst; nausea or
vomiting (severe or continuing); shortness of breath, troubled
breathing, tightness in chest, or wheezing; stomach pain
(severe or continuing); swelling of eyelids, face, or lips;
unexplained fever ; uncontrollable flapping movements of the
hands (especially in elderly patients); vision problems
- Symptoms of overdose in children
- Changes in behavior; drowsiness or
tiredness (severe); fast or deep breathing
Also, check with your doctor as soon as possible
if any of the following side effects occur:
Abdominal or stomach pain, cramping, or
burning (severe); bloody or black, tarry stools; headache
(severe or continuing); ringing or buzzing in ears
(continuing); skin rash, hives, or itching; unusual tiredness
or weakness; vomiting of blood or material that looks like
coffee grounds
Other side effects may occur that usually do not
need medical attention. These side effects may go away during
treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. However, check
with your health care professional if any of the following side
effects continue or are bothersome:
Abdominal or stomach cramps, pain, or
discomfort (mild to moderate) ; heartburn or indigestion;
nausea or vomiting, Trouble in sleeping, nervousness, or jitters
(only for products containing caffeine)
Other side effects not listed above may also
occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check
with your doctor.
DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION
For short-acting tablet, chewable tablet, and
delayed-release (enteric-coated) tablet oral dosage forms:
- For pain or fever:
- Adults and teenagers—325 to 500 milligrams
(mg) every three or four hours, 650 mg every four to six
hours, or 1000 mg every six hours as needed.
- Children up to 2 years of age—Dose must be
determined by your doctor.
- Children 2 to 4 years of age—160 mg every
four hours as needed.
- Children 4 to 6 years of age—240 mg every
four hours as needed.
- Children 6 to 9 years of age—320 to 325 mg
every four hours as needed.
- Children 9 to 11 years of age—320 to 400 mg
every four hours as needed.
- Children 11 to 12 years of age—320 to 480
mg every four hours as needed.
- For arthritis:
- Adults and teenagers—A total of 3600 to
5400 mg a day, divided into several smaller doses.
- Children—A total of 80 to 100 mg per
kilogram (kg) (32 to 40 mg per pound) of body weight a day,
divided into several smaller doses.
- For preventing a heart attack, stroke, or
other problems caused by blood clots:
- Adults—Most people will take 81, 162.5, or
325 mg a day or 325 mg every other day. Some people taking
aspirin to prevent a stroke may need as much as 1000 mg a day.
- Children—Use and dose must be determined by
your doctor.
Storage
- Keep out of the reach of children. Overdose is
very dangerous in young children.
- Store away from heat and direct light.
- Do not store tablets or capsules in the
bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. Heat or
moisture may cause the medicine to break down.
- Keep liquid forms of this medicine from
freezing.
- Store aspirin suppositories in a cool place. It
is usually best to keep them in the refrigerator, but keep them
from freezing.
- Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no
longer needed. Be sure that any discarded medicine is out of the
reach of children.
| Information
on this site is for informational purposes and is not
meant to substitute for the advice provided by your own physician
or other medical professional. You should not use this information
for diagnosing or treating a health problem or
disease, or prescribing any medication. |
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