Aspirin October 2004
I thought I would do something different this month and highlight a drug for you. So here it is; aspirin, or ASA, for short. It’s a shame that aspirin was developed so many years ago, because it would be incredibly expensive on today’s market. And here’s my disclaimer, take your medicines as instructed by your health care provider, not because “our Parish nurse said this”.
Indications
- Pain relief, headaches, sprains, strains
- Arthritis
- Anti-inflammatory effect
- Fevers
- Chest pain, heart attacks, strokes, TIA’S ,remember, those are conditions that might be caused by a clot
Routes
- Pills, include caplets, tablets, gelcaps
- Enteric coated tablets, these must not be crushed, they are coated to prevent irritation to the stomach
- Suppositories
Dosages
- 81 mg, also called “Baby”, or low-dose ASA, some people take only 1 a day, or as many as 3 or 4 tablets a day, can also be chewed
- 325mg, or regular ASA, depending the indication, 1 tablet a day, or 2 tablets every 4 hours
- Do not exceed the maximum daily dose, either as instructed by your provider, or the label on the container
Side effects
- Increased bleeding times, remember your body isn’t making as many platelets, which help to form clots
- Ringing in the ears, or hearing loss
- Nausea, vomiting, and GI bleed, or bleeding in stools
- Liver problems
- Rash or bruises of the skin, bleeding of gums
Interactions
- Alcohol, steroids and other NSAIDS, like Advil, all increase the risk of GI bleed
Considerations
- Do not use if you are allergic to aspirin or aspirin products
- Do not use if you have stomach ulcers
- Do not use if you have bleeding disorders
- Do not use during pregnancy
- Do not give to children or teens with chicken pox or flu-like symptoms, there is a link to Reye’s syndrome, which can be fatal; gee, it’s a wonder I’m alive
- Be careful with elderly people, they are more sensitive to side effects
- Take with milk, food or antacids to reduce the likelihood of stomach problems
- Read labels of over-the-counter meds, ASA is a common ingredient of many preparations
- If used daily, consider blood studies to check liver function, and blood counts
- Use child proof containers, if you have children that live with you
- Keep medicines in a safe, dry place
Well, that’s it for ASA. I hope you find it helpful.
Remember, October is Breast Cancer Month, remember friends and family that may have been affected by that disease, Judy and Barb.
Take care. |
