ASPIRIN

Brand & Generic Names

217	Coryphen
217 Strong	Dristan
8-Hour Bayer Timed Release	Dristan Formula P
A.S.A.	Easprin
A.S.A. Enseals	Ecotrin
Acetylsalicylic Acid	Empirin
Alka-Seltzer Effervescent	Entrophen
Pain Reliever & Antacid	Excedrin
Alka-Seltzer Plus	Flogesic
Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold	Halfprin
Alka-Seltzer Plus	Magnaprin
Maximum Strength Sinus	Magnaprin Arthritis
Allergy	Strength
Alka-Seltzer Plus Nighttime	Maprin
Cold	Maprin I-B
Alpha-Phed	Measurin
Anacin	Mepro Analgesic
APAC Improved	Norwich Aspirin
APF Arthritic Pain Formula	Novasen
Arthinol	P-A-C Revised Formula
Arthritis Pain Formula	Rhinocaps
Artria S.R.	Riphen
Ascriptin	Robaxisal
Ascriptin A/D	St. Joseph Adult Chewable
Aspergum	Aspirin
Astrin	Sal-Adult
Axotal	Salatin
Bayer	Saleto
Bayer Enteric	Sal-Infant
Bayer Timed-Release	Salocol
Arthritic Pain Formula	Sine-Off Sinus Medicine
BC Cold Powder	Supasa
Bexophene	Synalgos
Buffaprin	Therapy Bayer
Bufferin	Triaphen
Buffinol	Ursinus Inlay
Cama Arthritis Reliever	Viro-Med
Coricidin D	Zorprin
Coricidin w/Codeine

Basic Information

• Habit forming? No
• Prescription needed? No
• Available as generic? Yes
• Drug class: Analgesic, anti-inflammatory (non-steroidal)

Uses

• Reduces pain, fever, inflammation.
• Relieves swelling, stiffness, joint pain of arthritis or rheumatism.
• Antiplatelet effect to reduce chances of heart attack and/or stroke.

Dosage & Usage Information

How to take:
Tablet or capsule--Swallow with liquid.
Extended-release tablets or capsules-- Swallow each dose whole.
Effervescent tablets--Dissolve in water.
Chewing gum tablets--Chew completely. Don't swallow whole.
Suppositories--Remove wrapper and moisten suppository with water. Gently insert into rectum, large end first.

When to take:
Pain, fever, inflammation--As needed, no more often than every 4 hours.

If you forget a dose:
Pain, fever--Take as soon as you remember. Wait 4 hours for next dose.
Arthritis--Take as soon as you remember up to 2 hours late. Return to regular schedule.

What drug does:
Affects hypothalamus, the part of the brain which regulates temperature by dilating small blood vessels in skin.
Prevents clumping of platelets (small blood cells) so blood vessels remain open.
Decreases prostaglandin effect.
Suppresses body's pain messages.

Time lapse before drug works:
30 minutes for pain, fever, arthritis.

Don't take with:
Tetracyclines. Space doses 1 hour apart.
Any other medicine without consulting your doctor or pharmacist.

Overdose

SYMPTOMS:
Ringing in ears; nausea; vomiting; dizziness; fever; deep, rapid breathing; hallucinations; convulsions; coma.

WHAT TO DO:

• Dial 911 (emergency) or O (operator) for an ambulance or medical help. Then give first aid immediately.
• See EMERGENCY Information.

Possible Adverse Reactions or Side Effects

Life-threatening:

Black or bloody vomit; Seek emergency blood in urine; treatment immediately. difficulty breathing; hives, rash, intense itching, faintness soon after a dose (anaphylaxis).

Common:

• Nausea, vomiting, hearing loss.
• Heartburn, indigestion.
• Ringing in ears.

Infrequent:

None expected.

Rare:

• Black stools, unexplained fever.
• Rash, hives, itch, diminished vision, shortness of breath, wheezing, jaundice, mental confusion.
• Drowsiness.

Warnings & Precautions

Don't take if:

• You need to restrict sodium in your diet. Buffered effervescent tablets and sodium salicylate are high in sodium.
• You are sensitive to aspirin or aspirin has a strong vinegar- like odor, which means it has decomposed.
• You have a peptic ulcer of stomach or duodenum or a bleeding disorder.

Before you start, consult your doctor:

• If you have had stomach or duodenal ulcers.
• If you have had gout.
• If you have asthma or nasal polyps.
• If you have kidney or liver disease.

Over age 60:
More likely to cause hidden bleeding in stomach or intestines. Watch for dark stools.

Pregnancy:
Risk to unborn child outweighs drug benefits. Don't use.

Breast-feeding:
Drug passes into milk. Avoid drug or discontinue nursing until you finish medicine. Consult doctor for advice on maintaining milk supply.

Infants & children:

• Overdose frequent and severe. Keep bottles out of children's reach.
• Consult doctor before giving to persons under age 18 who have fever and discomfort of viral illness, especially chicken pox and influenza. Probably increases risk of Reye's syndrome.

Prolonged use:
Talk to your doctor about the need for follow-up medical examinations or laboratory studies to check liver function, complete blood counts (white blood cell count, platelet count, red blood cell count, hemoglobin, hematocrit).

Skin & sunlight:
Aspirin combined with sunscreen may decrease sunburn.

Driving, piloting or hazardous work:
No restrictions unless you feel drowsy.

Discontinuing:
For chronic illness--Don't discontinue without doctor's advice until you complete prescribed dose, even though symptoms diminish or disappear.

Others:

• Aspirin can complicate surgery, pregnancy, labor and delivery, and illness.
• For arthritis--Don't change dose without consulting doctor.
• Urine tests for blood sugar may be inaccurate.
• Don't take if pills have vinegar-like odor.

Possible Interaction with Other Drugs

GENERIC NAME	COMBINED EFFECT
------------------------	-----------------------
Acebutolol	Decreased antihypertensive effect
	of acebutolol.
ACE inhibitors*:	Decreased ACE
captopril, enalapril,	inhibitor effect.
Allopurinol	Decreased allopurinol effect.
Antacids*	Decreased aspirin effect.
Anticoagulants*	Increased anticoagulant effect.
	Abnormal bleeding.
Antidiabetics, oral*	Low blood sugar.
Bumetanide	Possible aspirin toxicity.
Carteolol	Decreased antihypertensive effect
	of carteolol.
Cortisone drugs*	Increased cortisone effect. Risk of
	ulcers and stomach bleeding.
Dextrothyroxine	Increased dextrothyroxine effect.
Diclofenac	Increased risk of stomach ulcer.
Ethacrynic acid	Possible aspirin toxicity.
Furosemide	Possible aspirin toxicity. May
	decrease furosemide effect.
Gold compounds*	Increased likelihood of kidney
	damage.
Indomethacin	Risk of stomach bleeding and
	ulcers.
Ketoprofen	Increased risk of stomach ulcer.
Levamisole	Increased risk of bleeding.
Methotrexate	Increased methotrexate effect.
Minoxidil	Decreased minoxidil effect.
Non-steroidal	Risk of stomach
anti-inflammatory	bleeding and ulcers.
Oxprenolol	Decreased antihypertensive effect
	of oxprenolol.
Para-aminosalicylic	Possible aspirin
acid	toxicity.
Penicillins*	Increased effect of both drugs.
Phenobarbital	Decreased aspirin effect.
Phenytoin	Increased phenytoin effect.
Probenecid	Decreased probenecid effect.
Propranolol	Decreased aspirin effect.
Rauwolfia alkaloids*	Decreased aspirin effect.
Salicylates, other*	Likely aspirin toxicity.
Sotalol	Decreased antihypertensive effect
	of sotalol.
Spironolactone	Decreased spironolactone effect.
Sulfinpyrazone	Decreased sulfinpyrazone effect.
Terazosin	Decreases effectiveness of
	terazosin. Causes sodium and fluid
	retention.
Terfenadine	May conceal symptoms of aspirin
	overdose, such as ringing in ears.
Ticlopidine	Increased effect of both drugs.
Vitamin C (large	Possible aspirin
doses)	toxicity.
Valproic acid	May increase valproic acid effect.

Possible Interaction with Other Substances

INTERACTS WITH	COMBINED EFFECT
---------------	---------------
Alcohol:	Possible stomach irritation and
	bleeding. Avoid.
Beverages:	None expected.
Cocaine:	None expected.
Foods:	None expected.
Marijuana:	Possible increased pain relief, but
	marijuana may slow body's recovery.
	Avoid.
Tobacco:	None expected.