Uses
Aspirin is
used to treat mild to moderate discomfort from ailments like headaches, the
common cold, and toothaches as well as to lower temperature. It can also be
used to treat illnesses like arthritis by lowering pain and swelling. Aspirin
is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication and a salicylate (NSAID). It
reduces pain and swelling by inhibiting a specific natural chemical in your
body. Before treating a youngster under the age of 12, speak with your doctor.
To avoid blood clots, your doctor could advise you to take a low dose of
aspirin. The risk of heart attack and stroke is decreased by this effect. If
you've just undergone a procedure for blocked arteries (such as bypass surgery,
carotid endarterectomy, coronary stent), Your doctor could advise you to take aspirin as a "blood
thinner" in small dosages to avoid blood clots.
How to use aspirin oral
Follow all product instructions if you're using this drug for self-treatment. Ask your physician or pharmacist if you have any queries. Take the medication exactly as indicated if your doctor has instructed you to do so.
Take this
medicine orally. Unless your doctor instructs you otherwise, sip a full glass
of water (8 ounces/240 millilitres) along with it. After taking this
medication, wait at least 10 minutes before lying down. If you have stomach
upset while taking this medication, you can take it with milk or food.
Enteric-coated pills should be taken whole. Enteric-coated pills shouldn't be crushed or chewed. This may cause further stomach distress.
Extended-release
pills or tablets should not be chewed or crushed. This could cause the medicine
to leak completely all at once, raising the possibility of negative effects.
Additionally, unless they have a score line and your doctor or pharmacist
instructs you to do so, avoid splitting extended-release pills. Without
crushing or chewing, take the whole or divided pill.
Your medical
condition and treatment response will determine the dosage and duration of the
course of action. To learn how many tablets you can take in a day and how long
you can self-treat before seeking medical help, read the product description.
Except as prescribed by your doctor, never take more medication or keep taking
it for longer than is advised. The smallest effective dose should be used. In
case you have any questions, speak with your physician or pharmacist.
If you are
using this drug to treat a headache on your own, call your doctor right away if
you also experience speech difficulties, muscle weakness on one side of your
body, or unexpected changes in eyesight. If you experience headaches brought on
by head trauma, coughing, bending, or if you have headaches accompanied by
severe or persistent vomiting, fever, or stiff neck, talk to your doctor or
pharmacist before using this medication.
Remember
that painkillers work best if they are taken as soon as the first signs of pain
appear if you are using this drug on an as-needed basis rather than on a
regular basis. The medication might not work as well if you wait until the pain
has gotten worse. Because it is absorbed more slowly, aspirin that has an extra
coating (enteric coating) or a gradual release may take longer to stop pain.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist for assistance in choosing the right aspirin kind
for you.
This medicine should not be used for more than 10 days to relieve pain on your own. This medicine should not be used to treat a fever that persists for more than three days on your own. Consult a physician in these situations since you could be suffering from a more serious ailment. If you get ringing in the ears or trouble hearing, contact your doctor right away.
Inform your
doctor right immediately if your condition persists or worsens (for example, if
you experience new or unusual symptoms, swelling or redness in the region that
is unpleasant, persistent pain, or a fever), or if you suspect a significant
medical issue.
Side
Effects
Heartburn and
an upset stomach might develop. Inform your doctor or pharmacist as soon as
possible if one of these problems persists or worsens.
If your doctor
has prescribed this medicine for you, keep in mind that he or she has determined
that the benefit to you outweighs the danger of adverse effects. Many users of
this medicine report no significant negative effects.
Inform your
doctor right away if you experience any severe side effects, such as persistent
or severe nausea or vomiting, easy bruising or bleeding, hearing loss, ringing
in the ears, signs of kidney disease (such as a change in the amount of urine
passing), unexplained fatigue, dizziness, dark urine, or yellowing of the skin
or eyes.
Rarely, this
medication might result in severe bleeding from the stomach, intestines, or
other parts of the body. Seek immediate medical attention if you experience any
of the following very significant adverse effects: strong or persistent
stomach/abdominal discomfort, black/tarry stools, coffee grounds-like vomit,
difficulty speaking, weakness on one side of the body, unexpected eyesight
changes, or a very bad headache.
Rarely may
this medication cause a very significant allergic response. But if you
experience any major adverse reaction symptoms, such as fever, enlarged lymph
nodes, rash, itching or swelling (particularly of the face, tongue, or neck),
extreme dizziness, or difficulty breathing, get medical attention immediately
once.
The list of potential negative effects is not exhaustive. Contact your doctor or pharmacist if you have any other side effects not covered above.
Call your doctor for medical advice regarding side effects if you're in the US. You can contact the FDA to report adverse effects at 1-800-FDA-1088 or online at www.fda.gov/medwatch.
Call your
doctor for medical advice regarding side effects if you're in Canada. Call
1-866-234-2345 to report side effects to Health Canada.
Precautions
\ Tell your doctor or pharmacist before using aspirin if you have any sensitivities to it, other salicylates (including choline salicylate), other painkillers or fever reducers (NSAIDs like ibuprofen, naproxen), or any other substances. Inactive chemicals in this product have the potential to trigger allergic reactions or other issues. To learn more, speak with your pharmacist.
If you have
specific medical issues, you shouldn't use this drug. If you have any of the
following conditions before using this medication: bleeding or blood-clotting
issues (such as hemophilia, vitamin K deficiency, low platelet count).
Before using this drug, talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have any of the following health issues: renal illness, liver disease, diabetes, stomach issues (including ulcers, heartburn, stomach discomfort), aspirin-sensitive asthma (a history of breathing problems and a runny or stuffy nose after taking aspirin or other NSAIDs), nasal polyps, gout, and certain enzyme deficiencies (pyruvate kinase or G6PD deficiency). Stomach bleeding might result from this medication. Your risk for this adverse effect may be increased if you regularly consume alcohol and/or smoke, especially when using this medicine. Reduce alcohol consumption, and give up smoking. For further details, speak to your doctor or pharmacist.
Inform your
surgeon or dentist that you are taking this medicine before to the procedure.
If a child or adolescent is sick with the flu, chickenpox, another unidentified sickness, or has recently had a vaccination, they should not take aspirin. Reye's syndrome, an uncommon but dangerous condition, is more likely to develop under certain circumstances when aspirin is used. If you notice alterations in behaviour along with nausea and vomiting, call your doctor right away. This might be a precursor of Reye's syndrome.
The adverse
effects of this medication, including stomach/intestinal bleeding and ulcers,
may be more severe in older persons.
During
pregnancy, aspirin is not advised for the treatment of pain or fever. Women of
reproductive age should discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using this
medicine with their doctor(s) before beginning. Inform your doctor if you are
expecting a child or if you have any plans to do so. This medicine may
interfere with a normal labour and delivery and endanger an unborn child. From
20 weeks of pregnancy till birth, it is not advised to use it. If your doctor
determines that you need to take this drug between weeks 20 and 30 of
pregnancy, you should take it for the shortest amount of time feasible at the
lowest effective dose. Low-dose aspirin (often 81–162 mg per day) can
occasionally be used safely during pregnancy to treat or prevent certain
diseases. Consult your physician.
Breast milk is
metabolised by aspirin. It is not advised to breastfeed while using this
medication since it may affect a nursing newborn when used in excessive doses
(such as to alleviate pain or fever). However, if prescribed by your doctor,
low-dose aspirin may be used to prevent heart attacks or strokes. Before
breastfeeding, speak with your doctor.
Drug interactions might alter how your drugs function or raise the possibility of major negative side effects. All probable medication interactions are not included in this text. Keep a list of everything you use, including herbal items, prescription and over-the-counter medications, and provide it to your doctor and pharmacist. Without your doctor's consent, never start, stop, or change the dosage of any medications.
Mifepristone, acetazolamide, "blood thinners" (like warfarin, heparin), corticosteroids (like prednisone), dichlorphenamide, methotrexate, valproic acid, and herbal remedies are a few items that may interact with this medicine (such as ginkgo biloba).
If you
recently got certain live vaccinations, talk to your doctor before taking this
product (such as varicella vaccine, live flu vaccine).
Since many medicines contain NSAIDs, a class of painkillers and fever reducers, read the labels of all prescription and over-the-counter medications carefully (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, ketorolac, naproxen). Before using other painkillers or cold remedies, carefully examine the labels to ensure they do not include aspirin in order to avoid taking an excessive amount of aspirin. Concerning the safe use of these drugs, consult your pharmacist.
Aspirin's
capacity to prevent heart attacks and stroke may be diminished by regular use
of NSAIDs (such as ibuprofen). For further information and to talk about
alternative possible therapies (such acetaminophen for your pain/fever), see
your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking low-dose aspirin for the prevention
of heart attack/stroke.
This medicine
may affect the findings of several laboratory tests, especially some urine
sugar tests, leading to potentially inaccurate results. Make sure all of your
physicians and lab staff are aware that you are taking this medicine.
Overdose
Call 911 if
someone has overdosed and is exhibiting significant symptoms like fainting out
or difficulty breathing. If not, immediately dial a poison control hotline.
Call 1-800-222-1222 to reach your local poison control centre if you're a US
citizen. Residents of Canada can dial a regional poison control centre. Burning
pain in the throat or stomach, disorientation, mental or emotional changes,
weakness, ringing in the ears, fever, fast breathing, change in the volume of
urine, seizures, and loss of consciousness are all possible overdose symptoms.
Notes
Laboratory and/or medical tests (such as liver and kidney function tests, blood counts, and salicylate levels) may be carried out if you take this drug often or at high dosages in order to monitor your progress or check for adverse effects. For further information, talk to your doctor.
There are
several aspirin products available. Some are long-acting, while others have
unique coatings. The ideal product for you should be recommended by your doctor
or pharmacist.
Missed Dose
If you miss a
dosage of a medication that you are supposed to take regularly (rather than
merely "as required") by your doctor, take it as soon as you recall.
Skip the missed dosage if it is almost time for the subsequent dose. At the
scheduled time, take your subsequent dose. To catch up, do not increase the
dose.
Storage
Store in a
dark, dry area away from light and moisture. This medication's storage
requirements may vary between brands. For information on how to store your
brand, consult the product label or consult your pharmacist. Keep out of the
bathroom. Any aspirin product with a strong vinegar-like scent should not be
used. Keep children and pets away from any drugs.
Unless
specifically directed to do so, avoid flushing drugs down the toilet or pouring
them into drains. When the product is no longer needed or has expired, dispose
of it properly. Consult your pharmacist or the neighbourhood waste management
firm.