$Unique_ID{BRK01830}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{ASPIRIN}
$Subject{A.S.A. Enseals (Lilly)
aspirin (various manufacturers)
Bayer (Glenbrook)
Bayer Children's (Glenbrook)
Easprin (Parke-Davis)
Ecotrin (Smith Kline)
Empirin (Burroughs Wellcome)
Measurin (Winthrop Pharmaceuticals)
ZORprin (Boots)}
$Volume{}
$Log{}

Copyright (C) 1991 Publications International, Ltd.


ASPIRIN
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BRAND NAMES (Manufacturers):
     A.S.A. Enseals [*] (Lilly)
     aspirin [*] (various manufacturers)
     Bayer [*] (Glenbrook)
     Bayer Children's [*] (Glenbrook)
     Easprin (Parke-Davis)
     Ecotrin [*] (Smith Kline)
     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.

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.
     Sustained-release or enteric-coated tablets should be swallowed 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; 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
antiinflammatory 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. It 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.

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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.
