Aspirin is effective as a pain relief and fever reduction. It prevents the aggregation of platelets, it can even prevent stroke. Aspirin is preferred drug for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and it is not recommended to children with viral infections such as chicken pox.
Nowadays Aspirin is readily made by the acetylating ‘salicylic acid’ with ‘acetic anhydride’. It is the most widely used pharmaceutical product with an estimated consumption of over 10,000 tons per year in the States alone.
Useful facts and advices
What is the most important information I must know about aspirin?
- Take it with milk, food or as an antacid to prevent stomach upset.
- Do not break, chew or crush the enteric-coated tablets. These have a special coating to protect your stomach. Swallow them whole.
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Avoid alcohol (infact avoid it totally) because if you drink more than three alcoholic beverages a day, the risk of stomach bleeding may increase, so use your head for once and don’t drink at all!!!
Who should not take aspirin?
Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you have:
- an allergy to aspirin
- more than 3 alcoholic beverages a day
- an ulcer or stomach bleeding in your stomach
- Liver disease
- Kidney disease
- Bleeding disorder
- Heart disease
- High blood pressure
- Asthma
Do not use aspirin to treat a child or a teenager who has a fever, flu symptoms, or chicken pox without first talking to the doctors.
What happens if I miss a dose?
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If you take aspirin regularly, e.g. to treat arthritis take the missed dose up to two hours late. If more than 2 hours have passed since missed dose, take only your regular dose. Do not take double dose.
- If you take aspirin on as-needed basis, simply take your aspirin when you remember.
What happens if I overdose?
then you are an idiot!
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Symptoms of aspirin overdose include ringing in the ears, headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, confusion, hallucinations, seizures, fever and possibly COMA!
What are the possible side effects of aspirin?
If you experience any of these serious side effects, stop taking aspirin and seek medical attention:
- allergic reaction (breathing difficulty, closing of your throat, swelling of your lips, tongue or face)
- blood in your urine or vomit
- decreased hearing
- seizures, dizziness, confusion or hallucination
Less serious side effects
- heartburn or indigestion
- faint ringing in the ears
- drowsiness or headache.
Where can I get more information?
Try your local pharmacist; they tend to have additional information about aspirin written for health professionals that you may read.
