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Pronunciation |
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(AS
pir in) |
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Brand Names |
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Anacin®[OTC]; Arthritis
Foundation® Pain Reliever
[OTC]; Ascriptin®[OTC]; Aspergum®[OTC];
Asprimox®[OTC]; Bayer® Aspirin [OTC]; Bayer® Buffered
Aspirin [OTC]; Bayer® Low Adult Strength [OTC];
Bufferin®[OTC]; Buffex®[OTC]; Cama® Arthritis Pain
Reliever [OTC]; Easprin®; Ecotrin®[OTC]; Ecotrin® Low
Adult Strength [OTC]; Empirin®[OTC]; Extra Strength
Adprin-B®[OTC]; Extra Strength Bayer® Enteric 500 Aspirin
[OTC]; Extra Strength Bayer® Plus [OTC]; Halfprin®
81®[OTC]; Heartline®[OTC]; Regular Strength Bayer®
Enteric 500 Aspirin
[OTC]; St Joseph® Adult Chewable Aspirin
[OTC]; ZORprin® |
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Foreign Brand
Names |
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Apo-ASA® (Canada); ASA® (Canada);
Asaphen (Canada); Entrophen® (Canada); Novasen®
(Canada) |
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Therapeutic
Categories |
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Salicylate |
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What key warnings should I know
about before taking this
medicine? |
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- Children and teenagers should not use aspirin for flu symptoms or
chickenpox.
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Reasons not to take this
medicine |
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- If you have an allergy to aspirin, aspirin-like products, or any other
part of the medicine.
- If you have any of the following conditions: Asthma, rhinitis, nasal
polyps, bleeding problems.
- If you are more than 24 weeks pregnant.
- Do not give to children less than 16 years of age for chickenpox or
flu symptoms.
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What is this medicine used
for? |
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- This medicine is used for mild to moderate pain, inflammation, and
fever.
- It is used to prevent heart attacks.
- It is used to prevent transient ischemic attacks (mini-strokes) and
other strokes. It is also used during a stroke in patients who cannot take other
blood thinners.
- It is also used for management of rheumatoid arthritis and
osteoarthritis, rheumatic fever, and
gout.
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How does it work? |
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- Aspirin decreases inflammation and pain. It blocks production and
release of chemicals responsible for pain and swelling. It decreases fever by
changing the body's thermostat in the
brain.
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How is it best taken? |
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- Oral:
- Take with or without food. Take with food if this medicine causes an
upset stomach.
- Swallow enteric-coated and sustained-release tablet whole. Do not
chew, break, or crush.
- Chewable tablet can be crushed and put in food or chewed and
swallowed.
- Rectal:
- Use the suppository
rectally.
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What do I do if I miss a
dose? |
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- Take a missed dose as soon as possible.
- If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed one. Return to
your regular schedule.
- Do not take a double dose or extra
doses.
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What are the precautions when
taking this
medicine? |
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- Do not use in children younger than 16 years of age who have
chickenpox or flu symptoms.
- If you are 65 or older, you may have more side effects.
- Avoid alcohol (includes wine, beer, and liquor). Can cause stomach
irritation.
- If you have had a stomach ulcer or bleeding, tell healthcare provider.
- Avoid other aspirin-containing products, such as, ibuprofen or like
products, other blood thinners (warfarin, ticlopidine, clopidogrel), garlic,
ginseng, ginkgo, vitamin E.
- You will bleed easily. Be careful. Avoid injury.
- Tell dentists, surgeons, and other healthcare providers about this
medicine.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make
sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling
about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of
face, lips, tongue, throat; or any other symptoms involved.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan on getting
pregnant.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are
breast-feeding.
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What are the common side effects
of this
medicine? |
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- Nausea or vomiting. Small frequent meals, frequent mouth care, sucking
hard candy, or chewing gum may help.
- Belly pain, heartburn.
- Stomach bleeding or ulceration. Watch stools for dark, tarry black
color. Talk with healthcare
provider.
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What should I monitor? |
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- Follow up with healthcare
provider.
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Reasons to call healthcare
provider
immediately |
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- Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing;
tightness in the chest; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits;
swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.
- Changes in thinking clearly and logically.
- Severe headache.
- Blood in the stool and toilet bowl or vomiting blood.
- Ringing in the ears, confusion, anger, or hallucinations.
- Any rash.
- No improvement in condition or feeling
worse.
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How should I store this
medicine? |
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- Store in a tight, light-resistant container at room
temperature.
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General statements |
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- Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's
medicine.
- Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.
- Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, herbal/supplements,
vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider
(doctor, nurse, pharmacist, physician assistant).
- Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine,
including over-the-counter or natural products (herbs,
vitamins).
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