aspirin

This medication is used to reduce fever and relieve minor to moderate pain from conditions such as muscle aches, toothaches, menstrual cramps, arthritis, and headaches. Aspirin is known as a salicylate and a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that works by blocking a certain natural substance in your body to reduce pain and swelling. Aspirin is also used in low doses as a blood thinner to prevent blood clots after surgery on clogged arteries (e.g., bypass surgery, carotid endarterectomy) and to reduce the risk of stroke or heart attack.

If you are prescribed this drug on a regular schedule (not just "as needed") and you miss a dose, use it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not double the dose to catch up.

If you are using this medication for self-treatment, carefully read the product label to make sure this product is correct for you or your child. You should also read the product label to find recommendations on the maximum number of suppositories you can use in a 24-hour period, and the maximum length of self-treatment before seeking medical advice. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions about this medication. If you are using this medication under the instruction of your doctor, use it exactly as prescribed. Apply this medication rectally as directed by your doctor, or, if you are self-treating, follow instructions on the product label. If the suppository is too soft to insert, put it in cold water or refrigerate for 30 minutes before removing the foil wrapper. Unwrap the foil and moisten the suppository with a little water. Lie down on your left side with right knee bent. Insert the suppository into the rectum with your finger. Remain lying down for a few minutes and avoid having a bowel movement for an hour or longer so the drug will be absorbed. The dosage and length of aspirin treatment are based on your medical condition and response to therapy. Consult your doctor before treating a child younger than 12. This medication should not be used for self-treatment of pain for longer than 10 days in adults or 5 days in children. This drug should not be used in adults or children for fever persisting longer than 3 days or for sore throat pain lasting longer than 2 days. No more than 5 doses of this medication should be given to a child for pain or fever in a 24-hour period. Do not use more medication or use it for longer than recommended above unless directed by your doctor. Consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions. If you are using this medication for self-treatment of headache, seek immediate medical attention if you also have slurred speech, weakness on one side of the body, or sudden vision changes. Before using this drug, consult a doctor or pharmacist if you have headaches caused by head injury, coughing, or bending, or if you have a headache with persistent/severe vomiting, fever, and stiff neck. If you are using this medication on an as needed basis (not on a regular schedule), remember that pain medications work best if they are used as the first signs of pain occur. If you wait until the pain has significantly worsened, the medicine may not work as well. Consult your doctor if your condition persists or worsens (e.g., new or unusual symptoms, redness/swelling of the painful area, pain/fever that does not go away or gets worse).

If you are using this medication under your doctor's direction, your healthcare professionals (e.g., doctor or pharmacist) may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for it. Before you start using this medication for self-treatment, consult your doctor or pharmacist if you are also using any prescription and nonprescription medications. Do not stop or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor or pharmacist first. This drug should not be used with the following medications because very serious interactions may occur: ketorolac, mifepristone. If you are currently using any of these medications, tell your doctor or pharmacist before starting aspirin. Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription products you may use, especially of: acetazolamide, "blood thinners" (e.g., warfarin, heparin), NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, naproxen), corticosteroids (e.g., prednisone), methotrexate, oral bisphosphonates (e.g., alendronate), certain medications for gout (e.g., probenecid, sulfinpyrazone), diabetes drugs (e.g., chlorpropamide, glyburide), anti-seizure drugs (e.g., phenytoin, valproic acid), high blood pressure drugs (e.g., ACE inhibitors such as captopril, beta blockers such as metoprolol), SSRI antidepressants (e.g., fluoxetine, sertraline), "water pills" (diuretics such as furosemide, spironolactone), pemetrexed, herbal medications such as ginkgo biloba. Before using this product, consult your doctor if your child has recently received certain live vaccines (e.g., varicella vaccine, live influenza vaccine). Check all prescription and nonprescription medicine labels carefully since many medications contain pain relievers/fever reducers known as NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, naproxen). To prevent an overdose of aspirin, read the labels carefully before taking other pain relievers or cold products to make sure they do not contain aspirin. Ask your pharmacist about the safe use of these products. This medication may interfere with certain laboratory tests (including certain urine sugar tests), possibly causing false test results. Make sure laboratory personnel and your doctors know you are taking this medication. This document does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist.

Do not share this medication with others. If you use this medication regularly or at high doses, laboratory and/or medical tests (e.g., liver and kidney function tests, blood count, salicylate level) may be performed to monitor your progress or check for side effects. Consult your doctor for more details. There are many different dosage forms for aspirin products. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for recommendations on the best product for you.

If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. US residents can call the US national poison hotline at 1-800-222-1222. Canadian residents should call their local poison control center directly. Symptoms of overdose may include: burning pain in the throat/stomach, confusion, mental/mood changes, fainting, weakness, ringing in the ears, fever, rapid breathing, change in the amount of urine, seizures, loss of consciousness.

Before taking aspirin, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or to other salicylates (e.g., choline salicylate); or to other pain relievers or fever reducers (acetaminophen, NSAIDs such as ibuprofen, naproxen); or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details. If your have any of the following health problems, consult your doctor or pharmacist before using this medication: kidney or liver disease, diabetes, stomach problems (e.g., ulcers, heartburn, stomach pain), bleeding/blood-clotting disorders (e.g., hemophilia, vitamin K deficiency, low platelet count), aspirin-sensitive asthma (a history of worsening breathing with runny/stuffy nose after taking aspirin or other NSAIDs), growths in the nose (nasal polyps), gout, anemia, certain enzyme deficiencies (pyruvate kinase or G6-PD deficiency). This medicine may cause stomach bleeding. Daily use of alcohol and tobacco, especially when combined with this product, may increase your risk for this side effect. Limit alcoholic beverages, and stop smoking. Check with your doctor or pharmacist for more information. Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist that you are using this medication. The elderly may be more sensitive to the side effects of the drug, especially stomach ulcers. This drug contains aspirin. Children and teenagers should not use aspirin if they have chickenpox, influenza or any undiagnosed illness without first consulting a doctor about Reyes syndrome, a rare but serious illness. Aspirin is not recommended for use during pregnancy. Consult your doctor before using this medication if you are or think you may be pregnant. Tell your doctor immediately if you become pregnant while taking this medication. Do not use this medication during the last 3 months of pregnancy because of possible harm to the unborn baby or problems during delivery. Aspirin passes into breast milk and may have harmful effects on the nursing infant. Breast-feeding while using this drug is not recommended. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

Store refrigerated or at a cool place between 35-59 degrees F (between 2-15 degrees C). Keep away from moisture and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Do not use any aspirin product that has a strong vinegar-like smell. Keep all medicines away from children and pets. Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company for more details about how to safely discard your product.

Irritation of the rectal area may occur. If this effect persists or worsens, notify your doctor or pharmacist promptly. If your doctor has directed you to use this medication, remember that he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects. Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: easy bruising/bleeding, difficulty hearing, ringing in the ears, change in the amount of urine, persistent or severe nausea/vomiting, unexplained tiredness, dizziness, dark urine, yellowing of the eyes/skin. This drug may rarely cause serious bleeding from the stomach/intestine or other areas of the body. If you notice any of the following unlikely but very serious side effects, seek immediate medical attention: black/tarry stools, persistent or severe stomach/abdominal pain, vomit that looks like coffee grounds, slurred speech, weakness on one side of the body, sudden vision changes or severe headache. A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is unlikely, but seek immediate medical attention if it occurs. Symptoms of a serious allergic reaction may include: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing. This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist. In the US - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.