What is Aspirin?
Aspirin is a common pain reliever/painkiller (analgesic) can be used for a headache, common cold, to reduce fever, & toothache. It reduces the substances that cause pain & inflammation in the body.
Other than using it as a pain reliever, sometimes it is used to prevent heart attacks, stroke & other cardiovascular conditions, only under the supervision of the medical practitioner.
Before taking Aspirin
Some medicines are not preferred for people with certain conditions & diseases. So before you start, it’s important to inform your doctor/pharmacist if:
1. If you have asthma or any allergic disorder.
2. If you are a pregnant or breastfeeding mother.
3. If you have any liver or kidney problems.
4. If you have the heart problem or thyroid gland problem.
5. If you are taking any herbal or complementary medicines.
6. If you are suffering from hemophilia or any bleeding disorder.
How should I take aspirin?
Do not crush, break or open an enteric-coated pill. Swallow it whole.
Take aspirin exactly as directed by your doctor.
While using aspirin tablets follow all dosing instructions/leaflet that is provided with your medicine.
Other than Gastro-resistant aspirin tablets, all the other aspirin tablets are taken with or after the food. & this reduces any side effects for the stomach like stomach irritation.
If you are undergoing any surgery, inform surgeon that you are using aspirin medicine. Your surgeon may suggest you to stop using medicine for a while.
If you forget to take the dose, do not worry but never take two doses together.
Store your medicine at room temperature & it should be away from heat & moisture.
Aspirin Overdose
An aspirin overdose means you have the excess amount of aspirin in your body.
Aspirin overdose to a body can happen in two ways.
Acute Overdose: When a person takes a large amount/dose of aspirin at one time by accidentally or intentionally, then it is called an acute overdose.
Chronic Overdose: If a normal/daily dose of aspirin to the body builds up over time and causes symptoms, then it is called a chronic overdose. It happens when you are dehydrated or if the kidneys are not functioning properly. Chronic overdoses usually happen to children and older people.
If someone is suffering from aspirin overdoses, call your local medical emergency number such as 08067335555 or 108 for medical help.
Aspirin Overdose Symptoms:
Aspirin overdose symptoms can range from minor to severe depending upon aspirin intake.
Symptoms of acute overdose may include:
• Stomach upset with stomach pain
• Nausea, Vomiting.
Symptoms of chronic overdose may include:
• Fatigue, Slight Fever
• Collapse
• Rapid heartbeat
• Uncontrollable rapid breathing
Other symptoms of Aspirin overdose include
• Dizziness
• Ringing in the ears
• Drowsiness
• Temporary deafness
• Seizures
• Coma
• fever, double vision
Before Calling Emergency:
If possible try to know the following information for emergency assistance:
• A Person’s age and condition.
• Time & the amount it was swallowed.
• Name of the product and ingredients if known.
• Symptoms & Medical condition of the person.
However, DO NOT delay calling for the medical emergency if this information is not known.
Also Read: 6 things to know before calling emergency ambulance helpline
When to Seek Medical Emergency:
If you experience minor symptoms of aspirin overdose, call your doctor who prescribed the medicine for you. He may tell you to stop that medicine or the dosage is reduced.
If you are suffering from severe symptoms call the immediate medical helpline and transport the affected person to the nearby hospital.
Aspirin Poisoning Treatment:
Treatment for aspirin poisoning/overdose is started after measuring plasma salicylate, pH, and electrolytes. The three main objectives of aspirin poisoning treatment are:
1. To reduce/prevent further absorption of aspirin into the body.
2. To reduce the amount of salicylate in the body.
3. To correct acid-base & dehydration abnormalities.
Dialysis is one more way to reduce/eliminate salicylate content in the body.
Medications for Aspirin Poisoning:
1. IV Fluids: Dehydration is the early symptom of aspirin overdose. So many doctors use IV fluids to correct this imbalance.
2. Activated charcoal: To absorb the salicylate from the stomach/body, the doctor may give charcoal. Activated charcoal is used as a laxative to remove the content rapidly from the body.
3. Alkaline diuresis: This is one of the ways to reduce the amount of salicylate in the body.
Aspirin Poisoning Prevention
1. Never take medicine without doctor prescriptions & directions.
2. Never take a medicine prescribed for someone else.
3. To prevent accidental aspirin overdose, try to store the medications out of sight for children with child-resistant caps.
4. Inform your doctor about any previous side effects or adverse reactions or unusual symptoms that occur due to medications.
5. Never take more dose than prescribed.
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