Aspirin and Related Drugs (NSAIDs).
Last updated Friday, May 11, 2007
Selecting over-the-counter salicylatesBrand selection Always read the ingredients listed on the label of other products,
especially those for pain, headaches, and other types of discomfort.
"Acetylsalicylic acid" or "salicylate" are the key ingredients to look
for.
Not all aspirin or salicylate tablets are the same. They come in
several forms that have been developed to be more convenient to take
and, sometimes, to help avoid stomach distress. These include liquid
forms, buffered tablets, tablets with a special coating (called enteric
coating) that keeps them from dissolving in the stomach, and capsules
or tablets that release aspirin very slowly into the bloodstream. There
are also the other salicylates--the chemically modified types of
aspirin--which are longer acting than aspirin and can be taken less
often.
Non brand-name or generic aspirin usually costs less and works just
as well as popular brands. The least expensive way to buy plain aspirin
is in bottles of 1,000 tablets. If you tolerate a certain brand, stay
with it. Differences in the way various tablets dissolve may cause some
brands to irritate the stomach more than other brands. Packaging Safety regulations require that aspirin products, like all drugs
sold without prescriptions, must be packaged in containers that are
both tamper-resistant and child resistant. Unfortunately, these
packages may be very difficult to open for people whose hands are
affected by arthritis. There are, however, ways to overcome this
problem.
Most aspirin producers offer one size that is not child-resistant
(usually small sizes that aren't as economical as larger ones). If you
have trouble opening the packaging or the container itself, ask the
pharmacist or clerk to transfer the medicine to an easy-to-open
container for you. Friends and family members can do the same.
Always keep aspirin and other medications safely out of reach of children to avoid accidental poisonings, which may be fatal.
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