Aspirin and Related Drugs (NSAIDs).
Last updated Friday, May 11, 2007
Side effects and dangersOverdose Aspirin is very useful, but it has many side effects and therefore must
be used carefully. Like most powerful drugs, an overdose of aspirin or
salicylates can be fatal. If a child or adult takes an overdose of
aspirin, induce vomiting to empty the unabsorbed medication from the
stomach (if the person is still awake and conscious). Obtain emergency
medical care right away.What are common side effects of aspirin? The most common side effects of aspirin are heartburn and other
symptoms of stomach irritation such as indigestion, pain, nausea, and
vomiting. The stomach irritation may lead to bleeding from the stomach,
which may cause black stools. These symptoms may be reduced by taking
aspirin with meals, with an antacid, with a glass of milk, or by taking
enteric-coated or timed-release aspirin. Also, it is best not to take
aspirin with alcohol or coffee (or other beverages containing caffeine,
such as tea or cocoa and many soft drinks). Alcohol and caffeine make
the stomach more sensitive to irritation. The non aspirin salicylate
preparations sometimes are less irritating to the stomach and may be
substituted for aspirin by your doctor.What are less common side effects of aspirin? A few people develop asthma, hay fever, nasal congestion, or hives
from aspirin or NSAIDs. These people should never take aspirin, nor
should people who have active stomach or duodenal ulcers. Anyone who
has ever had a peptic ulcer should be very careful about taking aspirin
because it can lead to a recurrence.
Aspirin is known to interfere with the action of the platelets
(blood cells involved in clotting). As a result, some people who take a
lot of aspirin experience easy bruising of the skin. Therefore, people
who have major bleeding problems should not take aspirin. Also, keep in
mind that aspirin should not be taken for 10-14 days before surgery
(including surgery in the mouth) to avoid excessive bleeding during or
after the operation.
High doses of salicylate may cause ringing in the ears and slight
deafness. If these effects occur, reduce your dose and call your doctor
for further instructions. Your physician may decide to check your blood
aspirin level and may even ask you to tolerate these symptoms without
cutting your dose. Sometimes, however, these symptoms indicate mild
overdose, which could become more serious. This problem should be
discussed carefully with your doctor.
Aspirin and NSAIDs sometimes affect the normal function of the
kidneys, or they can cause fluid to accumulate in the body. If you have
liver, kidney, or breast disease, get your doctor's advice before
taking these drugs. If you begin to swell up, gain a lot of weight, or
feel ill while taking one of these drugs, stop taking it immediately
and contact your doctor. How does aspirin affect children? Recent reports have said there could be a link between the use of
aspirin and the development of Reye's syndrome. Reye's syndrome is a
rare but possibly fatal disease seen most often in children and
teenagers. It usually affects those recovering from chicken pox or a
viral illness such as the flu. These reports have raised concern in
pediatricians (doctors who specialize in treating children) and parents
of children with arthritis who need to take large doses of aspirin to
control their disease.
Presently, there is no conclusive proof showing how often Reye's
syndrome occurs in children with arthritis who are or are not taking
aspirin. Results from a survey of doctors who specialize in childhood arthritis
and related diseases have not shown that children with arthritis who
regularly take large doses of aspirin have a high risk of developing
Reye's syndrome. There have been some reports of a few children with
arthritis developing Reye's syndrome.
At present, there appears to be no reason to limit the use of
aspirin in children with arthritis. However, if a child with arthritis
who is taking aspirin develops symptoms of chicken pox, flu, or any
viral illness that has fever as a symptom, the aspirin should be
stopped. The child's doctor should be contacted right away.
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