mechanism of action of aspirin in ami

What is the most important information I should know about aspirin?
• Take aspirin with milk, food, or an antacid to lessen stomach upset mechanism of action of aspirin in ami. Enteric-coated aspirin is specially formulated to be gentle on your stomach mechanism of action of aspirin in ami. Enteric-coated aspirin can be, but does not have to be, taken with milk or food mechanism of action of aspirin in ami. Enteric-coated aspirin should not be taken with an antacid mechanism of action of aspirin in ami.
• Do not break, chew, or crush the enteric-coated tablets mechanism of action of aspirin in ami. These have aspecial coating to protect your stomach mechanism of action of aspirin in ami. Swallow them whole mechanism of action of aspirin in ami.
• Avoid alcohol or use it in moderation while taking aspirin mechanism of action of aspirin in ami. If you drinkmore than three alcoholic beverages a day, the risk of stomach bleeding mayincrease mechanism of action of aspirin in ami.

What is aspirin?
• Aspirin is in a class of drugs called salicylates mechanism of action of aspirin in ami. It works by reducingsubstances in the body that cause pain and inflammation mechanism of action of aspirin in ami.
• Aspirin is used to reduce pain, inflammation, and fever mechanism of action of aspirin in ami. Aspirin is alsoused under medical supervision to treat and/or prevent heart attacks, transientischemic attacks (TIAs or "mini-strokes"), strokes, and angina incertain individuals mechanism of action of aspirin in ami.
• Aspirin may also be used for purposes other than those listed in thismedication guide mechanism of action of aspirin in ami.

Who should not take aspirin?
• Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you
· have an allergy to aspirin;
· have an allergy to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) suchas ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, others), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn, Anaprox, others),indomethacin (Indocin), ketoprofen (Orudis KT, Orudis, Oruvail), nabumetone(Relafen), oxaprozin (Daypro), and others;
· have an allergy to tartrazine;
· drink more than three alcoholic beverages a day;
· have an ulcer or bleeding in your stomach;
· have liver disease;
· have kidney disease;
· have a coagulation (bleeding) disorder (e.g., hemophilia);
· have congestive heart failure;
· have fluid retention;
· have heart disease;
· have high blood pressure;
· have gout;
· have asthma; or
· have nasal polyps mechanism of action of aspirin in ami.
• You may not be able to take aspirin, or you may require a dosage adjustmentor special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listedabove mechanism of action of aspirin in ami.
• The FDA has not formally evaluated the effects of aspirin taken duringpregnancy mechanism of action of aspirin in ami. However, it is known that aspirin taken during pregnancy may affectan unborn baby's heart, reduce birth weight, and have other dangerous effectson the unborn baby mechanism of action of aspirin in ami. Do not take aspirin without first talking to your doctorif you are pregnant mechanism of action of aspirin in ami.
• Aspirin passes into breast milk and may harm a nursing infant mechanism of action of aspirin in ami. Do nottake this medicine without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feedinga baby mechanism of action of aspirin in ami.
• Do not use aspirin to treat a child or teenager who has a fever, flusymptoms, or chicken pox without first talking to the child's doctor mechanism of action of aspirin in ami. In childrenyounger than 18 years of age, aspirin may increase the risk of Reye's syndrome,a rare but often fatal condition mechanism of action of aspirin in ami.

How should I take aspirin?
• Take aspirin exactly as directed by your doctor, or follow the instructionsthat accompany the package if you are using an over-the-counter medicine mechanism of action of aspirin in ami. Ifyou do not understand these instructions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctorto explain them to you mechanism of action of aspirin in ami.
• Take each dose with a full glass of water mechanism of action of aspirin in ami. This may reduce the risk ofthe medication becoming lodged in your esophagus or throat mechanism of action of aspirin in ami. Remaining uprightfor 15 to 30 minutes following a dose may further reduce this risk mechanism of action of aspirin in ami.
• Take aspirin with milk, food, or an antacid to lessen stomach upset mechanism of action of aspirin in ami. Enteric-coated aspirin is specially formulated to be gentle on your stomach mechanism of action of aspirin in ami. Enteric-coated aspirin can be, but does not have to be, taken with milk or food mechanism of action of aspirin in ami. Enteric-coated aspirin should not be taken with an antacid mechanism of action of aspirin in ami.
• Do not crush, chew, or break any enteric-coated forms of aspirin mechanism of action of aspirin in ami. Thesehave a special coating to protect your stomach mechanism of action of aspirin in ami. Swallow them whole mechanism of action of aspirin in ami.
• Do not take aspirin more often than is prescribed by your doctor or recommendedon the package mechanism of action of aspirin in ami. If your condition does not improve within 3 to 4 days, talkto your doctor mechanism of action of aspirin in ami.
• Be aware of the aspirin content of other prescription or over-the-countermedications to avoid taking too much aspirin mechanism of action of aspirin in ami.
• Do not take any aspirin that smells strongly of vinegar mechanism of action of aspirin in ami. This smell meansthat the aspirin has begun to break down mechanism of action of aspirin in ami.
• Store aspirin at room temperature away from moisture and heat mechanism of action of aspirin in ami.

What happens if I miss a dose?
• If you are taking aspirin regularly--for example, to treat arthritis--takethe missed dose up to 2 hours late mechanism of action of aspirin in ami. If more than 2 hours have passed since themissed dose, skip the missed dose and take only your next regularly scheduleddose mechanism of action of aspirin in ami. Do not take a double dose mechanism of action of aspirin in ami.
• If you are taking aspirin on an as-needed basis, missing a dose is notusually a problem mechanism of action of aspirin in ami. Take your aspirin as soon as you remember, and do not takeanother dose for the amount of time prescribed by your doctor or recommendedon the package mechanism of action of aspirin in ami.

What happens if I overdose?
• Seek emergency medical attention mechanism of action of aspirin in ami.
• Symptoms of an aspirin overdose include ringing in the ears, headache,nausea, vomiting, dizziness, confusion, hallucinations, coma, seizures, rapidbreathing, and fever mechanism of action of aspirin in ami.

What should I avoid while taking aspirin?
• Avoid taking other over-the-counter or prescription medications containingaspirin; salicylates (forms of aspirin) such as magnesium and/or choline salicylate(Magan, Doan's, Bayer Select Backache Pain Formula, Mobidin, Arthropan, Trilisate,Tricosal) and salsalate (Disalcid); and NSAIDs such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil,Nuprin, others), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn, Anaprox, others), indomethacin (Indocin),ketoprofen (Orudis KT, Orudis, Oruvail), nabumetone (Relafen), oxaprozin (Daypro),and others mechanism of action of aspirin in ami. Combined with aspirin, these medicines can be dangerous mechanism of action of aspirin in ami.
• Avoid alcohol or use it with moderation while taking aspirin mechanism of action of aspirin in ami. If youdrink more than three alcoholic beverages a day, aspirin may increase the riskof stomach bleeding mechanism of action of aspirin in ami.
• Tell your doctor and dentist that you are taking aspirin, especiallyif you need to undergo a surgical procedure mechanism of action of aspirin in ami. Aspirin may prolong bleeding mechanism of action of aspirin in ami.

What are the possible side effects of aspirin?
• If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop takingaspirin and seek medical attention or call your doctor immediately:
· an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat;swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives);
· black, bloody, or tarry stools;
· nausea, vomiting, or abdominal pain;
· uncontrolled fever;
· blood in your urine or vomit;
· decreased hearing or ringing in the ears;
· seizures; or
· dizziness, confusion, or hallucinations mechanism of action of aspirin in ami.
• If you experience any of the following less serious side effects, notifyyour doctor:
· heartburn or indigestion,
· faint ringing in the ears,
· drowsiness, or
· headache mechanism of action of aspirin in ami.
• Side effects other than those listed here may also occur mechanism of action of aspirin in ami. Talk to yourdoctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome mechanism of action of aspirin in ami.

What other drugs will affect aspirin?
• Do not take aspirin without first talking to your doctor if you are takingany of the following medicines:
· an anticoagulant such as warfarin (Coumadin), heparin, enoxaparin (Lovenox),dalteparin (Fragmin), danaparoid (Orgaran), ardeparin (Normiflo), or tinzaparin(Innohep);
· a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as ibuprofen (Motrin,Advil, Nuprin, others), ketoprofen (Orudis, Orudis KT, Oruvail), naproxen (Naprosyn,Anaprox, Aleve), diclofenac (Voltaren, Cataflam), nabumetone (Relafen), oxaprozin(Daypro), piroxicam (Feldene), etodolac (Lodine), fenoprofen (Nalfon), flurbiprofen(Ansaid), indomethacin (Indocin), ketorolac (Toradol), sulindac (Clinoril),or tolmetin (Tolectin); or
· another salicylate such as aspirin (Acuprin, Ecotrin, Ascriptin, Bayer,others); choline salicylate and/or magnesium salicylate (Magan, Doan's, BayerSelect Backache Pain Formula, Mobidin, Arthropan, Trilisate, Tricosal), or salsalate(Disalcid) mechanism of action of aspirin in ami.
• You may not be able to take aspirin, or you may require a dosage adjustmentor special monitoring if you are taking any of the medicines listed above mechanism of action of aspirin in ami.
• If you have diabetes, moderate to large doses of aspirin may producefalse urine glucose test results mechanism of action of aspirin in ami.
• Many drugs, including those not listed here, can interact with aspirin,resulting in side effects and/or decreased effectiveness of the medications mechanism of action of aspirin in ami. Do not take any other prescription or over-the-counter medicines or herbal productswithout first talking to your doctor during treatment with aspirin mechanism of action of aspirin in ami.

Where can I get more information?
• Your pharmacist has additional information about aspirin written forhealth professionals that you may read mechanism of action of aspirin in ami.

Copyright 2005 D-S LTD.
All Rights Reserved.