pros and cons of aspirin for heart attacks

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

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

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 pros and cons of aspirin for heart attacks.
• 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 pros and cons of aspirin for heart attacks.
• The FDA has not formally evaluated the effects of aspirin taken duringpregnancy pros and cons of aspirin for heart attacks. 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 pros and cons of aspirin for heart attacks. Do not take aspirin without first talking to your doctorif you are pregnant pros and cons of aspirin for heart attacks.
• Aspirin passes into breast milk and may harm a nursing infant pros and cons of aspirin for heart attacks. Do nottake this medicine without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feedinga baby pros and cons of aspirin for heart attacks.
• 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 pros and cons of aspirin for heart attacks. In childrenyounger than 18 years of age, aspirin may increase the risk of Reye's syndrome,a rare but often fatal condition pros and cons of aspirin for heart attacks.

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

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 pros and cons of aspirin for heart attacks. If more than 2 hours have passed since themissed dose, skip the missed dose and take only your next regularly scheduleddose pros and cons of aspirin for heart attacks. Do not take a double dose pros and cons of aspirin for heart attacks.
• If you are taking aspirin on an as-needed basis, missing a dose is notusually a problem pros and cons of aspirin for heart attacks. 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 pros and cons of aspirin for heart attacks.

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

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 pros and cons of aspirin for heart attacks. Combined with aspirin, these medicines can be dangerous pros and cons of aspirin for heart attacks.
• Avoid alcohol or use it with moderation while taking aspirin pros and cons of aspirin for heart attacks. If youdrink more than three alcoholic beverages a day, aspirin may increase the riskof stomach bleeding pros and cons of aspirin for heart attacks.
• Tell your doctor and dentist that you are taking aspirin, especiallyif you need to undergo a surgical procedure pros and cons of aspirin for heart attacks. Aspirin may prolong bleeding pros and cons of aspirin for heart attacks.

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 pros and cons of aspirin for heart attacks.
• If you experience any of the following less serious side effects, notifyyour doctor:
· heartburn or indigestion,
· faint ringing in the ears,
· drowsiness, or
· headache pros and cons of aspirin for heart attacks.
• Side effects other than those listed here may also occur pros and cons of aspirin for heart attacks. Talk to yourdoctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome pros and cons of aspirin for heart attacks.

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) pros and cons of aspirin for heart attacks.
• 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 pros and cons of aspirin for heart attacks.
• If you have diabetes, moderate to large doses of aspirin may producefalse urine glucose test results pros and cons of aspirin for heart attacks.
• Many drugs, including those not listed here, can interact with aspirin,resulting in side effects and/or decreased effectiveness of the medications pros and cons of aspirin for heart attacks. Do not take any other prescription or over-the-counter medicines or herbal productswithout first talking to your doctor during treatment with aspirin pros and cons of aspirin for heart attacks.

Where can I get more information?
• Your pharmacist has additional information about aspirin written forhealth professionals that you may read pros and cons of aspirin for heart attacks.

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