side effects of prolonged use of aspirin

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Where can I get more information?
• Your pharmacist has additional information about aspirin written forhealth professionals that you may read side effects of prolonged use of aspirin.

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