Saturday, 5 May 2012

Ecotrin


Generic Name: aspirin (oral) (AS pir in)

Brand Names: Arthritis Pain, Aspergum Cherry, Aspergum Orginal, Aspir 81, Aspir-Low, Aspirin Lite Coat, Aspirin Litecoat, Aspirin Low Dose, Aspirin Low Strength, Bayer Aspirin, Bayer Aspirin Regimen, Bayer Aspirin Sugar Free, Bayer Aspirin with Calcium, Bayer Childrens Aspirin, Bayer Low Strength, Bayer Plus, Buffered Aspirin, Bufferin, Bufferin Arthritis Strength, Bufferin Extra Strength, Easprin, Ecotrin, Ecotrin Adult Low Strength, Ecotrin Maximum Strength, Fasprin, Genacote, Halfprin, Litecoat Aspirin, Norwich Aspirin, St. Joseph Aspirin, St. Joseph Aspirin Adult Chewable, St. Joseph Aspirin Adult EC, Stanback Analgesic, Tri-Buffered Aspirin, YSP Aspirin, Zorprin


What is aspirin?

Aspirin is in a group of drugs called salicylates (sa-LIS-il-ates). It works by reducing substances in the body that cause pain, fever, and inflammation.


Aspirin is used to treat mild to moderate pain, and also to reduce fever or inflammation. Aspirin is sometimes used to treat or prevent heart attacks, strokes, and chest pain (angina). Aspirin should be used for cardiovascular conditions only under the supervision of a doctor.


Aspirin may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.


What is the most important information I should know about aspirin?


There are many brands and forms of aspirin available and not all brands are listed on this leaflet.


Aspirin should not be given to a child or teenager who has a fever, especially if the child also has flu symptoms or chicken pox. Aspirin can cause a serious and sometimes fatal condition called Reye's syndrome in children.

Stop using this medication and call your doctor at once if you have any symptoms of bleeding in your stomach or intestines. Symptoms include black, bloody, or tarry stools, and coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds.


Avoid drinking alcohol while you are taking aspirin. Alcohol may increase your risk of stomach bleeding.

Aspirin is sometimes used to treat or prevent heart attacks, strokes, and chest pain (angina). Aspirin should be used for cardiovascular conditions only under the supervision of a doctor.


What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking aspirin?


Aspirin should not be given to a child or teenager who has a fever, especially if the child also has flu symptoms or chicken pox. Aspirin can cause a serious and sometimes fatal condition called Reye's syndrome in children. Do not use this medication if you are allergic to aspirin, or if you have:

  • a recent history of stomach or intestinal bleeding;




  • a bleeding disorder such as hemophilia; or




  • an allergy to an NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) such as Advil, Motrin, Aleve, Orudis, Indocin, Lodine, Voltaren, Toradol, Mobic, Relafen, Feldene, and others.



If you have any of these other conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take aspirin:



  • asthma or seasonal allergies;




  • stomach ulcers;



  • liver disease;

  • kidney disease;


  • a bleeding or blood clotting disorder;




  • heart disease, high blood pressure, or congestive heart failure;




  • gout; or




  • nasal polyps.




If you are taking aspirin to prevent heart attack or stroke, avoid also taking ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin). Ibuprofen may make aspirin less effective in protecting your heart and blood vessels. If you must use both medications, take the ibuprofen at least 8 hours before or 30 minutes after you take the aspirin (non-enteric coated form). This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby's heart, and may also reduce birth weight or have other dangerous effects. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while you are taking aspirin. Aspirin can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I take aspirin?


Use this medication exactly as directed on the label, or as it has been prescribed by your doctor. Do not use the medication in larger or smaller amounts, or use it for longer than recommended.


Take this medication with a full glass of water. Taking aspirin with food or milk can lessen stomach upset. Enteric-coated aspirin is specially formulated to be gentle on your stomach, but you may take it with food or milk if desired. Do not crush, chew, break, or open an enteric-coated or extended-release pill. Swallow the pill whole. The enteric-coated pill has a special coating to protect your stomach. Breaking the pill could damage this coating. The extended-release tablet is specially made to release medicine slowly in the body. Breaking this pill would cause too much of the drug to be released at one time.

The chewable tablet form of aspirin must be chewed before swallowing.


Keep the orally disintegrating tablet in its package until you are ready to take the medicine. Open the package and peel the back cover from the tablet. Using dry hands, place the tablet into your mouth. It will begin to dissolve right away, without water. Do not swallow the tablet whole. Allow it to dissolve in your mouth without chewing.


If you need to have any type of surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are taking aspirin. You may need to stop using the medicine for a short time.


Do not take this medication if you smell a strong vinegar odor in the aspirin bottle. The medicine may no longer be effective. Store aspirin at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?


Since aspirin is often used as needed, you may not be on a dosing schedule. If you are using the medication regularly, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and wait until your next regularly scheduled dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed dose.


What happens if I overdose?


Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.

Overdose symptoms may include ringing in your ears, headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, confusion, hallucinations, rapid breathing, fever, seizure (convulsions), or coma.


What should I avoid while taking aspirin?


Do not use any other over-the-counter medication without first asking your doctor or pharmacist. Aspirin is contained in many medicines available over the counter. If you take certain products together you may accidentally take too much aspirin. Read the label of any other medicine you are using to see if it contains aspirin.

Avoid taking an NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) while you are taking aspirin. NSAIDs include ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), diclofenac (Voltaren), diflunisal (Dolobid), etodolac (Lodine), flurbiprofen (Ansaid), indomethacin (Indocin), ketoprofen (Orudis), ketorolac (Toradol), mefenamic acid (Ponstel), meloxicam (Mobic), nabumetone (Relafen), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), piroxicam (Feldene), and others.


Avoid drinking alcohol while you are taking aspirin. Alcohol may increase your risk of stomach bleeding. Avoid taking ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) if you are taking aspirin to prevent stroke or heart attack. Ibuprofen can make aspirin less effective in protecting your heart and blood vessels. If you must use both medications, take the ibuprofen at least 8 hours before or 30 minutes after you take the aspirin (non-enteric coated form).

Aspirin side effects


Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Stop using this medication and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

  • black, bloody, or tarry stools;




  • coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds;




  • severe nausea, vomiting, or stomach pain;




  • fever lasting longer than 3 days;




  • swelling, or pain lasting longer than 10 days; or




  • hearing problems, ringing in your ears.



Less serious side effects may include:



  • upset stomach, heartburn;




  • drowsiness; or




  • headache.



This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.


What other drugs will affect aspirin?


Tell your doctor if you are taking an antidepressant such as citalopram (Celexa), duloxetine (Cymbalta), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem, Symbyax), fluvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft), or venlafaxine (Effexor). Taking any of these drugs with aspirin may cause you to bruise or bleed easily.


Before taking aspirin, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:



  • a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin); or




  • another salicylate such as choline salicylate and/or magnesium salicylate (Magan, Doan's, Bayer Select Backache Pain Formula, Mobidin, Arthropan, Trilisate, Tricosal), or salsalate (Disalcid).



This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with aspirin. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.



More Ecotrin resources


  • Ecotrin Side Effects (in more detail)
  • Ecotrin Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
  • Drug Images
  • Ecotrin Drug Interactions
  • Ecotrin Support Group
  • 0 Reviews for Ecotrin - Add your own review/rating


  • Ecotrin Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information

  • Ecotrin Delayed-Release Tablets MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)

  • Aspirin Monograph (AHFS DI)

  • Aspirin MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)

  • Aspirin Prescribing Information (FDA)

  • ZORprin Controlled-Release Tablets MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)



Compare Ecotrin with other medications


  • Angina
  • Angina Pectoris Prophylaxis
  • Ankylosing Spondylitis
  • Antiphospholipid Syndrome
  • Aseptic Necrosis
  • Back Pain
  • Fever
  • Heart Attack
  • Ischemic Stroke
  • Ischemic Stroke, Prophylaxis
  • Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis
  • Kawasaki Disease
  • Myocardial Infarction, Prophylaxis
  • Niacin Flush
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Pain
  • Prosthetic Heart Valves
  • Prosthetic Heart Valves, Mechanical Valves
  • Revascularization Procedures, Prophylaxis
  • Rheumatic Fever
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis
  • Sciatica
  • Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
  • Thromboembolic Stroke Prophylaxis
  • Transient Ischemic Attack


Where can I get more information?


  • Your pharmacist can provide more information about aspirin.

See also: Ecotrin side effects (in more detail)


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