ASPIRIN

Even if you don't consider yourself a "drug user," do yourself a favor and read this chapter about aspirin. There's a lot about these little white tablets -that may surprise you.

Aspirin is the most widely used drug in the world today, and certainly iii the United States. Just consider these statistics: Americans use more than 50 billion aspirin tablets and compound aspirin preparations annually. That's roughly 40 million pounds of aspirin, or some $600 million worth. In -    fact, if most people p+    to choose just one drug with which to medicine cabinets it would, in all probability, be Aspirin is a relatively safe drug when it is used correctly. But, as is the case with many other drugs, it not only can make sick people feel healthy but can, when abused, make healthy people feel pretty sick. Some people just can't handle aspirin, particularly large doses, which can cause a variety of adverse reactions and can even be fatal. Yet no prescription is required for the drug. You can buy aspirin almost everywhere: at the supermarket, at gas stations, in drugstores, or at your favorite newsstand.

Aspirin's generic name is acetylsalicylic acid. As far back as 2,500 years ago, Greeks boiled the bark of the willow tree (a member of the Salieaceae family with a high salicin content, a natural relative of acetylsalicylic acid) to prepare medicines to deal with fever and aches:. Aspirin was first synthesized by an Alsatian chemist named Charles Frederick von Gerhardt during the mid-1800s. It was not used by physicians until around the turn of the century, when a: chemist working for the Bayer Company, Felix Hofmann, discovered it helped bring relief to his father, who was suffering from arthritis.

Today, Bayer is the best-known brand name in the aspirin world. In the United States, _where aspirin has become as American an institution as hot dogs and apple pie, the biggest manufacturer of the drug is Glenbrook Laboratories, a. division of Sterling Drug Company. Its brand name: Bayer. Bayer originally owned the generic name "aspirin" exclusively, Now any company can use that name in the United States. In most other countries of the world you'll find the name "aspirin" still the exclusive property of Bayer. Knowledge of one fact alone can easily repay the cost of this wonderful book many 'times over: all aspirin is basically the same. For example, you can buy 100 Bayer tablets for about $1.49 or you can buy 250 Norwich tablets for 98 cents. The choice is yours.

Our recommendation: Don't believe misleading advertising. Aspirin is aspirin, as long as it is made and . marketed by any reputable source. Just make sure the bottle is fresh before buying. Check by removing the cap and sniffing. If the contents smell similar to acid or vinegar, the drug is deteriorating and losing strength. Periodically check aspirin bottles in your medicine cabinet the same way. Buy the least expensive brand and you'll be way ahead of the game over the years without any sacrifice in quality. Don't be like all those other consumers who assume that anything costing more must be better. It just ain't so!

While on the subject of economy, we might as well point out the fact that none of the aspirin-plus-extra-ingredients products has ever been proven to be any more effective than aspirin alone: for those illnesses requiring simple aspirin treatment. You're just paying extra for extra ingredients that don't do anything extra in most cases. Learn to tune out those TV. ads and their false promises. If you need a medicine in addition to aspirin, buy it separately. You'll be doing your pocketbook a big favor.

Most adults take aspirin in the form of a 5-grain (325-mg) white tablet, although the drug also comes in liquid, powder, and capsule form, particularly when combined with other ingredients. These pills contain mostly aspirin (Content is government-regulated) mixed with some filler to hold the tablet together. While no one is quite certain how the drug works, we've been popping them down for the better part of this century. We do know that aspirin is absorbed in the stomach and small intestine after oral ingestion. First effects generally occur within thirty minutes to two hours. One recent theory is that aspirin halts the production of prostaglandins. Prostaglandins are hormone like substances that are found in menstrual fluid, semen, and many human tissues. They relate to the functions of the stomach, blood vessels, heart, and bronchial tubes.

Aspirin generally has three types of effects:

Antipyretic (fever reducing): Reduces body temperature by increasing sweat production, which, in turn, has a cooling effect. This is accomplished, researchers believe, by affecting the hypothalamus, the body's thermostat. Aspirin will not, however, lower normal body temperature.

Anti-inflammatory Aspirin is of help to people who suffer from rheumatic fever and mild arthritis. While it helps to minimize or eliminate minor pains caused by these illnesses, the exact reason it does so is still a scientific mystery.

Analgesic (pain relieving): Aspirin will work better for some types of pain than for others. It is most effective in dealing with somatic pain (headache, arthritis, sprains, toothache, -etc.), and less effective when dealing with visceral pain (colic, gastric disturbance, cramps, etc.).

Some research has indicated that in not too many years aspirin may be used to help prevent such problems as heart at ack, stroke, miscarriage, and hardening of the arteries.

But, contrary to popular belief, there are some things that aspirin will not do. For one thing, aspirin definitely will not work as a sedative or relaxant. Surprisingly,' that is one of the primary reasons people use the drug. They think they'll get a better night's sleep or have a calmer day as a result of taking' aspirin. So they'll pop a couple every few hours in their vain quest for mental tranquillity. Don't consider yourself foolish for having tried. Commercials, again, are- really to, blame. They've just promised us too much over the years and, as a result we've downed a lot of extra aspirin we could have easily lived without.

We might as well mention the common cold, too. Again, despite popular belief, aspirin will not influence the course of existing colds to any real degree, nor will it help to prevent the symptoms   of colds. The drug simply does not have any effect c on bacteria or viruses. So skip the extra aspirin if you're trying to prevent a cold.

We're' not just captioning you against excessive use of aspirin so you can save a few cents. While. aspirin can be valuable, it can also do extensive physical damage if misused. Believe it or not, aspirin overdose accounts for more hospital admissions in the United States each, year than any other drug-10 percent of all- adverse drug reactions in U.S. hospitals are caused by aspirin. Aspirin also causes hundreds of deaths in this country annually. Many of these deaths occur among children simply because the drug is so available and easy for them to get at in the home. Treat :aspirin like any other drug; Keep it out of the reach of children. It is by no means a -harmless substance.

Be very careful about aspirin dosage. Follow package directions. If they say take two aspirins, don't think you'll get twice the relief by taking four. The drug doesn't work that way. And don't take it any more often than the- package recommends: Unless your doctor has told you differently, don't take more than a few doses o€ aspirin in any given day, and don't take even the recommended dosage more than couple of days in any week.

If you do take too much you may be in for a variety of unpleasant surprises. Overuse of aspirin, and even more particularly aspirin-plus-extra-ingredients products (usually those "extra" ingredients are caffeine and/or phenacetin), can cause such problems as' gastritis, peptic ulcers, migraine headache, anemia, intestinal nephritis, and a shortening of your lifespan. Aspirin intoxication may be caused by the use of just fifteen to twenty tablets a day. Symptoms can include dizziness, headache, shock, ringing in the ears, disorientation, internal-tissue bleeding, hallucinations, incoherent speech, asthma attacks, gastric disturbances, convulsions, and coma. Prolonged use can cause serious problems such as irritation of _ the stomach lining, potassium depletion, and abdominal bleeding. If you really overdo. it, you, can take a lethal dose. For most adults, 20 to 30 grams (60 to 90, adult-strength tablets) will stop your headache permanently. Naturally, a fatal dose for children or the elderly will be significantly lower: -

If you are with someone who has overdosed on aspirin, rush him to the nearest hospital. There is no dependable quickie home remedy. The patient's best chance for survival is at the hospital. Inform them that his condition is due to aspirin overdose.

Aspirin has a tendency to prolong bleeding time. If you suffer from abdominal bleeding, stay away from this drug. One study recently showed that 80 percent of people suffering from abdominal bleeding had taken aspirin within forty-eight hours of their attacks. Most people lose about a teaspoonful of blood in their stools after taking just two aspirins. Taking your aspirin with some food or a full glass of milk or water may help to minimize such loss. While this quantity of blood loss is not significant, iron-deficiency anemia may result in some cases where aspirin is taken too often. Persons suffering from acute illnesses that involve bleeding (stomach cancer, varicose veins of the esophagus, ulcers, etc.) face a greatly increased chance of excessive bleeding if aspirin is used. Keep away from aspirin for at least a -week before any surgery (including childbirth), since aspirin does inhibit blood clotting. Don't use the-drug if you suffer from hemophilia, for obvious reasons.

If you're pregnant, don't use aspirin during your first three months. Some studies have indicated a slight possibility of malformed babies resulting from aspirin use. This is not yet completely proved, but there is no point in taking chances.

If you do feel the need for aspirin, but any of these warnings worries you, try using acetaminophen, an aspirin substitute that contains no- aspirin. It will be perfectly safe for you.

Aspirin is not an addictive drug. It carries with it no problems relating to tolerance or withdrawal, although some people do seem to develop a perceived psychological need for aspirin to deal with real or imagined pain. Perhaps that's just another result of all that TV brainwashing.

Recently, researchers have noted that some people, about one in every five hundred, suffer from a condition called aspirin intolerance. These folks sometimes experience a variety of undesirable effects within fifteen minutes to three hours after using aspirin. These effects may include asthma, gastrointestinal bleeding, and skin rashes, and can continue even after use of the drug has been discontinued. Aspirin intolerance seldom occurs in children or teen-agers. In adults, it usually develops suddenly, even in people who have used aspirin for years with' no 'ill effects. Not an allergy, it is a metabolic disorder that most commonly affects people with sinus infections, bronchial asthma, nasal polyps, and recurring stuffy noses. Aspirin intolerance can't be predicted or prevented. Sometimes people, have it for years before they even notice it. Almost a quarter of the people who suffer from chronic hives experience outbreaks after taking aspirin. (although researchers are not sure if it is the aspirin that causes hives or the contaminants in aspirin tablets, which vary from brand to brand). Our advice: If in doubt about aspirin intolerance, use Tylenol, Datril, or any other acetaminophen.

Aspirin and other aspirin-containing products can also interact negatively with a variety , of substances. When taking aspirin, be careful about the following categories of drugs:

Alcohol: Do not mix alcohol and aspirin, or products containing -aspirin, including products. such as Alka Seltzer. Forget what the commercials tell you. Alcohol will make your stomach very sensitive, and in such a state aspirin can cause a serious amount of bleeding from the stomach wall.

Anticoagulants: If you're on blood thinners of any sort, don't mix in aspirin or you might find yourself suffering from massive hemorrhaging. Generally, anticoagulant doses must be reduced if you are taking aspirin. Ask your doctor about the combination if you are taking this type of drug.

Anti-cancer medication: The toxic effect of Methotrexate can be increased if you are taking aspirin. Again, consult your doctor if you are on this drug.

Arthritis medicines: If you are taking any strong arthritis medication to reduce inflammation, don't combine it with aspirin or you may end up with ulcers or serious, un comfortable, and dangerous stomach irritation.

Diabetes medication: If you are diabetic and are taking oral - medication, be wary of aspirin, as it can lead to too drastic a decrease in blood sugar. To avoid such problems, check with your doctor.

Gout: Don't combine aspirin with any medication for gout unless your doctor specifically advises it. You may be blocking the beneficial effects of these drugs if you do.

The bottom line. Don't let us scare you away from aspirin. It's not our intent to do so at all. It is a fine drag for most people if used properly and intelligently for the right things. Just be aware of what it can't do for you and the potential harm it can cause when abused. Follow package directions carefully and watch for any adverse symptoms you may experience. If you don't feel aspirin is treating you right, discuss use of the drug with your physician.