Probably everyone has known acetylsalicylic acid tablets since childhood. The instructions for using this drug are very important to know, since the remedy, despite the seeming harmlessness, has its own contraindications and side effects. And although it is common and often used, it is still necessary to know some of the nuances in the process of its application.
What is remarkable about acetylsalicylic acid tablets, the instructions for the use of which we will discuss in detail in this article? Are there any restrictions on their use? How to use this tool depending on the disease and circumstances? Learn about all this below.
But first, let's look at what kind of substance it is and what is the spectrum of its action.
Main component
Acetylsalicylic acid was synthesized in German laboratories in the second half of the nineteenth century. The discovery of such an important and effective substance belongs to the Bayer Pharmacological Company. The same German company was the first manufacturer and distributor of a new substance, which went down in history under the short name “Aspirin”. Instructions for the use of acetylsalicylic acid of that time stated that the drug obtained from willow bark has an antipyretic effect.
In our time, this tool is made exclusively by chemical means. In addition, thanks to numerous medical studies conducted in the twentieth century, the spectrum of action of the active substance has expanded significantly, and now Aspirin is also used for other ailments. Numerous properties of the drug are described in detailed instructions for the use of acetylsalicylic acid for adults and children.
There was a time when the drug was considered safe and was prescribed as a prophylaxis and prevention of various pain sensations. However, now health workers are not so freely prescribing the drug, while they always indicate to patients its negative manifestations.
Release form
"Aspirin" is available in a dosage of 250 and 500 milligrams of the active substance. Most often, these are tablets, painted white, not differing in a certain smell, but having a peculiar taste, without an admixture of bitterness.
Composition of the tablets
According to the instructions for use, “Acetylsalicylic acid 500 mg” consists of the active substance (0.5 grams) and additional components such as potato starch, citric acid, talc. Due to such a simple composition, the drug is an inexpensive drug that does not have an unpleasant taste and has a quick-acting effect.
How does it work in the body
According to scientific studies, the active substance begins to act when it enters the small intestine, to a lesser extent - when it enters the stomach. A large amount of the food present there may adversely affect the absorption of acetylsalicylic acid.
Due to the fact that eighty percent of the substance has a close relationship with blood plasma, acid easily penetrates into various tissues of the body. It also actively affects the cerebrospinal, synovial and peritoneal fluids. In small quantities, acid is found in brain tissues, in single quantities - in bile, sweat, feces. Some (fairly minimal) can pass into breast milk.
In the joint cavity, “acetyl" quickly penetrates in the presence of puffiness and hyperemia, when it enters the inflammation zone, its effect slows down.
The substance is excreted mainly through urine.
How does it affect the body
It was already mentioned above that “acetyl” has antipyretic properties. Other features include analgesia, blood thinning, and inflammation. How is this result achieved? Let's take a closer look.
A decrease in body temperature occurs due to the effect of the drug on a certain center in the brain responsible for thermoregulation. In addition, the active substance is able to affect the walls of blood vessels, expanding them, thereby increasing perspiration and helping to reduce fever. This explains why acetylsalicylic acid is so effective at temperature.
Instructions for use also shed light on the result of which an analgesic effect is achieved. The active substance has a direct effect on the central nervous system, as well as on individual mediators located in the zone of the inflammatory process.
In some cases, “acetyl” can be prescribed by doctors to thin the blood in the vessels. This effect is achieved due to the fact that the main component acts on platelets, preventing their adhesion and preventing the occurrence of thrombosis.
How to explain the anti-inflammatory effect of “Acetylsalicylic acid 500”? Instructions for use of the drug states that the active substance is able to limit access to the energy resources of healthy cells and disrupt the synthesis of prostaglandins, which are responsible for the occurrence of unpleasant symptoms at the site of the inflammatory process. Due to this, inflammation does not develop, but decreases.
What diseases prescribe this effective drug?
Diseases and their conditions
In rare cases, the drug is prescribed for small patients. Most often it is prescribed to adults. Instructions for the use of “Acetylsalicylic acid” assures buyers that the drug is able to cope with such ailments as:
- fever, fever with colds, respiratory and infectious diseases;
- pain of various etiologies (tooth, head, muscle, with neuralgia, menstruation, and so on);
- diseases of the cardiovascular system (pericarditis and others);
- ailments associated with disorders in the spine (osteochondrosis, sciatica, lumbago);
- acute thrombophlebitis (the formation of a blood clot provoked by inflammation of the venous walls);
- pulmonary infarction (clogging of a thrombus of a vessel leading to the lung);
- pulmonary embolism;
- rheumatism, arthritis of the rheumatoid type.
A bit about disease prevention
Moreover, according to the instructions for use of the tablet “Acetylsalicylic acid” for adults (sometimes even for children) can be prescribed as not only treatment, but also the prevention of any disease. Most often, this is the prevention of blood clots, myocardial infarction (if there is a history of ischemic disease), as well as the protection of the heart muscle during prolapse (in other words, impaired functioning) of the mitral valve, atrial fibrillation (when the muscle fibers of both atria are not able to work simultaneously), with various vices and so on.
General recommendations on how to take
First of all, it should be said that it is necessary to take “acetyl” after eating, carefully grinding the tablet and drinking it with plenty of water or milk (at least a glass of liquid).
Of course, the treating doctor may recommend using the drug in a slightly different way, given the general picture of the patient's disease. However, we discussed general tips from the annotation for the drug of interest to us.
How much and when
Of course, the necessary dosage and schedule of admission are set by the attending physician. However, according to the instructions for use with “Acetylsalicylic Acid” tablets, adult patients are allowed to use the drug from forty milligrams to one gram at a time. The daily rate should not exceed five to eight grams. The number of tablets consumed should be calculated in accordance with the dosage.
Most often, the course of therapy does not exceed one week, a maximum of two. If the drug is used as an antipyretic, then the duration of administration should not exceed three days.
How to take depending on the disease
And although the specific schedule is prescribed by the attending physician, nevertheless, the instruction for “acetyl” says the following:
- With frequent pain, neuralgia and fever, you can take the medicine three or four times a day at 0.5 or 0.25 grams, less often - one gram per dose.
- With rheumatism and heart disease, the drug can be prescribed two or three grams per day, sometimes four. The daily dose also needs to be divided into several doses.
- To dilute thick blood and prevent thrombosis, it is recommended to use half a tablet for a rather long period (two or even three months).
- To prevent recurrent myocardial infarction, you need to take 250 milligrams of the drug every day.
- If we are talking about various disorders in the blood circulation, then taking “acetyl” can also be lengthy. It is necessary to start with half a tablet, gradually increasing the daily dose to two tablets.
This is the general information indicated in the instructions for use of “Acetylsalicylic acid”. Patient reviews show that most often the attending physicians adhere to the dosage established by the manufacturer, choosing the most effective and efficient method of treatment with this inexpensive but effective means. And although the drug does not work miracles, it is still able to provide the necessary assistance in the process of outpatient treatment of the serious diseases listed above.
But how to take "Acetylsalicylic acid" to children? Instructions for use answer this question.
Treating small patients
In short, the daily dosage should not exceed one hundred milligrams for two-year-olds, 150 milligrams for three-year-olds, two hundred milligrams for four-year-olds. Children from five to twelve years of age, “acetyl” is prescribed no more than 250-300 milligrams. The indicated dose is recommended to be divided into several doses (three or four times a day). All this is indicated in the instructions for use.
How else can help, according to the instructions for use, tablets "Acetylsalicylic acid"? For children, the drug is prescribed in the treatment of serious diseases. For pain and fever, the drug is prescribed for children from one hundred to three hundred milligrams per day (depending on age). If we are talking about diseases of the heart, joints and polyarthritis, then in 24 hours a child can take from 200 to 250 milligrams.
You should know that when using acetylsalicylic acid in newborns, the active substance displaces bilirubin, thereby provoking bilirubin encephalopathy. In addition, the process of removing “acetyl” in babies takes much longer than in adults. If an adult patient needs only two or three hours to completely remove acid from the body (at the minimum dose), then this process will take five or even six hours for a child.
As you can see, the drug has both certain advantages and disadvantages. Let's talk about the latter in more detail.
Side effects in detail
Frankly, there are quite a few unpleasant manifestations, but they rarely occur.
On the part of the organs of the gastrointestinal tract, disturbances in the form of vomiting, nausea, and abdominal pain are possible.
Less erosion or ulcers in the stomach, bleeding may occur.
The central nervous system of a person can also unpredictably respond to the use of a seemingly harmless “acetyl”. From this side, you may be disturbed by dizziness and headaches, tinnitus, blurred vision, less commonly, aseptic meningitis.
Due to the long-term use of the drug, pathological changes in the work of the kidneys can be observed.
Acetylsalicylic acid can also cause allergic reactions in the form of skin rash, bronchial spasm, Quincke's edema, and so on.
In rare cases, but nevertheless, anemia, hemorrhagic syndrome, increased heart failure with prolonged use of the drug can be diagnosed.
What about contraindications?
Naturally, especially considering all of the above, that “Acetylsalicylic acid” tablets have their contraindications. First of all, there is a history of peptic ulcer disease (especially if it is in the acute phase), bleeding of the digestive tract, hemophilia, aortic aneurysm, renal or hepatic insufficiency, and much more.
When special care is needed
With extreme caution, it is necessary to prescribe the drug to patients suffering from various diseases of the liver and kidneys, bronchial asthma, chronic heart failure, decompensated type, etc.
You should also avoid prolonged use of “Acetylsalicylic acid” in patients with gout (since the drug may interfere with the excretion of uric acid from the body), as well as those who have a history of healed ulcers.
Often, the drug is not prescribed for planned preparation for operations and in the postoperative period, since the active substance can provoke increased hematopoiesis.
Can I take expectant and nursing mothers?
This question is very important, as many people still think that “acetyl” is a harmless and harmless painkiller or antipyretic.
According to the recommendations of specialists, the drug is not prescribed during pregnancy and lactation. In the first and third trimester, it is especially contraindicated, as it can cause pathologies in the development of the fetus and premature birth.
As mentioned above, acetylsalicylic acid is able to penetrate into breast milk, thereby exerting a negative effect on the baby, causing him to develop bleeding.
Interaction with other drugs
Using “Acetylsalicylic acid”, it is important to know that its simultaneous use with magnesium and aluminum hydroxide preparations reduces the digestibility of the substance itself.
Moreover, the tool is able to reduce the effect of certain diuretics and uricosuric drugs.
It was found that caffeine can enhance the effect of “acetyl”.
You can learn more about the interaction of the drug with other drugs at an appointment with your doctor.
“Acetyl” and alcohol
It is believed that “Acetylsalicylic acid” helps with a hangover. Instructions for use indicate this feature of the drug. Since the active substance has a hemorrhaging effect, it can reduce the absorption of alcohol into the blood, while improving the well-being and general condition of a person.
How to take the drug to achieve a positive result? It must be mentioned here that the use of acetylsalicylic acid together with alcoholic beverages can lead to the development of erosions and ulcers of the digestive tract, causing internal bleeding. Therefore, experts recommend taking “acetyl” two hours before the planned feast (and this is the minimum) and six hours after drinking. A single dose of the drug should not exceed five hundred milligrams (that is, one or two tablets, depending on the dosage).
Drugs with a similar spectrum of action
What can be said about the analogues of “Acetylsalicylic acid”? The instructions for use indicate what pharmacological capabilities the active substance has. What drugs have a similar sphere of influence?
First of all, it is:
- “Aspirin Cardio”, which is a coated tablet;
- “Acetylsalicylic acid MS.” Instructions for use of this tool are identical to the annotations for the drug, which is analyzed in the article.
- “Acetylsalicylic acid”;
- "Anopyrine";
- “Reocard”;
- Colpharite
- “Zorex morning”;
- “Acecardol”;
- “Thrombopol” and so on.
User reviews
According to numerous responses, most consumers are satisfied with the drug and its effectiveness. Many admit that “Acetylsalicylic acid” quickly helps with headaches, high body temperature, a hangover syndrome and much more. Rarely, patients complain of unpleasant manifestations on the part of the body on taking the drug. Most often, they occur in the form of dizziness, nausea and diarrhea.
Many admit that they did not know about the negative effect of “acetyl” on the body of a pregnant woman and young children.
So, benefit or harm?
Despite the fact that for many years the drug was considered harmless and harmless even for small children, now much is known about its negative effects on both the adult body and the health of babies. Prolonged and uncontrolled use of the drug can lead to aggravation of heart failure, the occurrence of sudden bleeding, not to mention headaches and nausea.
And yet, according to international studies, “Acetylsalicylic acid” is able to prevent serious diseases such as cancer of the intestines and lungs, oncology of the throat and prostate. , , - . , , .
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