Active ingredient (in each tablet)
Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid). Pain reliever/fever reducer

Inactive ingredients
carnauba wax*, corn starch, hypromellose, powdered cellulose, triacetin

* may contain this ingredient

Last updated on RxList: 11/13/2007

Uses

• headache
• menstrual pain
• minor pain of arthritis
• muscle pain
• pain and fever of colds
• toothache

Directions

• drink a full glass of water with each dose
  
• adults and children 12 years and over: take 1 or 2 tablets every 4 hours or 3 tablets every 6 hours, not to exceed 12 tablets in 24 hours
  
• children under 12 years: consult a doctor

Other information

• save carton for full directions and warnings
  
• store at room temperature
  

Questions or comments?
1-800-331-4536 (Mon-Fri 9AM – 5PM EST)
or www.bayeraspirin.com

Packaging

Tablets and caplets are available in the following package types:

Travel pack - 12 tablets
Bottles of 24, 50, 100, 200, 300, and 400 tablets
Bottles of 50 and 100 caplets
There are child-resistant safety closures on packages of 12, 24, 50, 200, 300, and 400 tablets and 100 caplets. Bottles of 100 tablets and 50 caplets are available without safety closure for households without small children.

Copyright ©2006 Bayer HealthCare LLC. All Rights Reserved. FDA rev date: 10/25/1995

Last updated on RxList: 11/13/2007

No information provided.

No information provided.

Last updated on RxList: 11/13/2007

Reye's syndrome: Children and teenagers should not use this medicine for chicken pox or flu symptoms before a doctor is consulted about Reye's syndrome, a rare but serious illness reported to be associated with aspirin.

Allergy alert: Aspirin may cause a severe allergic reaction which may include:

• hives
  
• facial swelling
  
• asthma (wheezing)
  
• shock

No information provided.

Last updated on RxList: 11/13/2007

No information provided.

Aspirin is not appropriate for everyone, so be sure to talk to your doctor before you begin an aspirin regimen.

Last updated on RxList: 11/13/2007

As the active ingredient in aspirin, acetylsalicylic acid works by inhibiting several different chemical processes within the body, including the natural physiological processes causing pain and inflammation.

Aspirin relieves pain by inhibiting production of chemicals called prostaglandins, aspirin works to diminish the body's response to a chain of chemical processes that eventually leads to pain. This mechanism of action works on a cellular level.

Last updated on RxList: 11/13/2007

Alcohol warning: If you consume 3 or more alcoholic drinks every day, ask your doctor whether you should take aspirin or other pain relievers/fever reducers. Aspirin may cause stomach bleeding.

Do not use if you are allergic to aspirin or any other pain reliever/fever reducer

Ask a doctor before use if you have:

• stomach problems (such as heartburn, upset stomach, or stomach pain) that last or come back
  
• bleeding problems
  
• ulcers
  
• asthma

Ask a doctor or pharmacist before use if you are taking a prescription drug for:

• anticoagulation (blood thinning)
  
• gout
  
• diabetes
  
• arthritis

Stop use and ask a doctor if:

• an allergic reaction occurs. Seek medical help right away.
  
• pain gets worse or lasts more than 10 days
  
• redness or swelling is present
  
• fever lasts more than 3 days
  
• new symptoms occur
  
• ringing in the ears or loss of hearing occurs

If pregnant or breast-feeding, ask a health professional before use. It is especially important not to use aspirin during the last 3 months of pregnancy unless definitely directed to do so by a doctor because it may cause problems in the unborn child or complications during delivery.

Keep out of reach of children. In case of overdose, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center right away.

Last updated on RxList: 11/13/2007

IMPORTANT NOTE: This is a summary and does not contain all possible information about this product. For complete information about this product or your specific health needs, ask your health care professional. Always seek the advice of your health care professional if you have any questions about this product or your medical condition. This information is not intended as individual medical advice and does not substitute for the knowledge and judgment of your health care professional. This information does not contain any assurances that this product is safe, effective, or appropriate for you.

ASPIRIN - ORAL

(AS-pir-in)

COMMON BRAND NAME(S): Easprin, Ecotrin, Empirin

USES: Aspirin is used to reduce fever and relieve mild to moderate pain from conditions such as muscle aches, toothaches, common cold, and headaches. It may also be used to reduce pain and swelling in conditions such as arthritis. Aspirin is known as a salicylate and a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). It works by blocking a certain natural substance in your body to reduce pain and swelling. Consult your doctor before treating a child younger than 12 years.

Your doctor may direct you to take a low dose of aspirin to prevent blood clots. This effect reduces the risk of stroke and heart attack. If you have recently had surgery on clogged arteries (such as bypass surgery, carotid endarterectomy, coronary stent), your doctor may direct you to use aspirin in low doses as a "blood thinner" to prevent blood clots.

HOW TO USE: If you are taking this medication for self-treatment, follow all directions on the product package. If you are uncertain about any of the information, consult your doctor or pharmacist. If your doctor has directed you to take this medication, take it exactly as prescribed.

Take this medication by mouth. Drink a full glass of water (8 ounces/240 milliliters) with it unless your doctor tells you otherwise. Do not lie down for at least 30 minutes after you have taken this drug. If stomach upset occurs while you are taking this medication, you may take it with food or milk.

Swallow the enteric-coated and the long-acting forms of this medication whole. Do not chew or crush the medication. Doing so increases the risk of side effects.

The dosage and length of treatment are based on your medical condition and response to treatment. Read the product label to find recommendations on how many tablets you can take in a 24-hour period and how long you may self-treat before seeking medical advice. Do not take more medication or take it for longer than recommended unless directed by your doctor. Consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.

If you are taking this medication for self-treatment of headache, seek immediate medical attention if you also have slurred speech, weakness on one side of the body, or sudden vision changes. Before using this drug, consult a doctor or pharmacist if you have headaches caused by head injury, coughing, or bending, or if you have a headache with persistent/severe vomiting, fever, and stiff neck.

If you are taking this medication as needed (not on a regular schedule), remember that pain medications work best if they are used as the first signs of pain occur. If you wait until the pain has worsened, the medicine may not work as well. Aspirin with a special coating (enteric coating) or slow release may take longer to stop pain because it is absorbed more slowly. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to help select the best type of aspirin for you.

You should not take this medication for self-treatment of pain for longer than 10 days. You should not use this drug to self-treat a fever that lasts longer than 3 days. In these cases, consult a doctor because you may have a more serious condition. Tell your doctor promptly if you develop ringing in the ears or difficulty hearing.

If your condition persists or worsens (such as new or unusual symptoms, redness/swelling of the painful area, pain/fever that does not go away or gets worse) or if you think you may have a serious medical problem, tell your doctor promptly.

SIDE EFFECTS: Upset stomach and heartburn may occur. If either of these effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.

If your doctor has directed you to use this medication, remember that he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.

Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: easy bruising/bleeding, difficulty hearing, ringing in the ears, change in the amount of urine, persistent or severe nausea/vomiting, unexplained tiredness, dizziness, dark urine, yellowing eyes/skin.

This drug may rarely cause serious bleeding from the stomach/intestine or other areas of the body. If you notice any of the following rare but very serious side effects, seek immediate medical attention: black/tarry stools, persistent or severe stomach/abdominal pain, vomit that looks like coffee grounds, slurred speech, weakness on one side of the body, sudden vision changes or severe headache.

A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, seek immediate medical attention if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing.

This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

In the US -

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.

PRECAUTIONS: Before taking aspirin, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or to other salicylates (such as choline salicylate); or to other pain relievers or fever reducers (NSAIDs such as ibuprofen, naproxen); or if you have any other allergies.

This medication should not be used if you have certain medical conditions. Before using this medicine, consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have: bleeding/blood-clotting disorders (such as hemophilia, vitamin K deficiency, low platelet count).

If you have any of the following health problems, consult your doctor or pharmacist before using this medication: kidney disease, liver disease, diabetes, stomach problems (such as ulcers, heartburn, stomach pain), aspirin-sensitive asthma (a history of worsening breathing with runny/stuffy nose after taking aspirin or other NSAIDs), growths in the nose (nasal polyps), gout, certain enzyme deficiencies (pyruvate kinase or G6PD deficiency).

This medicine may cause stomach bleeding. Daily use of alcohol and tobacco, especially when combined with this product, may increase your risk for this side effect. Limit alcoholic beverages, and stop smoking. Check with your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist that you are taking this medication.

Children and teenagers should not take aspirin if they have chickenpox, flu, or any undiagnosed illness or if they have recently received a vaccine. In these cases, taking aspirin increases the risk of Reye's syndrome, a rare but serious illness. Tell your doctor promptly if you see changes in behavior with nausea and vomiting. This may be an early sign of Reye's syndrome.

Older adults may be more sensitive to the side effects of this drug, especially stomach ulcers.

Aspirin is not recommended for use during pregnancy. Consult your doctor before using this medication if you are or think you may be pregnant. Tell your doctor immediately if you become pregnant while taking this medication. Do not use this medication during the last 3 months of pregnancy because of possible harm to the unborn baby or problems during delivery.

Aspirin passes into breast milk and may harm the nursing infant. Breast-feeding while using this drug is not recommended. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

DRUG INTERACTIONS: If you are taking this product under your doctor's direction, your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Before you start taking this medication for self-treatment, consult your doctor or pharmacist if you are also using any prescription and nonprescription medications. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor or pharmacist first.

This drug should not be used with the following medications because very serious interactions may occur: ketorolac, mifepristone.

If you are currently using any of these medications, tell your doctor or pharmacist before starting aspirin.

Before using this product, consult your doctor if you have recently received certain live vaccines (such as varicella vaccine, live flu vaccine).

Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription products you may use, especially of: acetazolamide, bisphosphonates taken by mouth (such as alendronate), "blood thinners" (such as warfarin, heparin), high blood pressure drugs (such as ACE inhibitors such as captopril, beta blockers such as metoprolol), NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, naproxen), corticosteroids (such as prednisone), diabetes drugs (such as chlorpropamide, glyburide), methotrexate, pemetrexed, SSRI antidepressants (such as fluoxetine, sertraline), valproic acid, herbal medications such as ginkgo biloba.

Check all prescription and nonprescription medicine labels carefully since many medications contain pain relievers/fever reducers known as NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, naproxen). To prevent an overdose of aspirin, read the labels carefully before taking other pain relievers or cold products to make sure they do not contain aspirin. Ask your pharmacist about using these products safely.

Daily use of NSAIDs (such as ibuprofen) may decrease aspirin's ability to prevent heart attack/stroke. If you are taking low-dose aspirin for prevention of heart attack/stroke, consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details and to discuss other possible treatments (such as acetaminophen) for your pain/fever.

This medication may interfere with certain laboratory tests (including certain urine sugar tests), possibly causing false test results. Make sure laboratory personnel and all your doctors know you are taking this medication.

This document does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist.

OVERDOSE: If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. US residents can call the US National Poison Hotline at 1-800-222-1222. Canada residents can call a provincial poison control center. Symptoms of overdose may include: burning pain in the throat/stomach, confusion, mental/mood changes, fainting, weakness, ringing in the ears, fever, rapid breathing, change in the amount of urine, seizures, loss of consciousness.

NOTES: If you use this medication regularly or at high doses, laboratory and/or medical tests (such as liver and kidney function tests, blood count, salicylate level) may be performed to monitor your progress or check for side effects. Consult your doctor for more details.

There are many different aspirin products. Some have special coatings and some are long-acting. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to recommend the best product for you.

MISSED DOSE: If your doctor directs you to take this drug on a regular schedule (not just "as needed") and you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not double the dose to catch up.

STORAGE: Store at room temperature between 59-86 degrees F (15-30 degrees C) away from moisture and light. Do not store above 104 degrees F (40 degrees C). Different brands of this medication may have different storage needs. Check the product package for instructions on how to store your brand, or ask your pharmacist. Do not store in the bathroom. Do not use any aspirin product that has a strong vinegar-like smell. Keep all medications away from children and pets.

Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company for more details about how to safely discard your product.

Information last revised October 2009 Copyright(c) 2009 First DataBank, Inc.