Student Nurses’ Community

DRUG STUDY- Aspirin

Drug Name Dosage & Route Action Indication Adverse Effects Contraindication Nursing responsibility
Aspirin Available in oral and Analgesic and • Mild to • Acute aspirin • Contraindicated • BLACK BOX
suppository forms. antirheumatic moderate pain toxicity: with allergy to WARNING: Do not
(ass' pir in) Also available as effects are • Fever Respiratory salicylates or use in children and
chewable tablets, attributable to • Inflammatory alkalosis, NSAIDs (more teenagers to treat
gum; enteric coated, aspirin's ability to conditions— hyperpnea, common with chickenpox or flu
Apo-ASA (CAN),
SR, and buffered inhibit the rheumatic tachypnea, nasal polyps, symptoms without
Aspergum, Bayer,
preparations (SR synthesis of fever, hemorrhage, asthma, chronic review for Reye’s
Easprin, Ecotrin,
aspirin is not prostaglandins, rheumatoid excitement, urticaria); allergy syndrome, a rare
Empirin,
recommended for important arthritis, confusion, to tartrazine but fatal disorder.
Entrophen (CAN),
antipyresis, short- mediators of osteoarthritis asterixis, (cross-sensitivity • Give drug with food
Genprin, Halfprin
term analgesia, or inflammation. pulmonary edema, to aspirin is
81, 1/2 Halfprin,
children < 12 yr.) Antipyretic effects • Reduction of or after meals if GI
Heartline, risk of seizures, tetany, common); upset occurs.
are not fully metabolic acidosis, hemophilia,
Norwich, recurrent TIAs • Give drug with full
ADULTS understood, but fever, coma, CV bleeding ulcers,
Novasen (CAN), or stroke in glass of water to
aspirin probably collapse, renal and hemorrhagic
PMS-ASA (CAN), males with reduce risk of tablet
acts in the respiratory failure states, blood
ZORprin • Minor aches and history of TIA or capsule lodging
thermoregulatory (dose related, 20– coagulation
pains: 325–650 due to fibrin in the esophagus.
center of the 25 g in adults, 4 g defects,
Buffered aspirin mg q 4 hr. platelet emboli • Do not crush, and
hypothalamus to in children) hypoprothrombine
products: • Arthritis and block effects of • Reduction of ensure that patient
rheumatic endogenous risk of death or • Aspirin mia, vitamin K does not chew SR
conditions: 3.2–6 intolerance: deficiency preparations.
Alka-Seltzer, pyrogen by nonfatal MI in
g/day in divided Exacerbation of (increased risk of
Ascriptin, inhibiting synthesis patients with • Do not use aspirin
doses. bronchospasm, bleeding)
Asprimox, of the history of that has a strong
Bufferin, Buffex, • Acute rheumatic prostaglandin infarction or rhinitis (with nasal • Use cautiously vinegar-like odor.
Magnaprin fever: 5–8 g/day; intermediary. unstable polyps, asthma, with impaired • WARNING:
modify to Inhibition of platelet angina pectoris rhinitis) renal function;
Institute emergency
Classification: maintain serum aggregation is • MI prophylaxis • GI: Nausea, chickenpox,
procedures if
salicylate level of attributable to the • Unlabeled use: dyspepsia, influenza (risk of
overdose occurs:
15–30 mg/dL. inhibition of platelet heartburn, Reye's syndrome
• Antipyretic Prophylaxis Gastric lavage,
• TIAs in synthesis of epigastric in children and
• Analgesic against induction of emesis,
men:1,300 thromboxane A2, a discomfort, teenagers);
(nonopioid) cataract activated charcoal,
mg/day in potent anorexia, children with fever
formation with supportive therapy.
• Anti- divided doses vasoconstrictor accompanied by
long-term use hepatotoxicity
inflammatory (650 mg bid or and inducer of dehydration;
• Hematologic: Teaching points
• Antirheumatic 325 mg qid). platelet
Occult blood loss,
surgery
• MI prophylaxis: aggregation. This scheduled within
• Antiplatelet hemostatic defects 1 wk; pregnancy • Take extra
75–325 mg/day. effect occurs at low
• Salicylate doses and lasts for • Hypersensitivity: (maternal anemia, precautions to keep
• NSAID the life of the Anaphylactoid antepartal and this drug out of the
platelet (8 days). reactions to postpartal reach of children;
Student Nurses’ Community

Higher doses anaphylactic shock hemorrhage,

inhibit the • Salicylism: prolonged this drug can be
synthesis of Dizziness, tinnitus, gestation, and very dangerous for
prostacyclin, a difficulty hearing, prolonged labor children.
PEDIATRIC
potent vasodilator nausea, vomiting, have been • Use the drug only
PATIENTS
and inhibitor of diarrhea, mental reported; readily as suggested;
platelet confusion, crosses the avoid overdose.
• Analgesic and aggregation. placenta; possibly
lassitude (dose Avoid the use of
antipyretic: teratogenic;
related) other over-the-
65 mg/kg per 24 maternal counter drugs while
hr in four to six ingestion of taking this drug.
divided doses, aspirin during late Many of these
not to exceed pregnancy has drugs contain
3.6 g/day. been associated aspirin, and serious
Dosage with the following overdose can
recommendation adverse fetal occur.
s by age: effects: low birth • Take the drug with
weight, increased
food or after meals
Age Dosage intracranial
if GI upset occurs.
(yr) hemorrhage,
• Do not cut, crush,
(mg q 4 hr) stillbirths,
neonatal death); or chew sustained-
2–3 162 release products.
lactation.
4–5 243 • Over-the-counter
6–8 324 aspirins are
9–10 405 equivalent. Price
11 486 does not reflect
³ 12 648 effectiveness.
• You may
• Juvenile experience these
rheumatoid side effects:
arthritis: 60–110 Nausea, GI upset,
mg/kg per 24 hr heartburn (take
in divided doses drug with food);
at 6- to 8-hr easy bruising, gum
intervals. bleeding (related to
Maintain a serum aspirin's effects on
level of 150–300 blood clotting).
mcg/mL. • Report ringing in
the ears; dizziness,
• Acute rheumatic
confusion;
fever: Initially, abdominal pain;
100 mg/kg/day, rapid or difficult
then decrease to
Student Nurses’ Community

75 mg/kg/day for breathing; nausea,

4–6 wk. vomiting, bloody
Therapeutic stools.
serum salicylate
level is 150–
300 mg/dL.
• Kawasaki
disease: 80–
180 mg/kg/day;
very high doses
may be needed
during acute
febrile period;
after fever
resolves, dosage
may be adjusted
to 10 mg/kg/day.