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Anacin[OTC]

Brand Names

; Anacin®[OTC] ; Arthritis Foundation® Pain Reliever [OTC] ; Ascriptin®[OTC] ; Aspergum®[OTC] ; Asprimox®[OTC] ; Bayer® Aspirin [OTC] ; Bayer® Buffered Aspirin [OTC] ; Bayer® Low Adult Strength [OTC] ; Bufferin®[OTC] ; Buffex®[OTC] ; Cama® Arthritis Pain Reliever [OTC] ; Easprin® ; Ecotrin®[OTC] ; Ecotrin® Low Adult Strength [OTC] ; Empirin®[OTC] ; Extra Strength Adprin-B®[OTC] ; Extra Strength Bayer® Enteric 500 Aspirin [OTC] ; Extra Strength Bayer® Plus [OTC] ; Halfprin® 81®[OTC] ; Heartline®[OTC] ; Regular Strength Bayer® Enteric 500 Aspirin [OTC] ; St Joseph® Adult Chewable Aspirin [OTC] ; ZORprin®

Foreign Brand Names

; Apo-ASA® (Canada) ; ASA® (Canada) ; Asaphen (Canada) ; Entrophen® (Canada) ; Novasen® (Canada)

Therapeutic Categories

Salicylate

What key warnings should I know about before taking this medicine?

• Children and teenagers should not use aspirin for flu symptoms or chickenpox.

Reasons not to take this medicine

• If you have an allergy to aspirin, aspirin-like products, or any other part of the medicine.
• If you have any of the following conditions: Asthma, rhinitis, nasal polyps, bleeding problems.
• If you are more than 24 weeks pregnant.
• Do not give to children less than 16 years of age for chickenpox or flu symptoms.

What is this medicine used for?

• This medicine is used for mild to moderate pain, inflammation, and fever.
• It is used to prevent heart attacks.
• It is used to prevent transient ischemic attacks (mini-strokes) and other strokes. It is also used during a stroke in patients who cannot take other blood thinners.
• It is also used for management of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, rheumatic fever, and gout.

How does it work?

• Aspirin decreases inflammation and pain. It blocks production and release of chemicals responsible for pain and swelling. It decreases fever by changing the body's thermostat in the brain.

How is it best taken?

• Oral:
  • Take with or without food. Take with food if this medicine causes an upset stomach.
  • Swallow enteric-coated and sustained-release tablet whole. Do not chew, break, or crush.
  • Chewable tablet can be crushed and put in food or chewed and swallowed.
• Rectal:
  • Use the suppository rectally.

What do I do if I miss a dose?

• Take a missed dose as soon as possible.
• If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed one. Return to your regular schedule.
• Do not take a double dose or extra doses.

What are the precautions when taking this medicine?

• Do not use in children younger than 16 years of age who have chickenpox or flu symptoms.
• If you are 65 or older, you may have more side effects.
• Avoid alcohol (includes wine, beer, and liquor). Can cause stomach irritation.
• If you have had a stomach ulcer or bleeding, tell healthcare provider.
• Avoid other aspirin-containing products, such as, ibuprofen or like products, other blood thinners (warfarin, ticlopidine, clopidogrel), garlic, ginseng, ginkgo, vitamin E.
• You will bleed easily. Be careful. Avoid injury.
• Tell dentists, surgeons, and other healthcare providers about this medicine.
• Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of face, lips, tongue, throat; or any other symptoms involved.
• Tell healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan on getting pregnant.
• Tell healthcare provider if you are breast-feeding.

What are the common side effects of this medicine?

• Nausea or vomiting. Small frequent meals, frequent mouth care, sucking hard candy, or chewing gum may help.
• Belly pain, heartburn.
• Stomach bleeding or ulceration. Watch stools for dark, tarry black color. Talk with healthcare provider.

What should I monitor?

• Follow up with healthcare provider.

Reasons to call healthcare provider immediately

• Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing; tightness in the chest; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits; swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Changes in thinking clearly and logically.
• Severe headache.
• Blood in the stool and toilet bowl or vomiting blood.
• Ringing in the ears, confusion, anger, or hallucinations.
• Any rash.
• No improvement in condition or feeling worse.

How should I store this medicine?

• Store in a tight, light-resistant container at room temperature.

General statements

• Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's medicine.
• Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.
• Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, herbal/supplements, vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider (doctor, nurse, pharmacist, physician assistant).
• Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine, including over-the-counter or natural products (herbs, vitamins).