Aspirin Tablets Bp 300mg
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Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this
medicine.
• Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
• If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
• This medicine has been prescribed for you. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their symptoms are the same as yours.
Index
What Aspirin tablets are and what they are used for
[2 Before you take [3 How to take 14 Possible side effects 4 How to store 4 Further information
1 What Aspirin tablets are and what they are used for
Aspirin tablets belong to a group of medicines which have analgesic (pain relieving), anti-inflammatory (inflammation reducing) and antipyretic (temperature reducing) properties.
These tablets may be used for the relief of:
• headache, toothache, migraine, neuralgia (nerve pain), sore throat or period pains.
• symptoms of influenza, feverishness, rheumatic pains, sciatica (nerve pain of the leg/back), lumbago (lower back pain), fibrositis (muscular rheumatism), muscular aches and pains.
The tablets may also be used to prevent blood clots especially after a heart attack or in patients with unstable angina or reduced blood flow in the brain.
4 Before you take
Do not take Aspirin tablets and tell your doctor if you have:
• an allergy (hypersensitivity) to aspirin, salicylates or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or other ingredients in the product. You may have developed difficulty breathing, a runny nose, itchy skin or swelling after taking aspirin or a NSAID previously (see section 6)
• a stomach ulcer or a history of ulcers or indigestion
• nasal polyps associated with asthma
• haemophilia or other blood clotting disorder or are taking medicines to thin the blood
• severe liver or severe kidney problems or severe heart failure
• are in the last 3 months of pregnancy
• a child under 16 years old
• taking methotrexate (15mg a week
Important warning:
There is a possible association between aspirin and Reye's Syndrome when given to children. Reye's syndrome is a very rare disease, which can be fatal. For this reason aspirin should not be given to children aged under 16 years, unless on the advice of a doctor e.g. for Kawasaki's Disease.
Taking a painkiller for headaches too often or for too long can make them worse.
Check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking Aspirin tablets if you:
• have asthma or allergies
• have heart, liver or kidney problems or gout
• have an overactive thyroid gland
• are dehydrated (you may feel thirsty and have a headache, dry mouth and lips)
• have anaemia or suffer from a deficiency of the enzyme glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) this can cause episodes of anaemia after eating certain foods such as fava beans (favism)
• have systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or other connective tissue disease
• are elderly
• have had any disorders affecting blood vessels in the brain
• have received a varicella (chickenpox) vaccination within the last 6 weeks
• are planning to become pregnant
• have heavy bleeding during your periods
• have a history of stomach ulcers
• have chronic respiratory disease
• have hypertension
• taking deferasirox (a medicine to remove excess iron from the body)
Taking other medicines
Please tell your doctor or pharmaast if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription. Especially:
• warfarin, coumarin, heparin, dipyridamole and clopidogrel (used to prevent blood clotting)
• metoclopramide or domperidone (to prevent sickness)
• diuretics ("water tablets") such as spironolactone, furosemide, acetazolamide (to treat high blood pressure)
• medicines which make your urine more alkaline such as antacids, citrates
• probenecid (to treat gout)
• methotrexate (to treat some cancers, psoriasis and rheumatic disease)
• sulfonylureas (antidiabetics)
• phenytoin or sodium valproate (to treat epilepsy)
• corticosteroids (to suppress the immune system)
• mifepristone (to induce abortion)
• other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs - NSAIDs (such as ibuprofen or naproxen)
• vancomycin (medicines which can cause hearing problems)
• medicines to treat high blood pressure such as ACE inhibitors (e.g. enalapril, lisinopril, perindopril), Calcium channel blockers (e.g. amlodipine, diltiazem, nifedipine)
• SSRIs such as sertraline or paroxetine (medicines to treat depression)
• varicella (chickenpox) vaccine. Aspirin should be avoid for 6 weeks after vaccination
• herbal medicines containing ginkgo biloba.
• digoxin (to treat heart problems)
• lithium (to treat depression)
• acetazolamide (to treat glaucoma)
• cyclosporine, tacrolimus (used to prevent organ rejection)
• alcohol
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Pregnancy and breast-feeding
Avoid taking Aspirin tablets during pregnancy especially in the last 3 months of pregnancy or whilst breast-feeding. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.
Surgery and tests
If you need to have an operation including having your teeth removed or blood and urine tests, tell your doctor or dentist you are taking this medicine.
How to take
Always take Aspirin tablets exactly as your doctor has told you.
If you are not sure, check with your doctor or pharmacist.
Avoid alcohol whilst taking this medicine.
Swallow the tablets with a glass of water.
Doses:
Adults, including the elderly; 1 or 2 tablets every 3 to 4 hours as required. No more than 12 tablets in any 24 hour period.
Children under 16 years old Not recommended.
For prevention of blood clots: 1 tablet once a day.
If you take more than you should
If you (or someone else) swallow a lot of tablets at the same time, or you think a child may have swallowed any contact your nearest hospital casualty department or tell your doctor immediately. Symptoms of an overdose include ringing in the ears, spinning sensation, fast breathing rate, changes in some of the chemicals in the body, heart failure, changes in body temperature resulting dehydration, restlessness, fits, hallucination (seeing or hearing things that are not there), headache, hearing problems, confusion, feeling or being sick, stomach pain or coma.
If you forget to take the tablets
Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose. If you forget to take a dose take it as soon as you remember it and then take the next dose at the right time. Do not take more than one dose in any 4 hour period.
Possible side effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Stop taking this medicine and contact a doctor immediately if you have any of the following:
• Difficulty breathing
• Severe allergic reactions (blistered skin, swelling of the face, lips, throat or tongue, difficulty breathing, worsening of asthma, shock)
• Severe rash involving reddening, peeling and swelling of the skin that resembles severe burns (Lyells syndrome) or severe rash, blisters, or red patches on the skin (Stevens-Johnson syndrome)
• Bleeding on the brain (sudden severe headache, fit, changes in vision, speaking, understanding or coordination, weakness in an arm or leg)
• Stomach ulcers or bleeding which can be severe (you may develop bloody or black tarry stools, severe stomach pain and vomit blood), stomach irritation (mild stomach pain, heartburn and feeling or being sick) and inflammation of the liver
• Salicylism - if you take large doses for a long time you may develop symptoms of salicylism, these include: dizziness, ringing or buzzing in the ear, deafness, sweating, feeling or being sick, headache and confusion.
• Hepatitis (inflammation of the liver causing yellowing of the skin or eyes or tiredness, pain in abdomen, joint or muscles)
Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following side effects or notice any other effects not listed:
Common: may affect up to 1 in 10 people
• Increase in the number of nose bleeds, longer bleeding time or notice that you bruise more easily or have more infections talk to your doctor.
• Indigestion
Uncommon: may affect up to 1 in 100 people
• Runny nose
• Itchy skin rash caused by allergic reaction- pale or red irregular raised patches with severe itching (hives)
Rare: may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people
• Anaemia, changes in numbers and types of blood cells and enzymes seen in blood tests
• Difficulty breathing or wheezing, worsening of asthma
• Heavy periods
• irregular red patches on the skin of the hands and arms (erythema multiforme)
• Disorder characterised by blood spots, bruising and discolouring to skin (Purpura)
• Bleeding in the skin, mucous membranes
• Red tender lumps developing under the skin (Erythema nodosum)
Not known: frequency cannot be estimated from the available data
• Gout (high levels of uric acid in the blood)- causing crystals to deposit in joints of hands/feet causing pain (Hyperuricemia)
• Nosebleeds, bleeding of the gums, which may be prolonged.
(Please advise doctor or dentist if surgery is planned)
• Reduction of red blood cells which can make the skin pale and cause weakness or breathlessness (anaemia), Reduction in red blood cells which cause pale yellow skin and weakness or breathlessness (haemolytic anaemia), blood disorder resulting in impaired blood clotting leading to an increased risk of bleeding, reduced number in red and white blood cells, blood loss, elevated blood enzymes levels (as seen in blood test)
• Headache
• Feeling of dizziness or spinning
• Hearing loss, Ringing or buzzing in the ears
• Liver problems
• Reduced kidney function
Additional side effects in children
Aspirin may be associated with the development of a condition called Reye's Syndrome, which causes severe liver and brain damage.
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard
By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
How to store
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
Store the tablets below 25°C in a dry place.
Do not use Aspirin tablets after the expiry date stated on the label/carton/bottle. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required. These measures will help to protect the environment.
Further information
What Aspirin tablets contain
• The active substance (the ingredient that makes the tablets work) is 300mg aspirin (also known as acetylsalicylic acid).
• The other ingredients are maize starch, purified talc (E553).
What Aspirin tablets look like and contents of the pack
Aspirin are white, uncoated tablets.
Pack sizes are 28 tablets.
Marketing Authorisation Holder and manufacturer
Actavis, Barnstaple, EX32 8NS, UK.
This leaflet was last revised in June 2014
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Actavis Barnstaple EX32 8NS
AAAH0533 50814424