Dispersible Aspirin 75mg Tablets
Out of date information, search anotherSUMMARY OF PRODUCT CHARACTERISTICS
1 NAME OF THE MEDICINAL PRODUCT
Dispersible Aspirin 75mg Tablets
2 QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE COMPOSITION
Each tablet contains Aspirin BP 75.0mg For a full list of excipients see section 6.1
3 PHARMACEUTICAL FORM
White, flat circular tablets, plain on one side and marked “F” on the other side.
4 CLINICAL PARTICULARS
4.1 Therapeutic indications
Mild to moderate pain.
4.2 Posology and method of administration
Adults: 4 tablets every four hours, or as directed by a doctor. Not more than 6 doses in 24 hours.
Elderly: There is no evidence that the dose should differ.
Children: Do not give to children under 16 years, unless specifically indicated (e.g. for Kawasaki’s disease).
For oral administration.
4.3 Contraindications
• Hypersensitivity to aspirin or any other NSAIDs, or any of the excipients (see section 6.1)
• Active peptic ulceration or history of peptic ulceration
• Haemophilia, other coagulopathies including hypoprothrombinaemia or concurrent anticoagulant therapy
• Gout
• Do not give to children aged under 16 years, unless specifically indicated (e.g. for Kawasaki's disease).
4.4 Special warnings and precautions for use
Caution should be exercised in patients with allergic disease, impairment of hepatic or renal function (avoid if severe) and dehydration.
Aspirin may also precipitate bronchospasm or induce attacks of asthma in susceptible subjects.
The elderly may be more susceptible to the toxic effects of salicylates. Continuous prolonged use of aspirin should be avoided in the elderly because of the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding.
Caution should be taken in patients with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency as haemolytic anaemia may occur.
Aspirin may interfere with insulin and glucagon in diabetes.
Aspirin prolongs bleeding time, mainly by inhibiting platelet aggregation and therefore it should be discontinued several days before scheduled surgical procedures. Haematological & haemorrhagic effects can occur, and may be severe. Patients should report any unusual bleeding symptoms to their physician.
There is a possible association between aspirin and Reye’s Syndrome when given to children. Reye ’s syndrome is a very rare disease which affects the brain and liver, and can be fatal. For this reason aspirin should not be given to children under 16 years unless specifically indicated (e.g. Kawasaki’s disease).
Salicylates should not be used in patients with a history of coagulation abnormalities as they may also induce gastro-intestinal haemorrhage, occasionally major. (see section 4.3)
Aspirin should not be taken by patients with a stomach ulcer or a history of stomach ulcers. (see section 4.3)
Before commencing long-term aspirin therapy for the management of cardiovascular or cerebrovascular disease patients should consult their doctor who can advise on the relative benefits versus the risks for the individual patient.
Patients with hypertension should be carefully monitored.
4.5 Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction
Anticoagulants: Aspirin may potentiate the effect of heparin and increases the risk of bleeding with oral anticoagulants, antiplatelet agents and fibrinolytics. Concomitant use is not recommended (see Section 4.3).
Cilostazol appears not to interact to a clinically relevant extent with low -dose aspirin. Manufacturer of cilostazol recommends dose of aspirin should not exceed 80 mg daily when given with cilostazol.
Other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): Concurrent administration can increase side effects. Use of two or more NSAIDs increases risk of gastrointestinal haemorrhage. Experimental data suggest that ibuprofen may inhibit the effect of low dose aspirin on platelet aggregation when they are dosed concomitantly. However, the limitations of these data and the uncertainties regarding extrapolation of ex vivo data to the clinical situation imply that no firm conclusions can be made for regular ibuprofen use, and no clinically relevant effect is considered to be likely for occasional ibuprofen use (see section 5.1).
Aspirin may decrease the plasma concentration of some other NSAIDs, for example, fenbufen, indometacin, and piroxicam .
Corticosteroids: The risk of gastrointestinal bleeding and ulceration is increased. Corticosteroids reduce the plasma salicylate concentration and salicylate toxicity may occur following withdrawal of corticosteroids.
Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors: Reduced excretion of acetazolamide; salicylate intoxication has occurred in patients on high dose salicylate regimes and carbonic anhydrase inhibitors. Concurrent administration of carbonic anhydrase inhibitors such as acetazolamide and salicylates may result in severe acidosis and increased central nervous system toxicity.
Antacids and adsorbents: The excretion of aspirin is increased in alkaline urine; kaolin possibly reduces absorption. Patients should be advised against ingesting antacids simultaneously to avoid premature drug release.
Mifepristone: The manufacturer of mifepristone recommends that aspirin should be avoided until eight to twelve days after mifepristone has been discontinued.
Antimetabolites: The activity of methotrexate may be markedly enhanced and its toxicity increased.
Antibacterials: The toxicity of sulfonamides may be increased.
Alcohol: Some of the effects of aspirin on the gastrointestinal tract are enhanced by alcohol.
Antiemetics: Metoclopramide enhances the effects of aspirin by increasing the rate of absorption.
ACE inhibitors: Aspirin may reduce the antihypertensive effect of ACE inhibitors. Anti-epileptics: May enhance the effects of phenytoin and sodium valproate.
Diuretics: Antagonism of the diuretic effect of spironolactone.
Hypoglycaemic agents: Aspirin may enhance the effects of insulin and oral hypoglycaemic agents.
Leukotriene antagonists: The plasma concentration of zafirlukast is increased. Uricosurics: Effect of probenecid and sulfinpyrazone may be reduced.
Thyroid function tests: Aspirin may interfere with thyroid function tests.
4.6 Pregnancy and lactation
Pregnancy:
Although clinical and epidemiological evidence suggests the safety of aspirin for use in pregnancy, caution should be exercised when considering use in pregnant patients. Maternal use of aspirin prior to birth may increase the risk of intracranial haemorrhage in premature or low birth weight infants and may contribute to maternal and neonatal bleeding. Regular use of high does could impair platelet function and produce hypoprothrombinaemia in the infant if neonatal Vitamin K stores are low.
Prolonged pregnancy & labour, with increased bleeding before & after delivery, decreased birth weight and increased rate of stillbirth have been reported with high blood salicylate levels. With high doses there may be premature closure of the ductus arteriosus and possible persistent pulmonary hypertension in the newborn. Analgesic doses of aspirin should be avoided during the last trimester of pregnancy.
Lactation:
As aspirin is excreted in breast milk, Aspirin should not be taken by patients who are breast-feeding, as there is a risk of Reye's syndrome in the infant. High maternal doses may impair platelet function in the infant.
4.7 Effects on ability to drive and use machines
Aspirin does not usually affect the ability to drive or operate machinery.
4.8 Undesirable effects
Side effects are generally mild and infrequent:
Blood and the lymphatic system disorders: Aspirin prolongs bleeding time, decreases platelet adhesiveness and, in large doses, may cause hypoprothrombinaemia. Thrombocytopenia may also occur. Bleeding disorders such as epistaxis, haematuria, purpura, ecchymoses, haemoptysis, gastrointestinal bleeding, haematoma and cerebral haemorrhage have occasionally been reported. Fatalities have occurred. Haemolytic anaemia can occur in patients with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency.
Immune system disorder: Hypersensitivity reactions include skin rashes, urticaria, angioedema, asthma, bronchospasm, rhinitis and rarely anaphylaxis.
Ear & Labyrinth disorder: Tinnitus.
Gastrointestinal disorders: Gastrointestinal irritation is common in patients taking aspirin preparations, and nausea, vomiting dyspepsia, gastritis, gastrointestinal erosions and ulceration have been reported. Anaemia may occur following chronic gastrointestinal blood loss or acute haemorrhage.
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders: Skin reactions may occur in susceptible patients.
Renal and Urinary disorders: urate kidney stones
Association with Reye’s Syndrome in children can lead to hearing disturbances (such as tinnitus), vertigo or mental confusion.
4.9 Overdose
Salicylate poisoning is usually associated with plasma concentrations >350 mg/L (2.5mmol/L). Most adult deaths occur in patients whose concentrations exceed 700mg/L (5.1mmol/L). Single doses less than 100 mg/kg are unlikely to cause serious poisoning.
Symptoms
Common features include vomiting, dehydration, tinnitus, vertigo, deafness, sweating, warm extremities with bounding pulses, increased respiratory rate and hyperventilation. Some degree of acid-base disturbance is present in most cases.
A mixed respiratory alkalosis and metabolic acidosis with normal or high arterial pH (normal or reduced hydrogen ion concentration) is usual in adults and children over the age of four years. In children aged four years or less, a dominant metabolic acidosis with low arterial pH (raised hydrogen ion concentration) is common. Acidosis may increase salicylate transfer across the blood brain barrier.
Uncommon features include haematemesis, hyperpyrexia, hypoglycaemia, hypokalaemia, thrombocytopaenia, increased INR/PTR, intravascular coagulation, renal failure and non-cardiac pulmonary oedema.
Central nervous system features including confusion, disorientation, coma and convulsions are less common in adults than in children.
Management
Give activated charcoal if an adult presents within one hour of ingestion of more than 250 mg/kg. The plasma salicylate concentration should be measured, although the severity of poisoning cannot be determined from this alone and the clinical and biochemical features must be taken into account. Elimination is increased by urinary alkalinisation, which achieved by the administration of 1.26% sodium bicarbonate. The urine pH should be monitored. Correct metabolic acidosis with intravenous 8.4% sodium bicarbonate (first check serum potassium). Forced diuresis should not be used since it does not enhance salicylate excretion and may cause pulmonary oedema.
Haemodialysis is the treatment of choice for severe poisoning and should be considered in patients with plasma salicylate concentrations >700 mg/L (5.1mmol/L), or lower concentrations associated with severe clinical or metabolic features. Patients under ten years or over 70 have increased risk of salicylate toxicity and may require dialysis at an earlier stage.
5 PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES
5.1 Pharmacodynamic properties
B01A C (blood and blood forming organs - antithrombotic agents)
Aspirin has analgesic, anti-inflammatory and anti-pyretic activity. It also has an antithrombotic action, mediated through inhibition of platelet activation, which has been shown to be useful in secondary prophylaxis following myocardial infarction and in patients with unstable angina or ischaemic stroke including cerebral transient attacks.
In the body it is rapidly converted to the salicylate form which has similar activity and works via the inhibition of the enzyme cyclo-oxygenase inhibiting prostaglandin synthesis.
Experimental data suggest that ibuprofen may inhibit the effect of low dose aspirin on platelet aggregation when they are dosed concomitantly. In one study, when a single dose of ibuprofen 400mg was taken within 8 hours before or within 30 minutes after immediate release aspirin (81mg), a decreased effect of aspirin on the formation of thromboxane or platelet aggregation occurred. However, the limitations of these data and the uncertainties regarding extrapolation of ex vivo data to the clinical situation imply that no firm conclusions can be made for regular ibuprofen use, and no clinically relevant effect is considered to be likely for occasional ibuprofen use.
5.2 Pharmacokinetic properties Absorption:
Absorption of non-ionised aspirin occurs in the stomach.
Aspirin is rapidly absorbed after oral administration, with some hydrolysis to salicylate before absorption. Absorption is delayed by the presence of food and is impaired in patients suffering migraine attacks. Absorption is more rapid in patients with achlorhydria and also following administration of polysorbates and antacids.
Acetylsalicylates and salicylates are also readily absorbed from the intestine. Hydrolysis to salicylic acid occurs rapidly in the intestine and in the circulation.
Distribution:
Aspirin and salicylates are rapidly distributed to all body tissues.
Aspirin is found in the saliva, milk, plasma and synovial fluid at concentrations less than blood and crosses the placenta.
Salicylate -extensive protein binding.
Aspirin -protein binding to a small extent.
Metabolism:
In the blood, rapid hydrolysis to salicylic acid; glucuronic acid/ glycine conjugation to form glucuronides and salicyluronic acid; oxidation of a small proportion.
Excretion:
The rate of excretion of aspirin varies as the pH rises, being greatest at pH 7.5 and above. Aspirin is also excreted as salicylic acid and as glucuronide conjugate, and as salicyluric and gentisic acid.
Excreted in the urine mainly as salicyluronic acid. Salicylate reabsorbed by renal tubules in acid urine, and alkaline diuresis will increase the rate of excretion; 85% of dose excreted as free salicylate.
5.3 Preclinical safety data
None applied on the basis of the active ingredient being a well known and marketed compound with an established efficacy and side effect profile.
6 PHARMACEUTICAL PARTICULARS
6.1 List of excipients
Starch
Sodium saccharin Lactose Citric acid Calcium carbonate Talc
Sodium lauryl sulphate.
6.2 Incompatibilities
None known.
6.3 Shelf life
2 years.
Special precautions for storage
6.4
Store in a cool dry place protected from light below 25°C.
6.5 Nature and Contents of Container
Securitainers or opaque plastic screw capped containers containing 50, 100, or 1000 tablets.
Blister packs of 24 and 28 tablets.
6.6 Special precautions for disposal
Not applicable.
7 MARKETING AUTHORISATION HOLDER
Mercury Pharma (Generics) Ltd Capital House, 85 King William Street,
London EC4N 7BL, UK
8 MARKETING AUTHORISATION NUMBER(S)
PL 16201/0008
9 DATE OF FIRST AUTHORISATION/RENEWAL OF THE AUTHORISATION
22 July 1999
10 DATE OF REVISION OF THE TEXT
17/01/2014
Clean Copy of the SPC fragment 10