Why not aspirin?
 

I was reading Rick Steve's First Aid kit list and keep reading to bring non-aspirin medicine along like tylenol. What's wrong with bringing aspirin? You see I don't know much about medicine.

I would certainly worry more about Tylenol than Asperin. Most of the concerns with asperin is that it thins the blood and if you have a bleed it may make it worse. However I would rather that than take the possible side-effects of any other drug because Asperin can be used effectively for reducing fever as well as a anti-inflamatory drug. I am going on holiday myself, and my husband ( a medical doctor for 40 years ) and I will be taking asperin.

Children under 12 should not take aspirin, perhaps that is why he does not advise it.

I read recently that it is advisable to take aspirin before a long flight. I don't know whether the reasoning is to avoid blood clots or jetlag! I have also read recently that it is advisable to take one baby aspirin daily.(in general...nothing to do with travel) <BR><BR>

One baby aspirin a day (and perhaps any dose of aspirin before a long sedentary plane ride) both are directed at reducing the risk of clot formation. Reducing clot formation also increases the risk of bleeding - - i.e, certain forms of stroke, and gastrointestinal bleeding - - which could be associated with acute (or chronic) alcohol intake - - especially in great quantity.<BR><BR>Acetaminophen (in overdose) is more toxic to liver than aspirin, and thus needs to be taken with caution when alcohol intake is excessive.<BR><BR>All medications have risks, some are worse than others. Your risks depend on your personal health history.<BR><BR>This is not to be construed as medical advice to anyone who reads it. I do not give medical advice to any adult, nor to the parents of any baby that I have not examined.<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex Bickers, M.D.<BR>Fellow, American Academy of Pediatrics<BR>

Why? because Rick is an idiot. He has no idea what is talking about, maybe he should stick with his favorite advise about hiding your money in your pubic hair. As Rex said, aspirin is actually recommended to reduce the risk for clots formation (DVT) during long flights.

Rick was just avoiding a lawsuit in case someone claimed that he told them to take aspirin and they gave it to their kid and the kid got Reyes' syndrome, or in case someone took too much aspirin and claimed he caused their hemorrhage, stroke, or whatever. <BR><BR>For what it's worth, I've found that aspirin "ages" more quickly than acetominiphen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil), and that it's more likely to make my ears ring like telephones.

Aspirin is NOT an anti-inflammatory. <BR><BR>Ibuprofen IS.

What are the chances of forming a blood clot on a trans-Atlantic flight? Would normal movement be just as effective as taking an aspirin? Do you doctors here recommend a younger person to take aspirin? Just curious.

Aspirin is so an anti-inflammatory drug! In fact, it is the oldest anti-inflammatory drug around, dating to 1897! To say it is not an anti-inflammatory is the statement of a misinformed person. <BR><BR>Perhaps Dr. Bickers will speak to this issue. He has the credentials to do so. <BR><BR>Of course pharmacists often know more about drugs than physicians, and any one of thousands of registered pharmacists will tell you that aspirin is one of the most effective anti inflammatories around. Unfortunately it has some bad side effects when used in a high enough dosage to relieve severe inflammatory diseases. On the other hand, some 80 billion aspirin tablets are consumed each year. <BR><BR>I find it interesting, too, that people say that aspirin is a blood thinner, and warn against it, but do not mention the common drug Aleve, which is a non prescription compound of naproxyn sodium. It knocks the platelet count down, too. (Which means the blood cannot clot as effectively. Ibuprofin and other non steroidal anti inflammatories do the same. Which is why most surgeons normally will tell a patient to stop taking of any of these non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs several days before surgery, even dermatologic surgery.) <BR><BR>Acetaminophen is an analgesic and an effective anti-pyretic (fever reducer), but it is not an anti inflammatory agent. <BR>

Normal movement would be fine, but think of doing that in a 10-12 hours flight when you are sandwiched between two other people sleeping.... And aspirin is not specifically recommended for kids, the reference was I believe, regarding the dosage 81 mg of aspirin, better know as baby aspirin.

'ttt<BR>This is fascinating to me. I love to learn about thses things.<BR>I sometimes give my 10 year old a tylenol or similar, does anyone know if this is safe? I am sure I will ask my doc next time, but have thought this was ok (body weight, etc) for about a year.

Would aspririn be indicated for someone suffering the effects of PAS? (pompous ass syndrome)

Doc, what are you THINKING, saying that aspirin is not an anti-inflammatory. Of COURSE it is; it was the first one. Where did you get your degree?

Most pediatricians recommend Tylenol for kids, rather than aspirin or even ibuprofens. No problem there unless your kid has unusual additional chronic problems (kidney or liver). It's what they give in children's hospitals.<BR><BR>Thanks, Bob Brown for informative post. I can't believe the "Doc too" post was written by a doctor -- there is no MD who would ever claim that aspirin is not an anti-inflammatory. I'm not even sure you can get INTO med school without knowing that!!! (Just kidding!)

Yes, as others have clearly corrected, aspirin is the prototype anti-inflammatory drug.<BR><BR>And aspirin is contraindicated for children under age 12 who have high fever associated with chickenpox or influenza. It was never proven whether this combination actually "caused" Reyes syndrome or not - - but the disease essentially disappeared once the universal advice to avoid aspirin in this situation was adopted in widespread fashion. Strong epidemiologic evidence.<BR>

up

Rex's tip re avoiding acetaminophen (Tylenol) when you've been drinking alcohol is a good one. Probably not a concern after a couple of glasses of wine with dinner, but if you've had enough that you're pretty sure you're going to be hung over the next day, don't take acetaminophen as part of your hangover prophylaxis regimen. <BR><BR>And, um, yeah, aspirin is an anti-inflammatory agent.

I managed a cardiologist's practice for many years.... and know many rheumatoid arthritis sufferers....... Rex's advice is right on. But one should ALWAYS check with your M.D. The smallest things can make a difference with an individual.

"There are many different types of NSAIDs, including aspirin and other salicylates. Examples include ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), naproxen (Naprosyn), sulindac (Clinoril), diclofenac (Voltaren), piroxicam (Feldene), ketoprofen (Orudis), diflunisal (Dolobid), nabumetone (Relafen), etodolac (Lodine), oxaprozin (Daypro), indomethacin (Indocin), and newer ones which will be marketed over the next few years. Aspirin is anti-inflammatory when given in high doses, otherwise it is just a pain killer like acetaminophen (Tylenol)." This is from the Lupus Foundation of America.<BR><BR>The dosage you would need to take for aspirin to become anti-inflammatory is way too high, considering the side effects. There are many true anti-inflammatory drugs out there without the risks of such high dosages of aspirin (such as ibuprofen). <BR><BR>As a rule, aspirin is not considered an anti-inflammatory by most people in the medical profession, and certainly not by pharmacists. (I'm a pharmacist.)<BR><BR>Frankly, I'm surprised at you, Rex. You should know better.

I prefer Aspirin because it still works great for a hangover. Many still don't seem to know that Tylenol and alcohol don't mix.

I would rather accept the information of the doctor than that of the pharmacist - thank you very much. Stick to your own vocation please and leave the information about these things to the people who would be prescribing them. You dispense them.<BR>

cherry, you are funny!!<BR><BR>Pharmacists know a heck of a lot more about drugs than doctors do. Think!! Pharmacists not only sell drugs, but they even make some of them. <BR><BR>Oh, cherry, you think you are so smart.

Doctors tend to learn quickly what they don't know and know enough to check it. I've met any number of pharmacists who have no idea what they don't know because they aren't anywhere near the people who are actually sick most of the time. <BR><BR>I have had a pharmacist tell me grapefruit juice has no interactions, that it was all "old wives tales." ANd I was once given a packet of Ritalin! when I went to pick up a lotion for a skin condition -- had my name and the correct drug on the label but it certainly wasn't the right thing inside!<BR><BR>Pharmacists have college plus a year or so of training. They learn a lot about chemistry but they haven't been to medical school and they haven't treated patients. And why on earth would you quote the website for one particular disease for generic information on a drug? Treating lupus with aspirin is, of course, a silly idea. But there are other things -- anti-inflammatory purposes -- for which aspirin is applicable. Why do you suppose it's prescribed to prevent heart problems -- not because it's a pain-killer but because of the particular way it is anti-inflammatory.<BR><BR>Gerroffit.

Maybe he said no asprin because it is harder on the stomach than tylenol, etc?

Aspirin--one pill, half-strengh daily--is to thin the blood enough to prevent clots, not for any anti-inflammatory purpose. <BR><BR> Aspirin is not an anti-inflammatory drug. <BR><BR> Look it up in the PDR. <BR><BR>You have to take a hefty amount before it has any anti-inflammatory properties to speak of. (By the way, someone with Lupus would take aspirin for pain relief--my mother does)

Don't know about Rick Steve's advice. I suspect the answer is not so scientific as you may think. You cannot buy tylenol over-the-counter in many European countries, whereas, I suspect aspirin is readily available.

Hey Liz, your husband's a physician and you can't even spell aspirin? I'd be WAY concerned! Hope you don't have kids. Can you spell infarction? Thrombosis? Asthma? Can you read the labels on prescription bottles? WHOA!!! And NO, aspirin is NOT an anti-inflammatory. Better stick to shopping and home decorating, Liz. <BR><BR>

Hi, Dave. I do have a Physician's Desk Reference and it lists aspirin as an analgesic and anti-inflammatory drug. Is there something Im missing??<BR><BR>It also states that aspirin acts as an anti-inflammatory by its "ability to prevent the manufacture of prostoglandins."<BR><BR>It also states, because of the chance of Reye's Syndome, the Center for Disease Control recommends that children under 17 not take aspirin. They should take acetaminophen-containing products instead.<BR><BR>This is probably why Rick Steve does not recommend it.

<BR>Nice thread, amusing and high spirited, though inconclusive so far. I'm an aspirin man; one a night is supposed to keep the heart surgeon away.<BR>Sorry to ask a dumb question: what is the meaning of "anti-inflammatory?" Examples? Maybe the doctors and pharmacists have a different definition? <BR>

Okay, here's the scoop. <BR><BR>Aspirin IS an an anti-inflammatory agent. It (like ibuprofen and naproxen and all the other NSAIDs, aka non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) works by interrupting one of the central pathways in inflammation, prostaglandin production. Inflammation is your immune system's response to injury and/or infection, and there are plenty of drugs that can minimize it by interrupting others pathways (steroids, for instance). <BR><BR>In the bad old days aspirin WAS used to treat chronic inflammatory conditions (because it was all we had), but the side effect profile was bad (gastrointestinal bleeding being one of the worst), and drug companies have worked hard to manufacture drugs that are more powerful, require less frequent dosing, and don't rip the lining right off of your stomach. Celebrex and Vioxx are advertised as having even less of this side-effect, as they were designed to target the anti-inflammatory arm of prostaglandin synthesis only. <BR><BR>These days aspirin is more likely to be recommended for low level anticoagulation (the baby aspirin thing). <BR><BR>The particular class of drugs (salicylates) to which aspirin belongs, by the way, gets its name from "salix", latin for "willow tree", from which the original drug (not aspirin, it was a later drug made to lessen side effects of the original) was isolated.

I think the reason Rick says not to take Aspirin is because he knows it causes so much bad feeling and nasty comments!!

and how many years of medical school does Rick Steves have?

This is for Rex: I thought that there was a large study that determined that ibuprofen was safe for kids (no Reyes association). Can you add any info. about that? I hate giving the kids Tylenol when they have sinus headaches--in my personal experience, the tissue swelling and pressure need to be relieved, not just the pain.<BR><BR>And by the way, I can give support to clotting deficiencies caused by ibuprofin. Because of severe sinus problems, I took so many ibuprofin for pain over such a length of time that it took a week off of it for my blood to clot enough to get nasel surgery. I had four clotting tests during that time period before they could operate. <BR><BR>Another sidelight--there was a recent study that said ibuprofin can't replace aspirin as a "safe" blood thinner. Instead, taking ibuprofin during the same 12-24 hour time period as the baby aspirin interferes with the healthful benefit of the aspirin. I felt bad when I read that. Even though I must take a baby aspirin a day for anticardiolipid antibodies (they create a propensity for thrombosis), I still love ibruprofin for a pulled muscle. <BR><BR>Don't you wish you could just call up the people the do the studies and ask, "Does this mean I can or can't..."???

This is for Rex: I thought that there was a large study that determined that ibuprofen was safe for kids (no Reyes association). Can you add any info. about that? I hate giving the kids Tylenol when they have sinus headaches--in my personal experience, the tissue swelling and pressure need to be relieved, not just the pain.<BR><BR>And by the way, I can give support to clotting deficiencies caused by ibuprofin. Because of severe sinus problems, I took so many ibuprofin for pain over such a length of time that it took a week off of it for my blood to clot enough to get nasel surgery. I had four clotting tests during that time period before they could operate. <BR><BR>Another sidelight--there was a recent study that said ibuprofin can't replace aspirin as a "safe" blood thinner. Instead, taking ibuprofin during the same 12-24 hour time period as the baby aspirin interferes with the healthful benefit of the aspirin. I felt bad when I read that. Even though I must take a baby aspirin a day for anticardiolipid antibodies (they create a propensity for thrombosis), I still love ibruprofin for a pulled muscle. <BR><BR>Don't you wish you could just call up the people who do the studies and ask, "Does this mean I can or can't..."???

Ibuprofen is indeed approved for children and infants. The FDA reviews the "labeling" of over-the-counter medications directed specifically at children, and these products would not exist for sale in the US without their approval:<BR><BR>Children’s Motrin (ibuprofen) oral suspension 100 mg/5 mL;<BR><BR>Children’s/Junior Strength Motrin (ibuprofen) chewable tablets, 50<BR>and 100 mg;<BR><BR>Junior Strength Motrin (ibuprofen) tablets, 100 mg; and<BR><BR>Childrens Motrin (ibuprofen) drops, 50 mg/1.25 mL.<BR>

up<BR>

Rick Steves is an idiot.

sick of sick of fill-in-the-blank.<BR>

Stop the arguments. Forget both Aspirin and Tylenol. Take 500-1,000 mg of Vitamin C a day, wash your hands frequently and forget colds!