Patient/caregiver was educated on the side-effects of using aspirin as follows:
Gastrointestinal side-effects
- Aspirin use can result in common general constitutional symptoms such as, nausea, vomiting, and burning sensation of stomach, especially when taken on empty stomach. Taking dose of aspirin with a glass of water, after having some food or a snack, can help avoid having unpleasant gastrointestinal symptoms with the medication.
- Prostaglandin are chemical mediators playing an important role in promoting pain and inflammation. Aspirin, by inhibiting prostaglandin synthesis, helps with pain relief. Prostaglandins, apart from mediating pain and inflammation, also help increase the secretion of mucus, which forms a protective layer on the inner lining of stomach and intestines.
- Aspirin, by inhibiting the prostaglandin synthesis, inhibits the formation of protective mucus cover on the inner lining of the stomach. Deficient mucus cover on the inner lining of stomach can result in irritation of the stomach lining. Thus, aspirin can induce some burning sensation and stomach upset, especially when taken on empty stomach.
- Individuals with history of gastric ulcers can present with activation of the ulcer, secondary to aspirin intake, which can result in episodes of gastric bleeding. They can also present with black tarry stools and/or vomit that looks like coffee grounds, due to the partially digested blood.
Other constitutional side-effects
- Prostaglandins also result in peripheral vasoconstriction, reduced sweating, elevation of body temperature, and generation of fever. By inhibiting the prostaglandin synthesis, aspirin can result in peripheral vasodilation, sweating, dissipation of heat, and control of fever.
- Aspirin use, especially when taken in high dose, can result in tinnitus or ringing sensation in the ears and progressive hearing loss.
