Patient/caregiver was educated on precautions to be exercised while taking aspirin as follows:
- Aspirin use can result in tinnitus or ringing sensation in the ears and progressive hearing loss, especially when taken in high dose. Report to your physician regarding any compromise with the hearing and ringing sensation in the ears, so that, aspirin could be discontinued or dose changed and an alternative plan of care considered.
- Prolonged intake of high doses of aspirin can compromise blood flow to the kidneys, thus significantly increasing the risk for progressive kidney damage and renal failure. If you are on aspirin on a daily basis, keep a watch on the volume of urine excreted. Report to your physician regarding any progressive compromise with the urine volume, so that, a change in plan of care or dose of aspirin could be considered.
- If you are being scheduled for any surgical procedure, aspirin must be discontinued, before the scheduled date for surgery. Aspirin can be started back again after the surgical procedure, upon your doctor’s recommendation. Discuss with your doctors and other health care team members regarding your schedule upon discontinuing aspirin intake and starting back on it.
- Periodical labs could be ordered, while taking aspirin, to evaluate for liver and renal functions. Also, risk for bleeding and clot formation could be periodically evaluated, to determine the safe therapeutic dose of aspirin intake. Observe compliance with any lab draws ordered.
