Dr. Ogbru received his Doctorate in Pharmacy from the University of the Pacific School of Pharmacy in 1995. He completed a Pharmacy Practice Residency at the University of Arizona/University Medical Center in 1996. He was a Professor of Pharmacy Practice and a Regional Clerkship Coordinator for the University of the Pacific School of Pharmacy from 1996-99.
Jay W. Marks, MD, is a board-certified internist and gastroenterologist. He graduated from Yale University School of Medicine and trained in internal medicine and gastroenterology at UCLA/Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
BRAND NAMES: Aspirin, Arthritis Foundation Safety Coated Aspirin, Bayer
Aspirin, Bayer Children's Aspirin, Ecotrin, and many others.
DRUG CLASS AND MECHANISM: Aspirin is a
nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug
(NSAID) effective in treating fever, pain, and inflammation in the body. It also
prevents blood clots (i.e., is antithrombotic). As a group, NSAIDs are
non-narcotic relievers of mild to moderate pain of many causes, including
headaches, injury, menstrual cramps,
arthritis, and other musculoskeletal
conditions. Other members of this class include ibuprofen (Motrin), indomethacin
(Indocin), nabumetone (Relafen) and several others. They all work by reducing
the levels of prostaglandins, chemicals that are released when there is
inflammation and that cause pain and fever. NSAIDs block the enzyme that makes
prostaglandins (cyclooxygenase), resulting in lower concentrations of
prostaglandins. As a consequence, inflammation, pain, and fever are reduced.
Inhibition of prostaglandins also reduces the function of platelets and the
ability of blood to clot. Aspirin, inhibits the function of platelets in a
manner that is different from other NSAIDs, and its antithrombotic effects last
longer than other NSAIDs. This is why aspirin is used for preventing
heart
attacks and strokes. The FDA approved Bayer aspirin in June 1965.
PRESCRIPTION: No
GENERIC AVAILABLE: Yes
PREPARATIONS: Chewable tablets: 81mg; caplets and tablets: 325mg, 500mg;
enteric coated (safety coated) caplets and tablets: 325mg, 500mg.
STORAGE: Aspirin should be stored at room temperature, 20-25 C (68-77 F), in
a sealed container, avoiding moisture.
DOSING: Aspirin should be taken with food. Doses range from 50 mg to 6000 mg
daily depending on the use.
Usual doses for mild to moderate pain are 350 or 650
mg every 4 hours or 500 mg every 6 hours.
Doses for rheumatoid arthritis include
500 mg every 4-6 hours; 650 mg every 4 hours; 1000 mg every 4-6 hours; 1950 mg
twice daily.
Heart attacks are prevented with 81, 162 or 325 mg daily.
DRUG INTERACTIONS: Aspirin is associated with several suspected or
probable
interactions that affect the action of other drugs. The following examples are
the most common of the suspected interactions.
NSAIDs may increase the blood levels of lithium (Eskalith) by reducing the
excretion of lithium by the kidneys. Increased levels of lithium may lead to
lithium toxicity.
There are many causes of back pain. Pain in the low back can relate to the bony lumbar spine, discs between the vertebrae, ligaments around the spine and discs, spinal cord and nerves, muscles of the low back, internal organs of the pelvis and abdomen, and the skin covering the lumbar area.
Night sweats are severe hot flashes that occur at night and result in a drenching sweat. In order to distinguish night sweats that arise from medical causes from those that occur because one's surroundings are too warm, doctors generally refer to true night sweats as severe hot flashes occurring at night that can drench sleepwear and sheets, which are not related to an overheated environment.
Migraine is usually periodic attacks of headaches on one or both sides of the head. These may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, increased sensitivity of the eyes to light (photophobia), increased sensitivity to sound (phonophobia), dizziness, blurred vision, cognitive disturbances, and other symptoms. Treatments for migraine headache include therapies that may or may not involve medications.
A stroke results from impaired oxygen delivery to brain cells via the bloodstream. A stroke is also referred to as a CVA, or cerebrovascular incident. Symptoms of stroke include: sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg. Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding. Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes, sudden trouble walking, dizziness, or loss of balance, and/or sudden severe headache with no known cause. A TIA, or transient ischemic attack is a short-lived temporary impairment of the brain caused by loss of blood supply. Stroke is a medical emergency.
Angina is chest pain that is due to an inadequate supply of oxygen to the heart muscle.
Angina can be caused by coronary artery disease or spasm of the coronary
arteries. EKG, exercise treadmill, stress echocardiography, stress thallium, and cardiac
catheterization are important tests used in the diagnosis of angina.
Dengue fever is contracted from the bite of a striped Aedes aegypti mosquito. Symptoms of dengue include headache, fever, exhaustion, severe joint and muscle pain, rash, and swollen glands. Since dengue is caused by a virus, there is no specific medicine to treat it. Treatment instead focuses on relieving the symptoms.
Neck pain (cervical pain) may be caused by any number of disorders and diseases. Tenderness is another symptom of neck pain. Though treatment for neck pain really depends upon the cause, treatment typically may involve heat/ice application, traction, physical therapy, cortisone injection, topical anesthetic creams, and muscle relaxants.
Heart attack happens when a blood clot completely obstructs a coronary
artery supplying blood to the heart muscle. A heart attack can cause chest pain, heart failure, and electrical
instability of the heart.
Polycythemia (elevated red blood cell count) causes are either primary (aquired or genetic mutations) or secondary (diseases, conditions, high altitude). Treatment of polycythemia depends on the cause.
Interstitial cystitis (IC) is an inflammatory disease of the bladder that can cause ulceration and bleeding of the bladder's lining and can lead to scarring and stiffening of the bladder. Symptoms of interstitial cystitis may vary among individuals and may even vary with time in the same individual.
Hamstring injuries may range from minor strains to major ruptures. A hamstring injury causes spasm, tightness, and tenderness. More severe injuries may cause swelling and bruising. While most hamstring injuries heal without surgery, a complete rupture would require surgery.
Dry socket is a painful condition that sometimes occurs after a tooth has been pulled. Dry socket can occur if the blood clot protecting the bone and nerves in the hole in the bone where the tooth was pulled becomes dislodged after extraction. In addition to pain, symptoms include bad breath and a bad taste in your mouth. People who smoke, have poor oral hygiene, and those who use birth control pills have a greater likelihood of developing dry socket. This condition may be treated with aspirin, ibuprofen, a nerve block, or medication prescribed by your dentist.
Kawasaki disease is a rare children's disease characterized by a fever that lasts more than five days and at least four of the following five symptoms are present: rash, swollen neck lymph gland, red tongue, swelling or redness of the hands or feet, and conjunctivitis. High doses of aspirin are used to treat Kawasaki disease. Cortisone and antiinflammatory drugs may also be used during treatment.
Chronic pain is pain (an unpleasant sense of discomfort) that persists or progresses over a long period of time. In contrast to acute pain that arises suddenly in response to a specific injury and is usually treatable, chronic pain persists over time and is often resistant to medical treatments.
Moles are small skin growths that may appear flat or raised and are often tan, brown, black, reddish brown, or skin colored. They are typically about the size of a pencil eraser. There are three types of moles. Monthly skin self-exams are essential in the early detection of abnormal moles and melanomas.
Reye's syndrome (RS, or Reye syndrome) is a sudden, sometimes fatal, disease of the brain with degeneration of the liver. Reye syndrome occurs in children and comes after the chickenpox or an influenza-type illness, is also associated with taking medications containing aspirin. Symptoms include vomiting, listlessness, irritability or combativeness, confusion, delirium, delusions, convulsions, and loss of consciousness. Treatment depends on early diagnosis and focuses on protecting the brain against irreversible damage by reducing brain swelling, reversing the metabolic injury, preventing complications in the lungs, and anticipating cardiac arrest.
Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are prescribed medications for the treatment of inflammatory conditions. Examples of NSAIDs include aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, and more. One common side effect of NSAIDs is peptic ulcer (ulcers of the esophagus, stomach, or duodenum). Side effects, drug interactions, warnings and precautions, and patient safety information should be reviewed prior to taking NSAIDs.
Heart attacks are the major causes of unexpected, sudden death among men and women. A heart attack is also a significant cause of heart failure. Learn the risk factors for heart attack such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and other heart conditions. Lowering your risk factor, lifestyle changes, and in some cases medication are the most effective way of preventing a heart attack.
SAPHO syndrome is a chronic disorder that involves the skin, bone, and joints. SAPHO syndrome is an eponym for the combination of synovitis, acne, pustulosis, hyperostosis, and osteitis. SAPHO syndrome is related to arthritic conditions such as ankylosing spondylitis and reactive arthritis. Treatment is directed toward the individual symptoms that are present, and includes medications such as nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and cortisone medications.
Stroke is the third leading killer in the United States. Some of the warning signs of stroke include sudden confusion, trouble seeing with one or both eyes, dizziness, loss of balance, and more. Stroke prevention and reatable risk factors for stroke include lowering high blood pressure, quit smoking, heart disease, diabetes control and prevention.
Bernard-Soulier disease is a rare inherited bleeding disorder caused by a defect in the platelet glycoprotein complex 1b-IX-V. Symptoms and signs include bruising, nosebleeds, gum bleeding, and problems with anything that induces bleeding, such as surgery, ulcers, trauma, and menstruation. Treatment involves avoiding medications that interfere with clot formation, such as naproxen, ibuprofen, and aspirin. People with Bernard-Soulier syndrome should avoid contact sports.
Kawasaki's disease is an uncommon illness in children that is
characterized by high fever of at least five days' duration together with
at least four of the
following five findings:
Inflammation with reddening of the whites of the eyes (conjunctivitis) without pus
Redness or swelling of the hands or feet, or generalized skin peeling
Rash
Lymph node swelling in the neck
Cracking inflamed lips or throat, or red "strawberry" tongue
The above criteria are used to make a diagnosis of Kawasaki's disease. The terminology "incomplete Kawasaki's disease" is sometimes used for patients with only some features of classical Kawasaki's disease.
What is mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome?
Mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome is the original name for Kawasaki's disease. The original name was quite descriptive because the disease ...
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