All About Aspirin and Its History

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Historical background of the drug
Uses of Aspirin
Effects of skipping the dose
Conclusion
References
Footnotes

Introduction

Aspirin which is also known as acetylsalicylic acid is derived from salicylic acid, which is mild in that it is not a narcotic painkiller, helpful in pain relief of headache and muscle together with joint aches. The drug functions by hindering the production of prostaglandins which are body chemicals necessary for blood thickening and concentration.

Historical background of the drug

Hippocrates who lived around 460 BC left historical records of drugs that relieve pain including usage of powder. The willow tree helped in treating headaches, pains together with fever. It is found in a class of groups termed as the salicylates and functions by reducing substances that result in pain, fever and inflammation. Scientist Reverend Edmund explained the success of the willow tree used in the treatment of fevers and pain reliever by using the bark of the tree.

The chemical is easily transformed by the system after salicylic acid, another chemical, eats it. Leroux, a pharmacist discovered the salicin found in the willow ingredient which was being used by close relatives of the Italian chemist in high doses hence assisting them in the treatment of pains and swelling as well as treating fever. In the year 1828, a professor called Johann Buchner a pharmacy professor at the Munich University put aside some tiny amounts of crystals that were bitter, yellow and crystals shaped like needles. Brugnatelli with Fontana from Italy obtained salicin in the year 1826, but it was not in pure form¹.

In the year 1829, a French chemist enhanced the extraction process to get some salicin from the tree bark. Later in the year, 1838, an Italian chemist who worked for Sorbonne in France, divide salicin into sugar and aromatic constituent and changed it by the process of hydrolysis together with oxidation, to some crystallized colorless that were shaped in the form of needles and called it salicylic acid, needles, which he named salicylic acid. This was the first time he had taken out salicin from a crystalline. Raffaele Piria managed in getting the acid in its pure nature. The challenge was that people complained about the acid which was sensitive to the stomach.

The first individual to accomplish the whole task was Charles Fredric. In the year 1853, Gerhardt defused acid by combining it with sodium to come up with sodium salicylates together with acetyl chloride thus forming acetylsalicylic acid. Although the product worked, he had lacked motivation hence abandoning his unique discovery².

Uses of Aspirin

It is quite dangerous for children to use Aspirin when having a cold or flu as it may cause complications since Aspirin is quite strong for people of such age. Usage of the drug at times may lead to bleeding in the stomach together with the intestines. The symptoms of the condition are bloodstains in an individual stool. It is important to avoid taking alcohol when one is under medication of Aspirin in that it increases the chances of stomach bleeding.

Individuals with a present history of intestines and stomach bleeding such as hemophilia and allergy reactions such as Advil, Motrin, Aleve, Orudis, Indocin, Lodine, Voltaren, Toradol, Mobic, Relafen and Feldene, should avoid the drug. Aspirin treats pain hence eliminating fever and irritation. Aspirin treats irritation, fever and other forms of arthritis that include rheumatoid, systemic lupus, ankylosing spondylitis, and osteoarthritis and Reiter syndrome³.

Other conditions such as stomach ulcers, nasal polyps, liver disease and asthma require an adjustment of the dose or special tests before taking the drug. An individual using the drug to deter heart attack, and stroke should avoid ibuprofen, as the drug makes the drug less useful in the protection of organs, such as the heart and the vessels of the blood. The drug has been proved harmful when used with pregnant mothers as it reduces the weight of the baby during childbirth and can affect the heart of the unborn baby.

A pregnant woman should, therefore, inform the doctor when under the medication. A nursing mother is discouraged from using the drug as it can harm her baby through breastfeeding and should inform the doctor of such an event. A person should follow the doctors as indicated on the label of the medication. One should refrain from underdose or overdose or usage of drugs for more than the recommended period. One should take a glass full of water when taking the drug. It is recommended that an individual should take the drug after meals to reduce stomach problems⁴.

Aspirin coated with Enteric is formulated to be taken with individuals with a sensitive stomach. The outer coat of the drug should not be crushed in that the pill needs to be swallowed as a whole. It has an exceptional coating that protects one stomach and chewing the pill may break the coating. The tablet releases the medication at a slow rate in the body hence breaking the tablet leads to the release of the drug once in the body. This can have detrimental effects on the health of an individual. The other type of chewable aspirin tablet requires to be chewed before swallowing. The aspirin oral drug tablet needs to be left in its pack unless when it is supposed to be used.

When an individual is opening the package that contains the tablet, one should peel the back cover away from the drug. The tablet should be put in the mouth using dry hands, and it starts to dissolve immediately without the use of water. The tablet should not be swallowed as a whole in that it is required to dissolve in ones mouth without being chewed. Do not ingest the drug as a whole. Allow it to soften in an individual mouth devoid of chewing. A person undergoing any form of surgery needs to inform the surgeon before taking the tablet. This forces an individual to stop the usage of the tablet for some period. If a person smells a powerful vinegar odor in an aspirin bottle, the medication should be discarded. This is because the medicine has lost its effectiveness. The tablets should be stored at room temperature free dampness and heat⁵.

Effects of skipping the dose

Since most of the time the medication is used appropriately, one is not always on a dosing timetable. Usage of the medication regularly necessitates taking the medicine daily. Seek urgent medical treatment in case of an overdose of the medicine. An overdose individual has symptoms such as, seizure headache, coma, vomiting, hallucinations, dizziness, rapid breathing confusion, fever, seizure (convulsions), or nausea⁶. A person should seek urgent treatment if one exhibited signs of allergic reactions such as problems when breathing, swelling on the face, tongue, throat and lips. The first step is seeking medical health and stopping immediate usage of the drug if the side effects are serious. A person experiencing bloody stools, vomiting blood, stomach pains and severe nausea need urgent medical attention.

Aspirin at times interferes with individual blood coalesce action. When an individual bleeds, the blood clotting cells termed as platelets accumulate at the place where there is a wound. The platelets are essential in forming a plug that aids in sealing the blood vessels opening and stopping bleeding. The same occurrence can be experienced with the blood vessels that supply an individual heart plus brain with the blood. If individual blood vessels become narrow because of atherosclerosis, the fatty deposits that have built up in the vessels can easily burst. Clotting of the blood leads to blocking of the blood arteries. This stops the flowing of blood from the heart thus resulting in heart and stroke attacks Aspirin therapy diminishes the clustering chemical action of the blood platelets hence preventing of the attacks⁷.

Conclusion

Nabumetone being linked to NSAIDs is connected to numerous suspected and credible connections that shape the reaction of other drugs. Nabumetone at times increases the levels of blood in lithium as the rate of excretion reduces in the kidney. An increased amount of lithium causes lithium toxicity. At times, it decreases the blood pressure thus lowering the effects of medications recommended for blood pressure. This happens because of the role of prostaglandins in blood pressure regulation. When Nabumetone coalesce with aminoglycosides, levels of the blood increase as a result of the removal of aminoglycosides from an individual body are diminished.

This may result in amino glycoside-linked side effects. Individuals using oral blood thinners and anticoagulants need to stop the usage of Nabumetone because it makes the blood watery, and this can lead to excessive bleeding. Combining the usage of NSAIDs with methotrexate reduces the removal of methotrexate from an individual body thus leading to more side effects. Individuals having three or more alcoholic drinks daily increases their chances of developing stomach ulcers by using Nabumetone and other NSAIDs.

An individual should inform the doctor if one is already on antidepressant drugs such as citalopram (Celexa), duloxetine (Cymbalta), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem, and Symbyax), fluvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft), or venlafaxine (Effexor)⁸. This is because taking the drugs together with aspirin may lead to a bruise or bleeding. The doctor should be informed about the drugs an individual used to help the doctor recommend the appropriate medication and dose. Although many drugs can be used together with aspirin, one should inform the doctor about the prescription bought by the chemist. This consists of vitamins, herbal products, minerals and other drugs prescribed to an individual by another doctor.

References

Cullen, A. Aspirin; Thomson: London, 2007.

Jeffreys, D. Aspirin the remarkable story of a wonder drug; Bloomsbury: New York, 2004.

Kim, E. Aspirin; Tokyopop: New York, 2008.

Rainsford, K. D. Aspirin and related drugs; Taylor & Francis: London: 2004.

Footnotes

Cullen, A. Aspirin; Thomson: London, 2007.
Jeffreys, D. Aspirin the remarkable story of a wonder drug; Bloomsbury: New York, 2004.
Jeffreys, D. Aspirin the remarkable story of a wonder drug; Bloomsbury: New York, 2004.
Rainsford, K. D. Aspirin and related drugs; Taylor & Francis: London: 2004.
Kim, E. Aspirin; Tokyopop: New York, 2008.
Cullen, A. Aspirin; Thomson: London, 2007.
Kim, E. Aspirin; Tokyopop: New York, 2008.
Rainsford, K. D. Aspirin and related drugs; Taylor & Francis: London: 2004.

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