Aspirin and Arthritis

How does aspirin help arthritis?

The symptoms of arthritis are the result of an immune response by the body. The body's defenses against infection attack the body's own tissue. This causes pain, swelling, heat, redness, and sometimes stiffness in your joints.

Many drugs are used to lessen the joint pain and swelling caused by arthritis. Aspirin is one of these drugs.

Can everyone take aspirin?

You can buy aspirin without a prescription, but you should be careful about how much you take. Not everyone should take aspirin regularly. It can cause serious side effects. It can irritate the lining of the stomach and may cause ulcers. If you bleed easily, you should not take aspirin because it will make you bleed even more easily. This can cause bruising of the skin, nosebleeds, or a lot of bleeding from minor cuts.

Talk with your healthcare provider before you take aspirin if you have:

• high blood pressure
• a history of stroke in your family
• a bleeding problem
• an ulcer
• liver or kidney problems.

Children and teenagers under 19 years of age should not take acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) or salicylate-containing products (such as Pepto-Bismol) because of the risk of a severe illness called Reye's syndrome unless recommended by their healthcare provider.

Aspirin can cause you to bleed more than normal. If you need surgery or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist that you are taking aspirin. The tendency to bleed lasts for up to 10 days after you stop taking aspirin.

Aspirin interacts with many other medicines. Tell your healthcare provider about all of the other medicines you take. Do not take large doses of aspirin without your healthcare provider's approval.

Are there different types of aspirin?

Not all aspirin is the same. Some forms of aspirin may irritate the stomach more than others. Liquid forms, buffered tablets, enteric-coated tablets, and timed-release tablets may cause fewer side effects. Some aspirin is called "arthritis strength" or "extra strength" because the tablets contain higher doses than other types of aspirin.

Generic aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) is cheaper and works just as well as brand-name aspirin.

Before you buy large quantities of aspirin, see if you have side effects from the type of aspirin you are taking.

When and how much aspirin should I take?

Always take aspirin with a full meal and plenty of liquids. Do not take aspirin with alcohol or caffeinated drinks such as coffee, tea, or cola. Taking aspirin with drinks like these may make stomach problems more likely.

Aspirin may cause you to bleed more easily or it may take longer for bleeding to stop. Generally, do not take aspirin 10 to 14 days before surgery. Ask your surgeon for specific advice for any surgery you will be having.

Talk with your healthcare provider about how much aspirin you should take each day to relieve pain. Call your provider if you do not think your dosage of aspirin is helping. Do not change your dose before speaking with your provider.

What are the side effects of aspirin?

Aspirin has been a very safe drug for many, many people. But it can have some bad side effects.

• Increased bleeding is a common problem. This may be a nuisance--like more nosebleeds that don't stop as easily as they used to, or bruising more easily. If you have bleeding in the stomach or in your urine, you will need to see your healthcare provider.
• Aspirin causes gastritis, which means the stomach lining is irritated. It also causes stomach ulcers, which are sores in the stomach wall. The ulcer may bleed or may just cause stomach pain.
• Aspirin in high doses can cause ringing in the ears (called tinnitus). This symptom almost always means you have too much aspirin in your blood. Your provider will almost always tell you to stop taking aspirin. If you start taking it again, the dose will be lower.

Some people get asthmatic reactions or skin allergic reactions to aspirin. A severe allergic skin reaction to aspirin is rare. There is no confirmed evidence that aspirin has caused severe allergic shock (anaphylaxis).

When should I call my healthcare provider?

Report these side effects to your provider right away:

• severe diarrhea
• bloody urine
• black tarry stools
• nausea or vomiting
• trouble breathing
• vision problems
• severe stomach pain
• ringing in your ears.

To learn more about arthritis, call the Arthritis Foundation at 1-800-283-7800. Their Web site is Web site: http://www.arthritis.org.

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

HIA File orre3159.htm Release 13/2010