Safety Alert: Aspirin
FDA Requires Additional Labeling for Over-the-Counter Pain Relievers and Fever Reducers
The Food and Drug Administration announced it will require manufacturers of over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers, fever reducers and other cough and cold medication that contain aspirin (the active ingredient in Bayer Aspirin and many other brands) to revise their labeling to include warnings about potential safety risks, such as internal bleeding, associated with the use of these popular drugs.
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What does this mean?
Using high doses of aspirin (greater than 81 mg per day) to treat pain or reduce fevers increases your risk for internal bleeding, including stomach bleeding. The risk for stomach bleeding is further increased in people who use aspirin and who are also taking blood-thinning drugs (anticoagulants such as warfarin), steroids, COX-2 Inhibitors such as celecoxib (Celebrex) or other OTC and prescription non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like diclofenac (Voltaren), etodolac (Lodine), ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin), indomethacin (Indocin), meloxicam (Mobic), nabumetone (Relafen), naproxen (Aleve), oxaprozin (Daypro), piroxicam (Feldene), sulindac (Clinoril). Alcohol use can also increase the risk for stomach bleeding with aspirin use.
When using pain relievers, fever reducers, or cough and cold medications, please read the labeling and directions closely so you know what the product contains and how to use the product correctly. The revised labeling will help you better identify which OTC products contain aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen. If you are taking other medications that may increase your risk of stomach bleeding, please talk to your doctor or pharmacist before you use OTC pain relievers, fever reducers or cough and cold medications. If you have questions about your risk of side effects from OTC pain relievers, fever reducers or cough and cold medications or other general questions about using these products, please talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
