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The following time you attain for a nonprescription drug to deal with your upset abdomen or heartburn, take into account whether or not you must use one of many many antacids that don’t have aspirin.
Why? Aspirin-containing medicines to deal with heartburn, bitter abdomen, acid indigestion or upset abdomen could cause abdomen or intestinal bleeding, particularly in some individuals, warns the U.S. Meals and Drug Administration.
Aspirin is often used to scale back ache and fever. It’s a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that may improve the danger of bleeding, together with within the abdomen and gastrointestinal tract (digestive tract).
“We’re specializing in bleeding danger particularly with antacid-aspirin merchandise used to deal with upset abdomen or heartburn. We’re not telling individuals to cease taking aspirin altogether,” says Karen Murry, M.D., Deputy Director of the Workplace of Nonprescription Medicine on the FDA.
Circumstances of bleeding are uncommon. When the FDA reviewed its Adverse Event Reporting System database, it discovered new circumstances of great bleeding attributable to aspirin-containing antacid merchandise regardless of an company warning in 2009 about such a danger. A few of these sufferers required a blood transfusion.
“Take a detailed take a look at the Drug Facts label. If the product has aspirin, take into account selecting one thing else to your abdomen signs,” Murry says. “Until individuals learn the Drug Details label after they’re searching for abdomen symptom aid, they won’t even take into consideration the likelihood {that a} abdomen medication might include aspirin.”
How will you understand what over-the-counter (OTC, or nonprescription) medication to take to get aid from indigestion? The Drug Details label won’t solely let you know if the drugs incorporates aspirin but additionally will listing the danger components for bleeding. If the drugs has aspirin, take into account discovering one other product. There are many abdomen medicines that don’t include aspirin.
Who’s at Larger Threat of Bleeding
As a result of aspirin thins the blood, the FDA believes the aspirin in these mixture medicines is contributing to main bleeding occasions. Folks with a number of danger components have a better likelihood of great bleeding with aspirin-containing antacid merchandise.
You might be at increased danger for bleeding with these merchandise if you happen to:
- Are 60 or older.
- Have a historical past of abdomen ulcers or bleeding issues.
- Take medication that scale back the flexibility of your blood to clot (also referred to as anticoagulants or blood-thinning medication).
- Take steroid medication, corresponding to prednisone, to scale back irritation.
- Take different medicines containing NSAIDs, corresponding to ibuprofen or naproxen.
- Drink three or extra alcoholic drinks day by day.
Warning indicators of abdomen or intestinal bleeding embrace feeling faint, vomiting blood, passing black or bloody stools, or having stomach ache. These are indicators that you must seek the advice of a well being care skilled instantly.
What if you happen to’ve been taking these merchandise for a very long time?
“Some individuals could have been taking aspirin-containing antacid merchandise steadily for a very long time. Other than the bleeding danger, it’s not regular to have frequent or power upset abdomen or heartburn. You must speak to a well being care skilled if that’s taking place,” Murry says.
Take aspirin commonly? In case your well being care skilled has suggested you to take an aspirin a day to assist stop a coronary heart assault or different situation, don’t cease with out speaking with them first. “Ensure you focus on what sort of medication you possibly can absorb case you get an upset abdomen,” Murry says.
Tips on how to Settle an Upset Abdomen
Folks have many options for treating heartburn, bitter abdomen, acid indigestion and upset abdomen. Learn the Drug Details label and search for merchandise that include an “antacid” or “acid reducer.”
For instance, there are quite a few nonprescription medicines that include solely an antacid, corresponding to calcium carbonate, magnesium hydroxide, or one other antacid,” Murry says. These merchandise can be utilized to deal with heartburn, bitter abdomen, acid indigestion and upset abdomen.
For frequent heartburn, there are acid reducers, corresponding to proton pump inhibitors (esomeprazole, lansoprazole, omeprazole), or H2 blockers (cimetidine, famotidine).
