Aspirin for colds and flu

Millions of people suffer from colds every year. Such unpleasant symptoms as nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat, headache, fever, chills put people to bed and force them to take some measures to get rid of these symptoms faster. Most of us, especially those who do not need sick leave, are in no hurry to visit a doctor, but act according to the principle of "be your own doctor", while the most popular medicine is aspirin. And in the whole world it is the best-selling drug. Is this correct and can you drink aspirin for colds and flu?

Paracetamol, analgin, aspirin for colds

Before using any medicine, you need to understand its mechanism of action. The characteristics of medicines that meet the symptoms of colds must contain the following requirements and be:

• anti-inflammatory;
• antipyretic;
• painkiller.

Paracetamol - its main active ingredient acetaminophen affects thermoregulation processes and gently eliminates fever. This is a symptomatic drug that does not cure, but alleviates the patient's condition.

Analgin - the name itself "absence of pain" hides the spectrum of its influence, but this is not its only pharmacological effect. It also has anti-inflammatory and antipyretic effects.

Aspirin - so can you drink it when you have a cold? For more than a century, it has been used to reduce the suffering of the patient during illness. Initially, salicin was isolated from tree bark for treatment, which later became the active substance of this synthetic drug.

All three drugs have the right to be used to eliminate the unpleasant symptoms of colds and flu.

Indications aspirin for colds and flu.

The drug's action is primarily aimed at lowering the temperature and eliminating fever. In adults, the indication for the use of aspirin is a temperature above 39ºC, in the presence of severe concomitant pathology - 38º. It is used with caution in children if the temperature has exceeded 38º. It also eliminates sore throat, muscle, toothache, joint pain, arthralgia in the back and headache. Taking aspirin for a cold without fever is considered unjustified. Its other indications include the prevention of cardiovascular diseases, including strokes, heart attacks, thrombosis. Scientists say that this is not the end of its range of action, there are studies on its use to prevent the development of cancerous tumors, Alzheimer's disease, type 2 diabetes.

Release form

Regular aspirin comes in tablet form. There are also other forms of the drug:

• aspirin C, combined with ascorbic acid - water-soluble tablets that dissolve with a hissing sound in slightly warm water (ascorbic acid is destroyed above 60 ⁰ C). The effect from them comes much faster than from ordinary ones, which is much safer for the gastric mucosa;
• Aspirin complex - effervescent powder for solution preparation, includes other components to combat colds.

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Pharmacodynamics

Aspirin is the first non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. Its pharmacodynamics are aimed at reducing the activity of cyclooxygenases - enzymes involved in the production of prostanoids - biologically active lipids responsible for the appearance of edema and pain in areas of inflammation. As a result of taking the drug, the effect on the thermoregulation center decreases, blood vessels dilate, sweating increases and, as a result, heat transfer, which leads to a decrease in temperature, painful sensations, and a decrease in inflammation.

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Pharmacokinetics

The drug is absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract, then converted into acetylsalicylic and salicylic acid. Binding to blood proteins, they are distributed throughout the body through the bloodstream. Their metabolism occurs in the liver, and their excretion is carried out by the kidneys.

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Dosing and administration

Aspirin is taken no more than 3-5 days after meals, with plenty of liquid. For adults, a single dose is from 300 to 1000 mg, but not more than 4 g per day. The tablet can be taken again 4-8 hours after the previous one. The dose for children is determined based on 60 mg per kilogram of weight, it is divided into 4-6 doses, the interval between which should be at least 4 hours. Tablets are not recommended at all for children under 3 years of age. Aspirin C can be used after 4 years, and aspirin complex - after 15.

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Use aspirin for colds and flu. during pregnancy

During pregnancy, it is best not to take any medications at all. If this cannot be avoided, if other means are ineffective, then taking them in low doses is allowed. Previously, it was believed that aspirin was most dangerous in the first trimester. However, after conducting a study on 32 thousand mother-child pairs, no connection was found between congenital defects in children and a dose not exceeding 150 mg per day. In the 3rd trimester, when taking 300 mg or more, cases of post-term pregnancy, weakening of contractions, and intracranial bleeding in children in the womb were recorded.

Contraindications

Aspirin has contraindications for use by people with renal, hepatic and cardiac insufficiency, hemorrhagic diathesis, peptic ulcer, asthma caused by salicylates, allergy to them. Use with caution in patients after surgery, tooth extraction, accompanied by blood loss. Also try to avoid aspirin for women in the last trimester of pregnancy and children with ARVI.

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Side effects aspirin for colds and flu.

Aspirin can cause a number of side effects in the digestive organs: pain in the epigastric region, the formation of erosions and ulcers. It can be the culprit of bleeding: nasal, gastric, genitourinary system, gums, and they, in turn, are dangerous iron deficiency anemia. In rare cases, cerebral hemorrhages are possible in people with hypertension. Allergy to the drug manifests itself in rashes, redness, swelling.

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Overdose

Long-term therapy or accidental overdose may result in overdose, the symptoms of which include dizziness, nausea, vomiting, confusion, and ringing in the ears. Treatment is carried out depending on the degree of intoxication, like any other poisoning.

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Interactions with other drugs

Taking aspirin requires a cautious approach with the simultaneous use of methotrexate for the treatment of leukemia, lymphomas. Interactions with other drugs are known, that together with:

• ibuprofen - the cardioprotective effect of acetylsalicylic acid is reduced;
• other NSAIDs - the risk of developing stomach and duodenal ulcers increases;
• antidiabetic agents - cause a hypoglycemic effect; diuretics - reduce the volume of blood cleared by the kidneys from metabolic products;
• valproic acid - increases its toxicity.

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Storage conditions

Storage conditions for aspirin include proper temperature conditions (not higher than 30ºС), away from direct sunlight and out of reach of children.

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Shelf life

The maximum shelf life is 5 years, after which the drug is disposed of.

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Reviews

According to reviews, most people with colds resort to a proven and reliable remedy that can significantly alleviate the condition. The effectiveness of aspirin C and its ease of use are especially noted. Both patients and doctors agree that the drug is good, effective, inexpensive, and has earned the right to be in the medicine cabinet of every home.