Question

When you go to the pharmacy, there are many choices for the same medication (ex. Aspirin). [Store brand, Aleve, Tylenol, Anacin, Bayer, and so many more]

What specific ingredients of Aspirin that relieve inflammation, aches and pains?

What is the difference between aspirin, acetaminophen, and naproxen? Please explain.

Answer 1

1. Aspirin comes under nonsteroidal anti inflammatory drugs commonly called NSAIDs.

Aspirin also called acetyl salicylic acid which is having salicylate as the main ingredient. This salicylate help in reducing inflammation, pain and aches.

Other ingredients iclude carnauba wax,corn starch, hypromellose,powdered cellulose, triacetin.

Aspirin is also given for headache, menstrual pain, minor pain of arthritis, muscle pain, pain and fever of colds, prevent cardiovascular events

2.

	ASPIRIN	ACETAMINOPHEN	NAPROXEN
Adult dose	75-650mg orally every 4-6 hours maximum dose 4g/day	650-1000 mg every 4 hour maximum 4g/day	500 mg initially followed by 250 mg every 6-8 hour maximum 1250 mg/day
Interactions	Probencid, furosemide and thiazides, warfarin, sulfonyl urea, methotrexate, lithium	Carbamazepine, isoniazid, phenytoin, warfarin, zidovudine.	probencid may increases the NSAID concentration and toxicity It decreases the effect of hydralazine, captopril and beta- blockers may increases the diuretic effect of furosemide and thiazides
Contraindications	Peptic ulcer, bleeding disorder, renal failure, thrombocytopenia	Hepatic disease or impairment, renal impairment, upper GI disease, hepatotoxicity possible for those with alcohol dependency and alcohol abuse	High risk for bleeding, peptic ulcer disease, renal insufficiency, recent GI bleeding or perforation
PHARMACOLOGY Onset of action(hours)	1	1	1
2. Duration(hours)	4-6	4-6	upto 7
3. Bioavailability(%)	50-90	85-98	95
4. Halflife(hours)	20 minutes	2-3	12-17
ADR	Salicylism, Reye's syndrome, platelet dissegregation, tinnitus, idiosyncracy, nephropathy	Jaundice, bloody urine, hepatic damage, GI bleeding, Abdominal pain	Indigestion, Tinnitus, heartburn, diarrhea, tingling in arms and legs, mouth sores

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