Dr Chris reveals he takes 'low dose aspirin every day'
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This everyday painkiller available in most pharmacies, shops and supermarkets comes in a few different forms. You can either get it as tablets, gel or suppositories, medicine taken through your anus. Side effects can be individual for different people, with some not experiencing any. Here’s one side effect signalling you should “call your doctor”.
The side effect requiring immediate attention is bloody or tarry stools, reports the Mayo Clinic.
If you experience this side effect, the health portal advises speaking to your doctor “immediately”.
Drugs.com recommends not only contacting your doctor but also stopping taking the medicine.
Long-term use of some painkillers, such as aspirin, can lead to stomach ulcers, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
These ulcers can cause bleeding, which could turn your stool black and tarry.
This particular side effect can be experienced when you take aspirin orally.
Some other side effects that need immediate medical help are:
- Ringing in your ears, confusion, hallucinations, rapid breathing, seizure
- Severe nausea, vomiting, or stomach pain
- Coughing up blood or vomit, which looks like coffee grounds
- Fever lasting longer than three days
- Swelling, or pain lasting longer than 10 days.
Although it’s worth knowing about these side effects as they may affect you, there are more common side effects of this painkiller.
These include mild indigestion and bleeding more easily than normal, the NHS reports.
Aspirin thins your blood, which can lead to the bleeding problem.
This can be anything from nosebleeds to bleeding cuts taking longer to stop.
Side effects like these affect around one in 100 people, the health service reports.
The NHS also advises speaking to a doctor or pharmacist if these side effects are persistent.
Aspirin can also cause a “serious allergic reaction” in some people, which requires calling 999 or going to A&E.
Some of the tell-tale signs of allergic reaction are rash, wheezing or swelling, tightness in your chest or throat, and struggling to breathe.
These are not all the possible side effects associated with the popular painkiller.
To see the full list of side effects, refer to the patient information leaflet, which came with your medicine.
Aspirin also might not be a safe choice for some people due to other underlying health conditions.
Speak to your doctor or pharmacist about any problems and diseases you have to check whether this medication is okay for you.
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