Name of Drug General Actio

n Specific Action Indications

Contraindications Adverse
Reaction Nursing Responsib
ilities
ASA
50 mg 1 tab POOD Antipyretics,
Nonopioid analgesics

Produceanalgesia andreduce infl

ammationand fever byinhibiting t
heproduction of prostaglandins.D
ecreasesplatelet aggregation.
TherapeuticEffects:
Analgesia.Reduction of inflamm
ation.Reduction of fever.Decreas
edincidence of transient ischemic
attacks and MI.

Inflammatorydisorders including:
Rheumatoid arthritis,Osteoarthriti
s.Mild to moderatepain.Fever.Pro
phylaxis of transient ischemicatta
cks and MI.

Contraindicated in:
Hypersensitivity toaspirin, tartrazi
ne (FDCyellow dye #5), or other
salicylatesCross-
sensitivity withother NSAIDs may
exist(less with non-
aspirinsalicylates)Bleeding disord
ers or thrombocytopenia (moreim
portant with aspirin)Children or a
dolescents with viralinfections (m
ay increasethe risk of Reye'ssyn
drome)
Use Cautiously in:
History of GI bleedingor ulcer dis
easeChronic alcoholuse/abuseS
evere renal disease(magnesium t
oxicity mayoccur with magnesiu
msalicylate)Severe hepaticdiseas
e
EENT:
tinnitus.
GI:
GI bleeding,Dyspepsia, Epigastri
cDistress, Nausea, Abdominal P
ain, Anorexia,Hepatotoxicity, Vo
miting.
Hemat:
Anemia,Hemolysis, IncreasedBl
eeding Time.
Misc:
Allergic ReactionsIncluding Ana
phylaxis AndLaryngeal Edema.

Assessment
Pain:
Assess pain and limitation of mo
vement; note type, location, and i
ntensitybefore and at the peak (s
ee Time/ActionProfile) after admi
nistration.
Fever:
Assess fever and note associate
dsigns (diaphoresis, tachycardia,
malaise,chills).
Aspirin:
Prolongs bleeding time for 4-
7days and, in large doses, may c
auseprolonged prothrombin time.
 Monitor hematocrit periodically i
n prolonged high-
dosetherapy to assess for GI blo
od loss. .
T o x i c i ty a n d Ov e r d o s e:
Monitor patientfor the onset of tin
nitus, headache,hyperventilation,
agitation, mental confusion,letha
rgy, diarrhea, and sweating. If the
sesymptoms appear, withhold m
edication andnotify physician or o
ther health careprofessional imm
ediately.
Implementation
Use lowest effective dose for sho
rtestperiod of time.
PO:
Administer after meals or with fo
od or an antacid to minimize gast
ric irritation. Foodslows but does
not alter the total amountabsorbe
d.Do not crush or chew enteric-
coatedtablets Do not take antacid
s within 1-2 hr of enteric-
coated tablets.
Patient Teachings
Instruct patient to take salicylate
s with a fullglass of water and to r
emain in an uprightposition for 15
-
30 min after administration. Advis
e patient to report tinnitus; unusu
albleeding of gums; bruising; blac
k, tarry stools;or fever lasting lon
ger than 3 days.