aspirin (rectal)


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Aspirin

What is the most important information I should know about rectal aspirin?

Rectal aspirin should not be used in a child or teenager who has a fever, especially if the child also has flu symptoms or chicken pox. Aspirin can cause a serious and sometimes fatal condition called Reye's syndrome.

Do not take rectal aspirin by mouth. It is for use only in your rectum.

This medication comes with patient instructions for using the rectal suppository. Follow these directions carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.

Try to empty your bowel and bladder just before using the rectal aspirin suppository. Try to use the medicine at a time when you can lie down afterward and hold the medicine in. Avoid using the bathroom during this time. It may be best to use this medicine at bedtime.

Remove the outer wrapper from the suppository before inserting it. Avoid handling the suppository too long or it will melt in your hands.

What is rectal aspirin?

Aspirin is in a group of drugs called salicylates. It works by reducing substances in the body that cause pain and inflammation. Aspirin also reduces fever.

Rectal aspirin is used to reduce pain, inflammation, and fever. Aspirin is also used to treat the symptoms of arthritis and rheumatic fever.

Rectal aspirin may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my health care provider before using rectal aspirin?

Do not use this medication if you are allergic to aspirin or other NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), diclofenac (Voltaren), diflunisal (Dolobid), etodolac (Lodine), flurbiprofen (Ansaid), indomethacin (Indocin), ketoprofen (Orudis), ketorolac (Toradol), mefenamic acid (Ponstel), meloxicam (Mobic), nabumetone (Relafen), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), piroxicam (Feldene), and others.

Rectal aspirin should not be used in a child or teenager who has a fever, especially if the child also has flu symptoms or chicken pox. Aspirin can cause a serious and sometimes fatal condition called Reye's syndrome.

Before using rectal aspirin, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, foods, or dyes, or if you have:

  • Kawasaki disease
  • a bleeding or blood clotting disorder such as hemophilia
  • glaucoma
  • a stomach ulcer or bleeding
  • a weak immune system
  • asthma or nasal polyps
  • high blood pressure or heart disease
  • kidney disease; or
  • liver disease.

If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely use aspirin

This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby, and may also cause problems with pregnancy or childbirth. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while you are using rectal aspirin.

It is not known whether rectal aspirin passes into breast milk or if it could harm an unborn baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I use rectal aspirin?

Use this medication exactly as directed on the label, or as it has been prescribed by your doctor. Do not use the medication in larger or smaller amounts, or use it for longer than recommended.

This medication comes with patient instructions for using the rectal suppository. Follow these directions carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.

Do not take rectal aspirin by mouth. It is for use only in your rectum.

Try to empty your bowel and bladder just before using the rectal aspirin suppository. Try to use the medicine at a time when you can lie down afterward and hold the medicine in. Avoid using the bathroom during this time. It may be best to use this medicine at bedtime.

Remove the outer wrapper from the suppository before inserting it. Avoid handling the suppository too long or it will melt in your hands.

For best results from the suppository, lie down after inserting it and hold in the suppository for a few minutes. The suppository will melt quickly once inserted and you should feel little or no discomfort while holding it in. Avoid using the bathroom just after you have inserted the suppository.

Call your doctor if you still have a sore throat after 2 days of using rectal aspirin, if you still have a fever after 3 days, or if you still have pain after 10 days of treatment (5 days for a child). Tell your doctor at any time if you have new or worsening symptoms.

This medication can cause you to have unusual results with certain medical tests. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using rectal aspirin.

If you need to have any type of surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are using rectal aspirin. You may need to stop using the medicine for a short time.

Store the rectal suppositories at cool room temperature away from moisture and heat. Do not refrigerate or freeze them.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Since rectal aspirin is sometimes used as needed, you may not be on a dosing schedule. If you are using the medication regularly, use the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and wait until your next regularly scheduled dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.

Overdose symptoms may include severe nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea, ringing in the ears, confusion, headache, increased thirst, severe drowsiness, uncontrolled muscle twitching, shortness of breath, bloody urine, hallucinations, or seizure (convulsions).

What should I avoid while using rectal aspirin?

Do not use any other over-the-counter medication without first asking your doctor or pharmacist. Aspirin is contained in many medicines available over the counter. If you take certain products together you may accidentally take too much aspirin. Read the label of any other medicine you are using to see if it contains aspirin.

What are the possible side effects of rectal aspirin?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using rectal aspirin and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

  • black, bloody, or tarry stools
  • blood in your urine
  • coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds
  • pale skin, easy bruising or bleeding
  • wheezing, chest tightness, trouble breathing
  • decreased hearing or ringing in the ears
  • seizure (convulsions); or
  • dizziness, confusion, or hallucinations.

Less serious side effects may include:

  • nausea, vomiting, stomach pain; or
  • rectal irritation.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect rectal aspirin?

Tell your doctor if you are taking an antidepressant such as citalopram (Celexa), duloxetine (Cymbalta), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem, Symbyax), fluvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft), or venlafaxine (Effexor). Taking any of these drugs while you are also use rectal aspirin may cause you to bruise or bleed easily.

Before using rectal aspirin, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:

  • alprostadil (Caverject, Edex)
  • epitifibatide (Integrilin)
  • tirofiban (Aggrastat)
  • probenecid (Benemid)
  • divalproex (Depakote) or valproic acid (Depacon, Depakene)
  • an antacid or laxative
  • a blood thinner such as heparin or warfarin (Coumadin)
  • cancer medicine such as abciximab (Reopro), methotrexate (Folex, Rheumatrex, Folex)
  • insulin or diabetes medicine you take by mouth
  • an antibiotic such as cefemandole (Maxipime), cefotetan (Cefotan), ciprofloxacin (Cipro), demeclocycline (Declomycin), doxycycline (Doryx, Periostat, Vibramycin), minocycline (Dynacin, Minocin), norfloxacin (Noroxin), ofloxacin (Floxin), piperacillin (Pipracil), tetracycline (Broadspec, Panmycin, Sumycin), ticarcillin (Ticar), vancomycin (Vancocin)
  • an antifungal such as itraconazole (Sporanox) or ketoconazole (Nizoral)
  • medication used to prevent blood clots, such as alteplase (Activase), clopidogrel (Plavix), dipyridamole (Persantine), ticlopidine (Ticlid), and urokinase (Abbokinase)
  • salicylates such as Disalcid, Doan's Pills, Dolobid, Salflex, Tricosal; or
  • NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), diclofenac (Voltaren), diflunisal (Dolobid), etodolac (Lodine), flurbiprofen (Ansaid), indomethacin (Indocin), ketoprofen (Orudis), ketorolac (Toradol), mefenamic acid (Ponstel), meloxicam (Mobic), nabumetone (Relafen), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), piroxicam (Feldene).

This list is not complete and there may be other drugs not listed that can interact with aspirin. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist has information about rectal aspirin written for health professionals that you may read.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Copyright 1996-2009 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 1.08. Revision date: 08/12/2009.