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Aspirin 300

Active Ingredient:
aspirin
Company:  
Alliance Pharmaceuticals See contact details
About Medicine
The Patient Information Leaflet (PIL) is the leaflet included in the pack with a medicine.
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Last updated on emc: 17 Apr 2023

Below is a text only representation of the Patient Information Leaflet (ePIL).

The text only version may be available in large print, Braille or audio CD. For further information call emc accessibility on {phone} 0800 198 5000. The product code(s) for this leaflet is: PL 16853/0063.

Aspirin 300

PATIENT INFORMATION LEAFLET

Aspirin 300mg

Gastro-resistant Tablets (acetylsalicylic acid)

Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine because it contains important information for you.
  • Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
  • If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
  • This medicine has been prescribed for you only. Do not pass it on to others.
    It may harm them, even if their signs of illness are the same as yours.
  • If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.

What is in this leaflet

1. What Aspirin 300mg is and what it is taken for
2. What you need to know before you take Aspirin 300mg
3. How to take Aspirin 300mg
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Aspirin 300mg
6. Contents of the pack and other information

1. What Aspirin 300mg is and what it is taken for

Aspirin 300mg contains aspirin. Aspirin is used:

  • as an anti-inflammatory analgesic which can relieve pain and swelling
  • to bring down high body temperatures
  • to prevent recurrence of heart attacks or strokes by thinning the blood. If someone who has previously had a heart attack or stroke takes Aspirin 300mg regularly, it reduces the risk of a blood clot occurring in the heart or brain. This can prevent further heart attacks or strokes.

If you take aspirin in high doses or over a long period of time, it can irritate your stomach lining. To prevent stomach irritation, these tablets have a special coating (called enteric) so that the aspirin is not released until it has passed through the stomach.

Aspirin is released slowly from these tablets, so Aspirin 300mg is not suitable for the short-term relief of pain, such as headaches or toothache.

2. What you need to know before you take Aspirin 300mg
Do not take Aspirin 300mg:
  • if you are allergic to aspirin or any of the other ingredients in this medicine (listed in section 6)
  • if you have ever had the problem of your blood not clotting properly or suffer from any bleeding problems
  • if you have had a cerebral haemorrhage (a type of stroke caused by bleeding in your brain)
  • if you are in your last 3 months of pregnancy or are breastfeeding
  • if you have ever had an ulcer in your stomach or small intestine.

Warnings and precautions

Before you take Aspirin 300mg tell your doctor if you:

  • think you may be dehydrated (you may feel thirsty with a dry mouth)
  • have trouble with your kidneys or liver
  • have high blood pressure
  • have been told you have a lack of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD)
  • are asthmatic, aspirin may induce an asthma attack
  • have ever had inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis)
  • have or have had gout.

Children

When given to children aspirin may cause Reye’s syndrome. Reye’s syndrome is a very rare disease, which can be fatal. For this reason, aspirin should not be given to children aged under 16 years, unless on the advice of a doctor.

If any of the above applies to you, or if you are not sure, speak to your doctor or pharmacist before you take Aspirin 300mg.

Other medicines and Aspirin 300mg

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines. The effect of treatment may be influenced if aspirin is taken at the same time as some other medicines for:

  • thinning of the blood/prevention of clots (e.g. warfarin)
  • organ rejection after transplantation (e.g. ciclosporin, tacrolimus)
  • high blood pressure (e.g. diuretics and ACE-inhibitors)
  • pain and inflammation (e.g. anti-inflammatory medicines such as ibuprofen, or steroids)
  • gout (e.g. probenecid)
  • cancer or rheumatoid arthritis (e.g. methotrexate).
  • Metamizole (substance to decrease pain and fever) may reduce the effect of acetylsalicylic acid on platelet aggregation (blood cells sticking together and forming a blood clot), when taken concomitantly. Therefore, this combination should be used with caution in patients taking low dose aspirin for cardioprotection.

These other medicines may also affect, or be affected by aspirin:
  • insulin or any other drug to treat diabetes
  • corticosteroids (used as hormone replacement therapy when the adrenal glands or pituitary gland have been destroyed or removed, or to treat inflammation, including rheumatic diseases and inflammation of the intestines)
  • phenytoin or sodium valproate (used to control epilepsy)
  • sulphonamides (a type of antibiotic) such as sulfamethoxazole
  • medicines such as acetazolamide used to treat glaucoma
  • an anaesthetic called thiopental
  • gold, which is sometimes used in rheumatic conditions
  • antiplatelet drugs (such as clopidogrel and dipyridamole)
  • selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) for depression such as sertraline or paroxetine
  • antacids (indigestion medicine). Do not take antacids just before or after taking Aspirin 300mg as they may cause the aspirin to be released too soon.

Aspirin with alcohol

If you consume excessive amounts of alcohol whilst taking Aspirin 300mg, you may increase the risk of causing bleeding in your stomach or intestines.

Tell your doctor that you are taking Aspirin 300mg if you are to have a urine test, as it can sometimes interfere with the results.

Before using aspirin, you should inform a healthcare professional about the medicines you are taking. If you are using aspirin regularly you should seek advice before taking any other medicine (including other medicines you may have bought).

Pregnancy, breast-feeding and fertility

Pregnant women should not take aspirin during pregnancy unless advised by their doctor. You must not take Aspirin 300mg if you are in the last 3 months of pregnancy. Regular or high dose aspirin therapy during late pregnancy can cause serious complications in the mother or baby.

Do not take Aspirin 300mg if you are breast-feeding because some of the aspirin may be in your breast milk and could harm your baby.

The product belongs to a group of medicines which may impair the fertility in women. This effect is reversible on stopping the medicine.

If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.

Aspirin 300mg contains benzyl alcohol

This medicine contains 0.334 mg benzyl alcohol in each tablet.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice if you have a liver or kidney disease. This is because large amounts of benzyl alcohol can build-up in your body and may cause side effects (called “metabolic acidosis”).

Benzyl alcohol may cause allergic reactions.

3. How to take Aspirin 300mg

Always take Aspirin 300mg exactly as your doctor has told you to. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.

The usual dose is different in the following circumstances:

  • Pain and swelling, or fever
    Take up to three 300mg tablets three or four times a day.
  • Acute rheumatic disorders (joint and muscle problems)
    Your doctor will tell you how many tablets to take and how often. You will usually take 4 to 8 grams of Aspirin 300mg a day.
  • Prevention of heart attacks, angina or mini-strokes
    The usual dose is one or two 75mg tablets each day. Sometimes, your doctor may tell you to take one 300mg tablet each day.

Swallow the tablets whole with water. Do not cut, crush or chew them as this will damage the special coating. If the coating is damaged the tablets are more likely to irritate your stomach.

If you may be taking this medicine for a long time, you should talk to your doctor about it.

If you take more Aspirin 300mg than you should

If you have taken too many tablets, you should go to your nearest accident and emergency department or contact your doctor immediately. Take any leftover medicines or the empty packet to the doctor to show what you have taken.

The following effects may occur; nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, dizziness, dehydration, ringing in ears or deafness, loss of balance, sweating, headache, tiredness, confusion, warm hands/feet with a fast heart rate, unusually fast or deep breathing.

Less common effects include; vomiting blood, high fever, bleeding or bruising, increased hunger, increased thirst, trembling/shakiness, muscle weakness, twitching, abnormal heart rhythm, difficulty concentrating, swollen ankles/hands/feet, blood in urine/reduced production of urine, severe breathlessness, seizures, coma, cessation of breathing or heartbeat.

If you forget to take Aspirin 300mg

Do not worry. If you miss a dose, wait until it is time for your next dose, then go on as normal. DO NOT take a double dose.

If you have any further questions on the use of this product, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

4. Possible Side Effects

Like all medicines, Aspirin 300mg can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them.

Aspirin may cause allergic reactions and you must STOP taking this medicine and tell your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following:

  • skin rashes or itching or wheezing or coughing or difficulty breathing.

When taking Aspirin 300mg, you may suffer some more serious side effects;

STOP taking this medicine and tell your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following:

  • vomiting blood
  • blood in your urine
  • bruising with purple spots
  • coughing up blood (however small the amount)
  • any swellings
  • black stools
  • reduction in red blood cells which can make the skin pale and cause weakness or breathlessness
  • kidney stones (which can cause severe stomach or back pains).

Aspirin may sometimes cause asthma or bronchospasm (narrowing of the airways that causes wheezing or difficulty breathing).

Aspirin may cause bleeding, and you must tell your doctor if you experience any unusual bleeding.

Other side effects of aspirin include:

  • nausea and vomiting
  • ringing in your ears
  • pain or discomfort in your stomach or lower chest after eating.
  • liver problems with symptoms that may include a yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes (jaundice), dark yellow urine and fatigue.

Reporting of side effects

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the internet at www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

5. How to store Aspirin 300mg

Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.

Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the bottle and carton. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.

Do not store above 25°C. Keep the bottle tightly closed in order to protect from moisture. Do not take Aspirin 300mg if you notice the appearance has changed in any way.

If your doctor decides to stop your treatment, return any unused medicine to the pharmacist. Only keep it if your doctor tells you to.

Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist on how to dispose of medicines no longer required. These measures will help protect the environment.

6. Contents of the pack and other information
What Aspirin 300mg contains

The active ingredient in this medicine is aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid). Each tablet of Aspirin 300mg contains 300mg milligrams (mg) of aspirin.

The other ingredients are maize starch, hypromellose, talc, methacrylic acid- ethyl acrylate (1:1) copolymer dispersion 30 percent, polyethylene glycol 3350, propylene glycol, benzyl alcohol, emulsion silicone. Printing ink containing shellac, iron oxide (E172), isopropyl alcohol, n-butyl alcohol, propylene glycol, ammonium hydroxide (E527) and simeticone.

What Aspirin 300mg looks like and contents of the pack

Aspirin 300mg is a white tablet, with 300mg on it in red. Aspirin 300mg comes in bottles of 100 tablets.

Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer

The product licence holder is:

Alliance Pharmaceuticals Limited
Avonbridge >House
Chippenham
Wiltshire
SN15 2BB
UK.

Aspirin 300mg is manufactured by

Chanelle Medical
Loughrea
Co Galway
Ireland

The information in this leaflet applies only to Aspirin 300mg. If you have any questions or you are not sure about anything, ask your doctor or a pharmacist.

This leaflet was last revised in August 2022

Alliance and associated devices are registered Trademarks of Alliance Pharmaceuticals Limited.

© Alliance Pharmaceuticals Limited 2022

Aspirin 300mg PIL UK 012

Alliance Pharmaceuticals
Company image
Address
Avonbridge House, Bath Road, Chippenham, Wiltshire, SN15 2BB
Telephone
+44 (0)1249 466 966
Fax
+44 (0)1249 466 977
Medical Information e-mail
[email protected]