Aspirin

[Laurence Stein DDS]

crush the asprin first. It is absorbed even quicker.



I take one every day. However my doctor advised me to make sure the people you are with know you take asprin and the dose (325mg or 81 mg) as it is important to let med staff know in the event of an emergency. ie severe cut.

Two points,

Aspirin under the tongue. Maybe...in a conscious patient, first crushed than washed down with a little water if possible. You haven't seen a nasty burn until you see an aspirin burn in the mouth. It even looks like cancer to us dentists.

Next, Neither aspirin nor other "blood thinners" actually "thin" the blood in the context of making it more runny. Aspirin affects platelet agglutination. They don't stick together well and as a result, they don't initiate clotting. Other blood thinners work on other portions of the clotting mechanism and in doing so prevent all the physical or chemical steps necessary to allow blood to clot.

Bleeding may indeed appear to be more runny. But this is because we don't see the thickening of the blood before the clot forms. In reality, the blood in your system stays just as fluid as ever. Appearance is deceiving.

Another little "factoid"...emergency administration of medication under the tongue can be used for many medications. Injectibles can be given under the tongue and it is absorbed nearly as fast as IV and certainly faster than IM. Most professionals are not comfortable with this method but it can beat the heck out of trying to find a vein.

Laurence Stein, DDS

 

[outlawaggie]

Two points,

Aspirin under the tongue. Maybe...in a conscious patient, first crushed than washed down with a little water if possible. You haven't seen a nasty burn until you see an aspirin burn in the mouth. It even looks like cancer to us dentists.

I understand but this was all in the event of cardiac arrest. In this case, a burn, regardless of severeity, is the least of one's worries.

 

[DandyDon]

I understand but this was all in the event of cardiac arrest. In this case, a burn, regardless of severeity, is the least of one's worries.

Right on, as long as the patient is awake enough to not breath the aspirin in and choke. (We seem to have the same interests in threads.) :ne_nau:

 

[Laurence Stein DDS]

I understand but this was all in the event of cardiac arrest. In this case, a burn, regardless of severeity, is the least of one's worries.

I see your point...burn is better than dead. One thing, if the victim has had a cardiac arrest and appears unconscious...there's no circulation so anything you put under the tongue may be absorbed but not circulated...right? I believe the recommendation for aspirin under the tongue refers to a conscious person having cardiac symptoms not and unconscious person or someone without a pulse.

For that matter, if you did manage to place an aspirin tablet or crushed aspirin under the tongue of an "unconscious" patient, there is a possibility of aspiration of that material and the resultant burns of the airways is something to consider.

BTW I do agree with the administration of aspirin...just not to a person who is unconscious or pulseless.

Laurence Stein, DDS