Aspirin Overdose Essay -- essays research papers

Aspirin is one of the most commonly drug abused drugs in history. Aspirin is used for many variant reasons. People use Aspirin for its cardiovascular blood thinning properties, for its pain relieving properties and for it antipyretic properties, to name a few. Most people dont survive what Aspirin is, but only what it does for their particular needs. I will attempt to describe some different aspects of Aspirin and Aspirin overdose. I will constitute a brief description of what Aspirin is, chemic in ally speaking and where aspirin originates from. The use of Aspirin for attempted suicide is common as a uncomplicated drug or as a co-drug. I will explain the possible signs and symptoms an overdose patient will experience, and the judicial decision, and the prehospital manipulation for the patient. Aspirin is derived from a chemical extracted from willow bark Salicylate Acid. Salicylate Acid has a long history of uses. During Medieval times herbalists used it for its palliativ e properties. In the mid 1900s, chemists isolated the active subdivision of willow bark, salicylic acid, and Aspirin was developed. It quickly became the drug of choice as a pain reliever, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory. The first company to develop Aspirin for commercial use was the Bayer Company. Today Aspirin is used daily by millions of Americans to help reduce the risk a heart attack. Until the late 1900s, with the development of Aspirin alternatives such(prenominal) as acetaminophen and ibuprofen, Aspirin was the most widely used drug around, and a common drug of choice for the overdose patient. Aspirin has many affects on the body when taken in excess amounts. One common affect is hyperventilation, which causes the patients PCO2 to drop from normal limits. The body will attempt to compensate for this by elimination bicarbonate, which results in an increase in pH blood levels. If this is not corrected, it will lead to metabolic alkalosis. Excess amounts of Aspirin will ha ve many affects vary in severity such as severe illness, seizures, shock, and sometimes coma. Some of the more common symptoms include hypotension, tachycardia, tachypnea, nausea and vomiting, decreased level of consciousness, hypoglycemia, and tinnitus. During the pre-hospital initial assessment of the ... ...nbspIn conclusion, Aspirin is a drug that is commonly used in many aspects of home health care. People take Aspirin daily for different reasons, including pain control and cardiovascular therapy. Aspirin overdose is a common finding and is often a co-drug in suicidal attempts. Overdose patients present with varying degrees of symptoms. Some of the more common symptoms include hypotension, tachypnea, nausea and vomiting, hypoglycemia and tinnitus. When a paramedic encounters a patient who presents with Aspirin overdose, the paramedics primary concern is to stabilize all life threatening conditions, secondly, the paramedic must perform an in-depth patient interview in the atte mpt to establish how much Aspirin was ingested and how long its been since ingestion. Initial treatment for the patient with Aspirin overdose is the administration of 100% oxygen and continuous monitoring of the patients vitals signs and ECG. If indicated, the paramedic should administer Activated Charcoal to prevent the current absorption of Salicylatic Acid. Finally, transport the patient to the emergency department for physician evaluation and blood analysis.