What happens if you take too much aspirin? What does an overdose of aspirin entail, and how to provide first aid in case of poisoning

Drugs from the group of aspirins and their analogues are very popular among the population of our country and are widely used as an analgesic, antipyretic and blood thinner. Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) tablets can be found in any home medicine cabinet, and almost no one doubts their safety of use. Although even such a harmless medicine can be poisoned. If the recommended doses are significantly exceeded and with prolonged use of the drug, an overdose of Aspirin may occur. Without in any way detracting from the usefulness of this medicine, let's not forget that everything is good in moderation. How can an overdose occur?

How does Aspirin affect the human body?

Aspirin belongs to the group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), the action of which is based on the properties of acetylsalicylic acid.

  1. These properties are manifested by analgesic, antipyretic and, of course, anti-inflammatory effects.
  2. Thanks to Aspirin, platelet aggregation in the blood decreases, preventing the formation of their accumulations - blood clots. That is why Aspirin is almost always prescribed to people suffering from cerebrovascular accidents, angina pectoris and other pathologies of the cardiovascular system.
  3. In addition, it is prescribed to patients diagnosed with atherosclerosis to prevent heart complications.
  4. Finally, Aspirin is most often used in the treatment of acute respiratory viral infections with high body temperature, for various pain syndromes, and for migraines.

The medicine is absorbed almost completely by the digestive tract, disintegrates in the liver and is excreted by the kidneys. The list of side effects indicated in the annotation for the drug describes several dozen conditions associated with disturbances in the functioning of internal organs and systems. However, all of them, as a rule, occur when the recommended dosage of the drug is not observed.

Why can you be poisoned by Aspirin?

Usually, if the therapeutic dosage is observed and the patient has no contraindications, Aspirin exhibits almost no side effects and is well tolerated by patients. But large doses of the drug, especially with long-term use, have a toxic effect on the body. Aspirin poisoning may occur as a result of an overdose. This may happen in the following cases:

  • when self-medicating with a drug that does not take into account the dosage, contraindications and other recommendations prescribed in the instructions for use;
  • if a small child found a package lying unattended and ate pills;
  • rarely - when intentionally taking large doses of the drug in order to accelerate the therapeutic effect or for another purpose;
  • with significant impairment of the kidneys or liver, which the person taking Aspirin may not have known about.

Depending on the amount of medication taken and the duration of its effect, Aspirin poisoning can be acute or chronic.

Clinical picture of chronic poisoning

The symptoms of chronic poisoning with acetylsalicylic acid are quite difficult to recognize, as they are similar to the clinical picture of many chronic diseases. Only attentive household members who notice a rapid reduction in the number of tablets in the package can suspect an overdose. If this circumstance is confirmed by the following symptoms, the victim needs immediate medical attention. Signs of intoxication may appear:

  • headache;
  • nausea, vomiting;
  • increased sweating;
  • hearing loss, “stupefaction”;
  • pain in the stomach;
  • indigestion;
  • tinnitus;
  • anemia, decreased levels of platelets and leukocytes in the blood;
  • loss of consciousness.

Chronic overdose can cause drug-induced bronchial asthma and bleeding, and prolonged overdose can increase symptoms of heart failure and other dangerous consequences. The level of Aspirin in blood plasma during chronic poisoning ranges from 150 to 300 mcg/l.

Signs of acute aspirin intoxication

When high doses of Aspirin are ingested simultaneously into the human body, acute poisoning occurs. Depending on the strength of the toxic effect, it can be of three degrees of severity.

Mild degree of poisoning

A mild degree of poisoning is usually manifested by signs characteristic of chronic intoxication, except for the loss of consciousness of the victim. The content of the drug in the blood in case of acute poisoning of mild severity does not exceed 150 mcg/l.

Average degree of poisoning

With moderate severity of overdose, rapid and difficult breathing, cough with mucous sputum, and increased body temperature are observed. Important internal organs may also be damaged to some extent. The level of traces of the drug in the blood with an average degree of intoxication is 300-500 mcg/l.

Severe poisoning

Severe acetylsalicylic acid poisoning is manifested by respiratory failure, progressing to pulmonary edema. The victim's breathing becomes even more rapid, the cough intensifies, the skin turns pale and then turns blue (cyanosis). The appearance of foam at the mouth indicates a critical condition of the poisoned person, from which it will be almost impossible to remove him. The consequences of further intoxication are manifested by the following conditions:

  1. Due to impaired renal activity, urine output decreases.
  2. The electrolyte balance in the blood is disturbed, which is life-threatening for the victim - the level of sodium in the plasma increases, and potassium decreases.
  3. Toxic encephalopathy may develop, the progression of which leads to impaired consciousness.
  4. The victim may experience short-term overexcitation, then drowsiness, convulsions and coma.

The cause of death in an overdose of Aspirin is most often kidney and liver failure and paralysis of the nerve centers of the brain responsible for respiratory and cardiac activity.

Lethal dose of Aspirin

It is clear that high doses of acetylsalicylic acid have a toxic effect on the human body, but is it possible to die from an overdose of this medicine? How many tablets constitute a lethal dose of the drug? Such questions are most often of interest to parents whose child accidentally found a package of medicine and ate all its contents. The severity of poisoning depends not only on the amount of the drug taken, but also on the general condition of the victim in the anamnesis, and on the timeliness of the therapeutic measures taken, and on the person’s body weight. Of course, it is much more difficult for children to cope with high doses of Aspirin.

Considering that the mass of one small Aspirin tablet is 0.25 g, it is easy to calculate that for a patient weighing 15 kg, taking 30 small tablets or 15 tablets weighing 0.5 g at a time would be fatal.

What to do in case of overdose

If Aspirin poisoning does occur, the poisoned person must call an ambulance. Before doctors arrive, you should try to induce vomiting in the victim in order to prevent the toxic dose from spreading to the internal organs. After this, it is advisable to give the patient several tablets of activated carbon (Aspirin does not have a specific antidote).

The best care for a patient can be provided in a hospital, where he can expect the following procedures:

  • gastric lavage;
  • carrying out forced diuresis with drip administration of solutions and diuretics;
  • restoration of water and electrolyte balance;
  • symptomatic therapy, administration of cardiac drugs;
  • in severe forms of poisoning, hemodialysis may be prescribed.

With timely treatment, the well-being of a patient affected by Aspirin intoxication is restored over time.

What are the consequences of poisoning?

As already mentioned, the success of treating an overdose of acetylsalicylic acid depends on the severity of the poisoning, the speed of measures taken and the general condition of the victim.

As a rule, acute poisoning of non-severe degrees of severity passes with virtually no special consequences for the health of the poisoned person. In mild forms of overdose, the risk of multiple organ failure is extremely low.

Severe and chronic forms of poisoning can lead to such serious consequences as toxic encephalopathy, peptic ulcer, renal or liver failure, bronchial asthma. Such conditions lead to disability of the patient.

How to avoid overdose

Preventive measures to prevent an overdose of Aspirin come down to following simple rules for storing and using this drug.

  1. Take acetylsalicylic acid only as prescribed by a doctor and in strictly recommended doses, especially if we are talking about long-term use of the drug.
  2. Store the medicine package out of the reach of children and in the temperature conditions recommended by the instructions.
  3. If you need to take other medications at the same time, be sure to consult your doctor.
  4. If you experience the slightest side effects, notify your doctor.
  5. Do not take the medicine after the expiration date and do not purchase Aspirin from dubious pharmacy outlets, so as not to be poisoned by counterfeit products.
  6. Do not drink alcoholic beverages while being treated with acetylsalicylic acid.

Compliance with the above rules applies not only to the conditions of storage and use of Aspirin. The effectiveness of any medicine can be reduced to zero if used inappropriately. And the abuse of drugs can generally turn them into poison. Therefore, in every home, a home medicine cabinet should have a specific place that is not accessible to children, and taking any medicine should begin with consulting a doctor and carefully studying the instructions for use.

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What happens if you overdose on aspirin?

Aspirin (or acetylsalicylic acid (ASA)) is a drug that exhibits antipyretic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antiplatelet effects. Included in the pharmacological group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that are derivatives of salicylic acid. It is characterized by accessibility, low cost and efficiency. That is why Aspirin can be found in any home pharmacy.

Despite all the benefits and assistance provided, Aspirin can be harmful if you exceed its recommended dosage. Let us consider in more detail when an overdose can occur, how to identify it and how to help the poisoned person in such a situation.

Aspirin is known for its ability to thin the blood and affect its clotting. Therefore, it is extremely important to follow the dosage indicated in the instructions. An overdose of acetylsalicylic acid can cause internal bleeding.

Features of the drug dosage:

  • a single (single) dose for an adult (and children over 15 years of age) varies from 40 mg to 1 g;
  • the daily norm is 150 mg - 8 g;
  • frequency of administration – 2-6 times during the day;
  • The maximum duration of therapy is 10 days.

Features of dosage in childhood:

  • for children aged 2-3 years – a maximum of 100 mg within 24 hours;
  • for children from 4 to 6 years old – maximum 200 mg;
  • for children aged 7 and older, the maximum dosage is 300 mg per day.

When does an overdose occur?

An overdose of Aspirin occurs when the maximum permissible dosage is exceeded. The instructions indicate that the first signs of poisoning may appear with a single dose of more than 150-300 mg of the drug per kg of weight.

There are 3 degrees of severity of overdose:

  • moderate – when taking 150-300 mg of the drug for each kg of a person’s weight;
  • significant – when taking 300-500 mg/kg;
  • potentially fatal - when taken 500 mg/kg or more.

Important! The lethal dose of Aspirin is individual for each individual, much depends on the characteristics and condition of the body. Experts say that death can occur when taking more than 30 g of acetylsalicylic acid, which is 60 tablets of 500 mg. For children, a dose of more than 10 g may be critical.

Causes and forms of poisoning

Aspirin poisoning can occur for the following reasons:

  • the dose prescribed by the doctor has been exceeded;
  • the drug was taken in combination with alcoholic beverages, anticoagulants or narcotic drugs;
  • the pills turned out to be expired or counterfeit;
  • self-medication without medical supervision;
  • long-term use of Aspirin in large doses;
  • suicide attempt;
  • use of the drug by people for whom it is contraindicated. For example, those suffering from chronic liver or kidney pathology.

Depending on the cause of intoxication, there are 2 forms of Aspirin poisoning:

  • acute overdose;
  • chronic overdose.

The acute form develops with one-time use of a large number of acetylsalicylic acid tablets. In such cases, the concentration of the active component in the blood varies within 300 mcg/l and above. In this case, acute poisoning has 3 degrees of severity: mild, moderate and severe.

The chronic form of overdose occurs with long-term use of Aspirin in large quantities. It can develop even with a slight increase in the daily norm. The acid concentration in the blood in this case can be equal to 150-300 mcg/l.

Each of these forms of poisoning manifests itself differently, and the clinical picture of the patient’s condition will differ. Therefore, we will consider the symptoms of chronic and acute overdose separately.

Symptoms of chronic poisoning

It is quite difficult to diagnose chronic aspirin intoxication, since its symptoms are similar to those of many diseases. It occurs after long-term use of the drug, and it is difficult to immediately establish a diagnosis. In such cases, a blood test is performed to determine the content of acetylsalicylic acid. Most often, chronic overdose occurs in elderly people.

Symptoms of chronic poisoning are:

  • hearing loss or deafness;
  • sensation of noise or ringing in the ears;
  • dyspnea;
  • agitation or hyperactivity;
  • slurred speech;
  • digestive disorders;
  • pain in the abdomen;
  • feeling of nausea and vomiting;
  • increased sweating;
  • headache;
  • low levels of hemoglobin, leukocytes and platelets in the blood;
  • loss of consciousness.

Symptoms may develop slowly and with mild intensity. Therefore, it is important to monitor changes in the body and, if you suspect intoxication, consult a doctor immediately

Symptoms of acute poisoning

Signs of acute intoxication with Aspirin appear 3-7 hours after taking the medicine in an excessive dosage. Moreover, their severity and severity may differ depending on the severity of poisoning: mild, moderate or severe.

With a mild degree of severity, the same symptoms develop as with a chronic overdose, but the victim’s consciousness will not be impaired.

With moderate degree of acetylsalicylic acid poisoning, the following symptoms are observed:

  • respiratory dysfunction (breathing becomes more frequent and difficult);
  • the appearance of cough with sputum;
  • increase in body temperature;
  • dysfunction of the liver and kidneys.

In case of severe overdose, symptoms such as:

  • pulmonary edema;
  • lack of oxygen;
  • rapid breathing;
  • blanching (or blueness) of the skin;
  • body temperature rises significantly;
  • pulse is increased;
  • blood pressure is reduced;
  • excitement (for a short period of time);
  • hearing impairment;
  • convulsions;
  • loss of consciousness;
  • in some cases, the amount of urine decreases.

If foam comes out of the mouth, then the situation is critical and it is almost impossible to help the patient.

First aid

If an overdose of Aspirin is detected, it is important to properly provide emergency care to the victim. In this case, it is necessary to follow a certain sequence.

First aid measures include:

  1. Call an ambulance.
  2. Gastric lavage. To carry out such a cleansing procedure, it is necessary to give the victim about one and a half liters of liquid to drink. It is best to use slightly warm boiled water. Then induce vomiting by lightly pressing on the very root of the tongue. The procedure can be repeated if necessary. It is important that the liquid coming out of the stomach is clear. In this case, rinsing is effective if no more than 1-2 hours have passed after taking the tablets.
  3. Taking enterosorbent. These drugs help remove all toxic compounds, poisons and accumulated toxins from the gastrointestinal tract. In addition, they are completely safe, as they are not absorbed into the bloodstream. You can choose any sorbent that is stored at home: Enterosgel, Polysorb, Activated Carbon, Smecta, Lactofiltrum or Polyphepan.
  4. Taking a salt laxative. For example, Magnesium sulfate.
  5. Soldering the patient with clean water. But you can’t drink a lot of liquid at once. It is best to drink 2-3 tablespoons (water, dried fruit decoction) every 10 minutes.
  6. If the victim is unconscious, it is necessary to monitor his breathing and provide him with free access to fresh air. If necessary, when a person stops breathing, artificial respiration should be performed.

Features of inpatient treatment

After providing emergency assistance, the patient is taken to the hospital. Treatment in a hospital is usually carried out according to the following scheme:

  1. Solutions are administered intravenously to activate the excretion of drug residues by the kidneys. For example, Furosemide.
  2. Diuretics are prescribed.
  3. Restore the ionic and water balance of the blood using sodium bicarbonate solution.
  4. In case of bleeding, the deficit of blood volume is compensated by using Reopoliglucin or Hemodez.
  5. Benzodiazepines are used for seizures.
  6. If necessary, cardiac medications, hepatoprotectors, or oxygen therapy may be prescribed.

Further treatment is symptomatic.

Possible consequences

After an overdose of Aspirin, the following consequences may occur:

  • disruption of the liver aphid kidneys;
  • toxic hepatitis;
  • pulmonary edema;
  • formation of ulcerative defects on the surface of the stomach or duodenum;
  • various internal bleeding;
  • coma;
  • death.

With mild to moderate poisoning, such serious consequences can most likely be avoided. Much in such cases will depend on the timely provision of first aid.

An overdose of Aspirin is a dangerous condition that threatens human health and life. It is important to study the information and understand what will happen as a result of taking the drug in large doses. This knowledge will help you avoid poisoning and negative consequences. Follow the recommended dosage and do not self-medicate!

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Aspirin - overdose: symptoms and consequences of acetylsalicylic acid poisoning, lethal dose of the drug

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Aspirin is a member of the group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. It has many indications (inflammatory pathologies, tendency to thrombus formation, hyperthermia, diseases of the heart, blood vessels and joints, and others) and contraindications.

During treatment with this drug, the dosage must be strictly observed. Otherwise, if it is exceeded, acute or chronic poisoning may develop.

In this article you will learn what will happen if you take a lot of acetylsalicylic acid tablets, what effect does aspirin have in case of poisoning, what are the symptoms and consequences of an overdose of the drug, and you will also learn how to provide first aid to the patient in this case.

Causes of overdose

Anyone should know the reasons why acetylsalicylic acid poisoning develops:

To avoid poisoning, it is necessary to correctly calculate the dose of the drug.

The dosage is calculated depending on the patient's weight. Adults and children over 15 years old take 40 milligrams per 1 kilogram of body weight. This is a single dose.

The daily dose of aspirin should not exceed 3 grams, that is, 6 Aspirin tablets. In this case, an interval between doses of at least 4 hours should be observed.

Symptoms of acute and chronic overdose

An overdose of acetylsalicylic acid can be acute or chronic. This depends on the time of exposure and the dose of the drug.

Acute form of poisoning

Acute overdose occurs due to a single dose of the drug (more than 300 milligrams). The clinical picture develops several hours after taking Aspirin. Pathological signs depend on the severity of poisoning.

An overdose of aspirin in a mild form (drug concentration in the blood of 300 milligrams) is marked by the following symptoms:

  • Hearing loss, tinnitus;
  • Nausea;
  • One-time vomiting;
  • Headache and dizziness;
  • Abdominal pain;
  • Increased sweating;
  • Euphoria, emotional overexcitement.

Moderate intoxication (the concentration of the active substance in the blood is from 350 to 500 milligrams) of severity is manifested by a number of pathological symptoms:

  • Dyspnea. The patient notes difficulty and increased breathing;
  • Cough with mucous sputum;
  • General hyperthermia (increased body temperature);
  • Heart rate changes. Tachycardia or bradycardia may occur;
  • Open and closed bleeding. Bleeding can occur in the gastrointestinal tract, urinary tract, nose, gums, and so on.
In cases of severe overdose, confusion, severe respiratory failure in the form of pulmonary edema, loss of consciousness and coma are noted.

Chronic overdose

This type of intoxication occurs when the patient exceeds the dosage for a long time. The clinical picture is similar to an acute form of poisoning.

However, it should be remembered that the symptoms develop rather slowly, and the intensity of their manifestation is weak:

  • Gradual decrease in vision and hearing;
  • Episodic abdominal pain, dyspepsia;
  • Cardiopalmus;
  • Unreasonable increase in body temperature;
  • Emotional excitement or, on the contrary, deafness;
  • Breathing disorders in the form of shortness of breath.
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Reye's syndrome

Reye's syndrome is a complication of acute intoxication. This condition is typical for children.

Main signs of the syndrome:

  • The child's age is under 12 years;
  • Reduced blood pressure;
  • Repeated vomiting;
  • Dyspnea;
  • Bleeding and hemorrhage.

This is a life-threatening complication. Due to severe intoxication and bleeding, the child may die.

First aid for drug overdose

It should be noted right away that there is no antidote for Aspirin. Help is provided symptomatically.

If signs of an overdose are detected, the following assistance must be provided to the victim:

  • Call an ambulance. Before the arrival of medical workers, it is necessary to provide assistance independently and be with the patient, without leaving him alone;
  • If the drug was taken less than 60 minutes ago, it is advisable to perform gastric lavage. However, you need to remember that washing is carried out only when the patient is conscious. A person should be given 1.5 liters of clean water without gas to drink. Then induce vomiting (press on the root of the tongue);
  • Give magnesium sulfate to drink. This is a saline laxative that will help remove toxins from the body;
  • Absorbents must be taken. They are able to bind toxins and remove them from the body. Such drugs include Activated carbon, Enterosgel, Lactofiltrum. The dosage of activated carbon should be calculated depending on the weight. For 10 kilograms of body weight you need to take 1 tablet;
  • If the patient is unconscious, then pulse and breathing must be determined. If vital functions are preserved, then give ammonia to breathe. Place the patient in a lateral position to avoid asphyxia. Monitor breathing and pulse until doctors arrive;
  • If breathing and pulse are absent, then it is necessary to immediately begin performing resuscitation measures: chest compressions and artificial respiration.

The ambulance team assesses the patient's condition and transports him to the hospital. In this case, infusion therapy is carried out with saline solution, Poliglyukin, Reopoliglyukin. Symptomatic treatment is provided in the hospital.

Questions about Aspirin

This drug is familiar to everyone, and this raises a lot of questions. It is necessary to consider in detail the most important of them.

When to see a doctor

Indications for seeking medical help are the following conditions:

It is imperative to consult a doctor if a child, an elderly person or a pregnant woman has been poisoned.

Lethal dose

A high dose of Aspirin has a toxic effect on the body. However, not many people know that this widely available drug can kill people.

A lethal dose of aspirin is the amount of a drug that causes pathological changes in the body that are incompatible with life.

If the patient takes Aspirin in a dose higher than 500 milligrams per 1 kilogram of body weight, severe intoxication will develop with a fatal outcome. In this case, it is almost impossible to save the person.

Aspirin and alcohol

Is it possible to combine Aspirin with alcohol? The answer to this question can be unequivocal - no.

Consequences of combining aspirin with alcohol:

  • Changes in the blood. Aspirin thins the blood, while alcohol, on the contrary, causes it to thicken. In combination, they can provoke massive hemorrhages in various organs. If a cerebral hemorrhage occurs, the person may die;
  • Pathological effects on the stomach. This mixture irritates the gastric mucosa, which leads to inflammation, erosions and ulcers. If a person has a peptic ulcer, then there is a high probability of gastric bleeding;
  • Liver lesions. Alcohol and Aspirin break down in the liver, and their mixture leads to the destruction of its cells and the development of hepatitis and cirrhosis.

Consequences of an overdose of Aspirin

The consequences of intoxication depend on the condition of the patient’s body and the severity of the poisoning.

A slight overdose with timely assistance and consultation with a doctor can end happily.

Aspirin poisoning with moderate and severe intoxication has quite serious consequences:

In severe cases, the patient will face death.

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Aspirin overdose: symptoms, what to do, consequences

Aspirin is widely known for its ability to reduce elevated body temperature and thin the blood. It is one of the main components of home first aid kits. This medicine helps many patients improve their health.

But can acetylsalicylic acid be dangerous? Moreover, can you be poisoned by aspirin? If this happens, how can we see the intoxication and what kind of help will be needed? How to treat an overdose, are there any consequences? How does acetylsalicylic acid act on the body? There are a lot of questions, we need to sort them out.

The effect of aspirin on the body

Aspirin has many analogues, but they are all made on the basis of acetylsalicylic acid. This drug belongs to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and antiplatelet agents. It relieves pain, inflammation, and has an antipyretic effect. By reducing platelet aggregation, the drug prevents the formation of blood clots.

Aspirin is completely absorbed from the digestive tract. Its breakdown occurs in the liver, and excretion through the kidneys. Aspirin is used for acute colds, accompanied by fever, migraines, pain from inflammation, to prevent cardiovascular complications in people with atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular accident and other cardiovascular diseases.

Causes of aspirin poisoning

Like any drug, in large doses, aspirin can be poisonous. The causes of aspirin overdose are as follows.

  1. Treatment without a doctor’s prescription, when taken in the wrong dose or without taking into account contraindications.
  2. Intentional excess of the therapeutic dosage (happens very rarely).
  3. When taken correctly in case of significant impairment of liver and (or) kidney function.
  4. When a child finds a package of medicine.

Aspirin poisoning can be acute or chronic.

A single intake of a large dose over two days leads to the development of acute intoxication. In this case, the concentration of acetylsalicylic acid in the blood will exceed 300 mcg/l.

If the maximum daily dose is exceeded for a long time, chronic poisoning develops. The content of the drug in the blood in this case is 150-300 mcg/l.

The maximum daily dose of medication is 3 grams. For aspirin poisoning to occur, you need to drink 100 mg per 1 kg of body weight per day. Lethal dose is 500 mg/kg or more per day.

Symptoms of chronic aspirin overdose

Chronic intoxication is difficult to diagnose. Usually, relatives can tell for sure if they find the packaging of a recently purchased drug empty. The most reliable diagnostic method is to determine the level of acetylsalicylic acid in the blood. Chronic intoxication occurs more often in older people.

In case of chronic overdose of aspirin, the symptoms will be as follows:

  • noise in ears;
  • indigestion;
  • stomach ache;
  • hearing loss;
  • nausea, vomiting;
  • sweating;
  • headache;
  • anemia, decreased levels of white blood cells and platelets;
  • stupor, loss of consciousness.

Chronic intoxication is dangerous by provoking bleeding and the development of drug-induced bronchial asthma. Prolonged overdose may worsen heart failure.

Symptoms of acute aspirin poisoning

Acute poisoning has 3 degrees of severity. In case of mild intoxication, the symptoms will be the same as with chronic intoxication, only consciousness in this case will not be impaired.

A moderate overdose is manifested by increased frequency and difficulty breathing, a cough with mucous sputum appears, and body temperature begins to rise. The toxic effect is aimed at the nervous system, lungs, kidneys, liver, blood.

A severe overdose of acetylsalicylic acid causes respiratory failure in victims, leading to pulmonary edema. It is accompanied by even more rapid breathing, coughing, pale skin followed by blue discoloration. When foaming appears at the mouth, at this stage of pulmonary edema it is rare that anyone can be saved.

Body temperature reaches high levels. Blood pressure gradually decreases, the pulse increases, and patients feel interruptions in the functioning of the heart. Before loss of consciousness, which develops gradually, there is a short period of excitement. First, drowsiness and stupor appear. The victim then falls into a coma. Convulsions develop.

With kidney damage, urine output decreases. A life-threatening electrolyte imbalance in the blood develops. Plasma sodium increases and potassium decreases.

Poisoning is characterized by the development of toxic encephalopathy (brain disease). In mild cases, it manifests itself as general weakness, distracted attention, irritability, poor sleep, slowness, apathy, and anxiety. With further progression, consciousness is impaired.

Aspirin overdose ends in death from acute liver or kidney failure, pulmonary edema, paralysis of the centers of the brain that control breathing and cardiac activity.

First aid and further treatment

If you notice signs of an aspirin overdose, what can you do? If you suspect poisoning, you should immediately consult a doctor. While the ambulance is on the way, try to induce vomiting and then give activated charcoal. Subsequently, the intake of sorbents continues for several more days. In case of severe aspirin poisoning, the victim should be taken to the hospital as quickly as possible.

At the clinic, the stomach is washed, forced diuresis is performed, which involves intravenous drip administration of solutions, and then diuretics. The treatment also includes correction of the ionic and water balance of the blood. If necessary, cardiac drugs are administered and symptomatic treatment is carried out. Hemodialysis is also prescribed if severe poisoning with acetylsalicylic acid occurs.

Consequences of aspirin overdose

Recovery of the body largely depends on the severity of the poisoning, the type of its course, the timeliness of medical care, and the previous state of the body. In acute cases of mild to moderate severity, poisoning may pass without a trace. The likelihood of developing multiple organ failure is very low. In severe cases or chronic overdose of aspirin, the consequences can be significant. There is a high risk of toxic encephalopathy, the development of renal and liver failure, bronchial asthma, and peptic ulcers.

So, we were able to find out that uncontrolled use of aspirin creates a danger of poisoning. Penetrating into all organs, it can cause multiple failures, which is dangerous not only for health, but also for life. Symptoms of poisoning, especially chronic poisoning, are nonspecific. Therefore, if chronic intoxication develops in an elderly person, then the clinical manifestations of poisoning can be mistaken for signs of chronic diseases and due attention may not be paid to them. After all, many older people who do not take aspirin suffer from tinnitus, headaches, hearing loss, and nausea. First aid for intoxication has no special features and is based on the general principles of treatment of poisoning. There is no specific antidote for aspirin. Therefore, to avoid such situations, all medications should be taken only as prescribed by a doctor!

What can a child eat after poisoning and vomiting?

Acetylsalicylic acid is widely used by people all over the world, but few people know how an overdose of this medicine manifests itself, what its harms and benefits are.

Any drug if used incorrectly can lead to unpleasant consequences for the body. It is not at all necessary to deliberately poison yourself with drugs in order to get a side effect - often an overdose occurs in people who hope for a speedy recovery.

It is important to remember that any medication must be used with caution, and special attention should be paid to dosage when treating children and people suffering from chronic diseases.

Acetylsalicylic acid, popularly known as Aspirin, can have an effective effect on the body, reducing body temperature to normal and thinning the blood. This drug is an important element of any first aid kit - almost every ordinary person has it at home, every motorist has it in his car, and you can buy it at a pharmacy for little money.

Nevertheless, poisoning with Acetylsalicylic acid is a fairly common phenomenon, and this is due, first of all, to improper use of the medicine and incorrect calculation of the dosage.

Action

A huge number of drugs are produced based on Acetylsalicylic acid, but the active substance is always the main component. The drug is non-steroidal in nature and copes well with inflammation. Among its useful features is the ability to significantly reduce pain and get rid of fever. Moreover, it is Aspirin and its analogues that prevent the formation of life-threatening blood clots in the body.

The acid is completely absorbed by the digestive organs, dissolution here occurs at the highest possible level. The breakdown of the substance occurs in the liver, and the results of the breakdown are excreted through the human kidneys. The range of applications of this drug is quite wide - it is the main method of treatment for colds, for the prevention of cardiovascular disorders and even cerebral circulatory disorders.

Poisoning

Like poisoning with other medications, an overdose of acetylene poses a serious health hazard. The reasons for such a drug overdose may be as follows:

  1. The drug is used without a doctor's testimony. In this case, the medicine does not always have a positive effect, and in some situations it even has a negative effect.
  2. The patient intentionally increases the dosage of the drug. This phenomenon is quite rare and is often associated with the desire to quickly get rid of the symptoms of the disease.
  3. Problems may arise in patients who have liver and kidney problems. In this case, the therapy is quite dangerous.
  4. Young children who have access to a first aid kit are at risk. In this case, it is recommended to act immediately - the child needs to rinse the stomach and first call an ambulance.

Poisoning with this drug can be both acute and chronic. Acute intoxication occurs when the patient takes a large dose of the drug once. Long-term excess of the permissible amount of the drug leads to a chronic form of poisoning and poses a serious danger to human health.

Note! The maximum dose of the drug allowed for daily use is three grams. The lethal dose is 500 or more milligrams per kilogram of weight per day.

Symptoms of the chronic form

Acetylsalicylic acid, an overdose of which occurs over a long period of time, causes severe harm to health. Regardless of how many days the body has been poisoned, it is quite difficult to diagnose this problem even in a medical facility.

Typically, diagnosis is based on the testimony of the patient’s relatives, who know exactly when the medicine was purchased and how many tablets are left in the package. A blood test is also performed, only this can show an increased level of the substance in the blood. Based on these data, appropriate treatment is prescribed.

Chronic overdose of acetylene can cause the following symptoms:

  • noise or ringing in the ears;
  • problems with the digestive system;
  • discomfort in the abdominal area;
  • decreased hearing function;
  • feeling of nausea, vomiting;
  • increased sweating;
  • headache;
  • complete or partial loss of consciousness.

An overdose can also cause bleeding and other unpleasant symptoms, which will be a serious obstacle to therapy.

Symptoms of acute intoxication

Acute poisoning with this drug involves three degrees of severity. The mildest form involves the same symptoms as in the case of chronic poisoning with the drug, only consciousness will be active.

The average severity of an overdose with this medicinal component involves difficulty breathing, a severe wet cough and an increase in general body temperature. At the same time, such important organs as the lungs, liver, kidneys and nervous system suffer from intoxication.

The most difficult side effect is a severe overdose of Acetylsalicylic acid. The substance causes severe respiratory failure, which affects natural life activities.

This symptom develops into pulmonary edema, which only worsens breathing difficulties. The skin of the poisoned person becomes very pale and the cough intensifies. The final stage is the appearance of foam at the mouth, and this symptom indicates impending death.

Note! A severe overdose of habitual Aspirin in most cases leads to death. Even calling doctors in a timely manner is unlikely to help save the patient’s life.

In addition to the dangerous symptoms listed, in case of severe poisoning, other characteristic signs are observed:

  1. Significant increase in body temperature.
  2. Reducing blood pressure to the lowest levels.
  3. The pulse quickens.
  4. There are noticeable interruptions in the functioning of the heart.
  5. Next, there is a short period of excitement, after which consciousness turns off.
  6. A convulsive state is observed, after which the patient falls into a coma.

First aid

If one of your loved ones or people around you is poisoned by a drug, it is imperative to call an ambulance and immediately begin to take actions to alleviate the symptoms of intoxication.

The patient needs to induce vomiting; a weak solution of potassium permanganate will be an excellent assistant for this. Then you need to give the victim Activated carbon. After removing the primary symptoms of poisoning, you should not stop taking absorbents; it is important to restore the balance of substances in the body and provide the patient with plenty of fluids.

Severe poisoning requires immediate hospitalization. Doctors will do a mandatory gastric lavage to restore the balance of substances in the body. In addition, the victim is injected intravenously with solutions that eliminate toxic substances and normalize the condition. The remaining treatment methods are prescribed by a specialist after a detailed examination of the patient and receipt of test results.

Video: Aspirin and Paracetamol.

Consequences

As with any poisoning, intoxication with Acetylsalicylic acid requires subsequent treatment. It will continue depending entirely on the severity of the damage to the body; only the attending physician can prescribe therapy.

Note! The patient is under no circumstances recommended to take medications without a doctor’s prescription, otherwise re-intoxication of the body is likely.

Mild and moderate forms of poisoning may well do without consequences, but a severe form poses a serious danger to a person’s future life. The victim may develop encephalopathy, acute liver or kidney failure, bronchial asthma and even an ulcer. Treatment in this case is carried out exclusively under the supervision of a professional, who draws conclusions based on examination and analysis.

Despite the apparent safety of the drug, it can pose a serious health threat. Therefore, it is important to use the medicine only after the doctor’s recommendation, strictly follow the dosage and hide the medicines from children.

Overdose is likely due to the following factors:

  1. Self-therapy without taking into account possible contraindications.
  2. Attempted suicide.
  3. Treatment for liver diseases.
  4. The use of pills by a small child as a result of parental inattention.
  5. Concomitant use with alcohol.

An overdose of acetylsalicylic acid can occur in the following situations:

  1. The child accidentally found the package and ate the pills.
  2. Suicide.
  3. Correct intake against the background of pathologies of the liver and kidneys.
  4. Exceeding the dosage, non-compliance with the instructions for use of the drug.

A therapeutic, not exceeded dose of ASA can cause poisoning if:

  • using the drug together with alcoholic beverages;
  • consuming expired tablets;
  • taking Aspirin along with heparin;
  • taking medication despite the presence of contraindications to it.

How many ASA tablets can provoke an overdose and subsequent poisoning? A single dose of overdose can cause very acute intoxication. In this case, the concentration of acid in the patient’s blood will show a figure of more than 300 mcg/l. In case of prolonged use of excessive doses, chronic poisoning with this medication may develop. In this situation, the level of acetylsalicylic acid in the blood will be about 150-300 mcg/l.

The maximum permissible daily dose is three grams (six tablets of 0.5 g each). A dose of about 100 milligrams per kilogram of the human body per day will already lead to poisoning. As for the lethal dose of Aspirin, it is 500 or more mg/kg per day. In case of an overdose of Aspirin, the consequences can be terrifying, even fatal.

Like any drug, acetylsalicylic acid, taken in large dosages, can not only have a detrimental effect on the body, but also cause death. Aspirin overdose occurs for several reasons:

  • Accidental consumption of large quantities of tablets (usually by children)
  • Uncontrolled independent use without taking into account contraindications
  • Too long use
  • Exceeding the recommended amount of aspirin in order to accelerate (intensify) the therapeutic effect
  • Kidney or liver failure (in this case, taking even the recommended amount of medication may cause an overdose)
  • Simultaneous use of several drugs with salicylates.

Depending on the pill intake, overdose can be acute or chronic. In the first case, intoxication develops after a single dose of large doses of the drug or if the dose exceeds 100 mg per kilogram of body weight for more than 2 days. Chronic overdose develops as a result of prolonged use of aspirin in excess of the daily norm.

To prevent an overdose, we must remember that no more than 3-4 g of acetylsalicylic acid per day can be taken without health consequences. The maximum amount for a single dose is 300-1000 mg. A lethal dose of aspirin for an adult is taking more than 500 mg per 1 kg of body weight.

Clinical picture of Aspirin poisoning

In case of poisoning, it is important to provide first aid to the victim in a timely manner; for this it is necessary to recognize the symptoms. Acute and chronic intoxication with Aspirin is possible.

With chronic intoxication it is very difficult to make a quick diagnosis. An accurate diagnostic method is to determine the level of acetylsalicylic acid in human blood. Basically, the chronic form of poisoning is recorded in old age.

Symptoms of chronic aspirin intoxication:

  • stomach ache;
  • presence of tinnitus;
  • severe and painful nausea;
  • vomit;
  • indigestion;
  • decreased hearing acuity;
  • headache;
  • increased sweating;
  • dyspnea;
  • increased heart rate during light physical activity or at rest;
  • fainting;
  • stunned.

The main danger of chronic poisoning is that there is a risk of bleeding and the development of bronchial asthma. It is important to remember that prolonged overdose can worsen heart failure.

Signs of acute overdose of ASA

Symptoms of acute aspirin overdose appear 3-8 hours after taking an excessively high dose of the drug. There are three main degrees of severity of poisoning.

  • The mild form is characterized by the same clinical picture as chronic intoxication. However, impaired consciousness may occur.
  • With a moderate overdose, difficulty breathing and rapid heartbeat, cough with phlegm and mucus, and increased body temperature may be noted. As for the toxic effects, it is aimed at the liver and kidneys, blood, lungs and nervous system. The rhythm of heart contractions is disturbed, and bleeding of various locations may develop.
  • In severe overdose, pulmonary edema and paralysis of the respiratory system occur, which can be fatal. Patients have a severe cough, pallor and blue discoloration of the skin. If foam appears in the oral cavity, then the chances of salvation are very scanty. Body temperature rises, blood pressure decreases, pulse quickens and interruptions in heart function are observed. Stupefaction, drowsiness and fainting, convulsions and coma appear. If there is kidney damage, the portion of urine excreted is noticeably reduced.

A rare but extremely serious complication of acute overdose of ASA is Reye's syndrome. It is characterized by the sudden appearance of uncontrollable vomiting and depression of consciousness. The pressure drops sharply, breathing and cardiac activity are impaired. Intravascular blood coagulation develops. In most cases, this condition ends in death.

Aspirin overdose: symptoms, what to do, consequences

Possible acute and chronic poisoning:

  1. In the first case, the patient’s blood contains more than 300 mg/liter.
  2. In the second, 150–300 mg/l is sufficient.

Acute

Clinical picture:

  1. Severe nausea leads to vomiting.
  2. The person experiences euphoria, movement and speech are active.
  3. Cephalgia and dizziness appear.
  4. There is noise and ringing in the ear canals, vision and hearing are reduced.
  5. The temperature rises.
  6. Breathing quickens and shortness of breath develops.
  7. Brady- or tachycardia is possible.
  8. Convulsions are observed.
  9. Local bleeding occurs - subcutaneous, nasal. Clots may be found in stool and urine.
  10. If first aid is not provided, coma and death are likely.

Chronic

Main features:

  1. Hearing impairment.
  2. Dyspepsia.
  3. Tachycardia at rest.
  4. Periodic increase in temperature without the presence of inflammatory processes.
  5. States of excitement and inhibition.
  6. Slurred speech may occur.

Reye's syndrome

Main symptoms of poisoning:

  • Repeated and uncontrollable vomiting due to neurological problems.
  • Depression of consciousness and coma.
  • Heart rhythm and breathing disturbances.
  • Arterial hypotension.
  • Thrombohemorrhagic syndrome.

Lethal dose

Depending on the person’s condition, age, and the presence of chronic diseases, the amount of the drug varies:

  1. Moderate option – 150–300 mg/kg.
  2. Pronounced – 300–500 mg/kg.
  3. Lethal – more than 500 mg/kg.

1 Aspirin tablet contains 0.25 g or 0.5 g of active substance. Therefore, an overdose resulting from a single dose of 30 small pieces or 15 large ones is considered potentially dangerous for a child weighing 15 kg.

Drugs from the group of aspirins and their analogues are very popular among the population of our country and are widely used as an analgesic, antipyretic and blood thinner. Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) tablets can be found in any home medicine cabinet, and almost no one doubts their safety of use.

Although even such a harmless medicine can be poisoned. If the recommended doses are significantly exceeded and with prolonged use of the drug, an overdose of Aspirin may occur. Without in any way detracting from the usefulness of this medicine, let's not forget that everything is good in moderation. How can an overdose occur?

How does Aspirin affect the human body?

Aspirin belongs to the group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), the action of which is based on the properties of acetylsalicylic acid.

  1. These properties are manifested by analgesic, antipyretic and, of course, anti-inflammatory effects.
  2. Thanks to Aspirin, platelet aggregation in the blood decreases, preventing the formation of their accumulations - blood clots. That is why Aspirin is almost always prescribed to people suffering from cerebrovascular accidents, angina pectoris and other pathologies of the cardiovascular system.
  3. In addition, it is prescribed to patients diagnosed with atherosclerosis to prevent heart complications.
  4. Finally, Aspirin is most often used in the treatment of acute respiratory viral infections with high body temperature, for various pain syndromes, and for migraines.

The medicine is absorbed almost completely by the digestive tract, disintegrates in the liver and is excreted by the kidneys. The list of side effects indicated in the annotation for the drug describes several dozen conditions associated with disturbances in the functioning of internal organs and systems. However, all of them, as a rule, occur when the recommended dosage of the drug is not observed.

Why can you be poisoned by Aspirin?

Usually, if the therapeutic dosage is observed and the patient has no contraindications, Aspirin exhibits almost no side effects and is well tolerated by patients. But large doses of the drug, especially with long-term use, have a toxic effect on the body. Aspirin poisoning may occur as a result of an overdose. This may happen in the following cases:

  • when self-medicating with a drug that does not take into account the dosage, contraindications and other recommendations prescribed in the instructions for use;
  • if a small child found a package lying unattended and ate pills;
  • rarely - when intentionally taking large doses of the drug in order to accelerate the therapeutic effect or for another purpose;
  • with significant impairment of the kidneys or liver, which the person taking Aspirin may not have known about.

Depending on the amount of medication taken and the duration of its effect, Aspirin poisoning can be acute or chronic.

Clinical picture of chronic poisoning

The symptoms of chronic poisoning with acetylsalicylic acid are quite difficult to recognize, as they are similar to the clinical picture of many chronic diseases. Only attentive household members who notice a rapid reduction in the number of tablets in the package can suspect an overdose. If this circumstance is confirmed by the following symptoms, the victim needs immediate medical attention. Signs of intoxication may appear:

  • headache;
  • nausea, vomiting;
  • increased sweating;
  • hearing loss, “stupefaction”;
  • pain in the stomach;
  • indigestion;
  • tinnitus;
  • anemia, decreased levels of platelets and leukocytes in the blood;
  • loss of consciousness.

Chronic overdose can cause drug-induced bronchial asthma and bleeding, and prolonged overdose can increase symptoms of heart failure and other dangerous consequences. The level of Aspirin in blood plasma during chronic poisoning ranges from 150 to 300 mcg/l.

Signs of acute aspirin intoxication

When high doses of Aspirin are ingested simultaneously into the human body, acute poisoning occurs. Depending on the strength of the toxic effect, it can be of three degrees of severity.

Aspirin is a member of the group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. It has many indications (inflammatory pathologies, tendency to thrombus formation, hyperthermia, diseases of the heart, blood vessels and joints, and others) and contraindications.

During treatment with this drug, the dosage must be strictly observed. Otherwise, if it is exceeded, acute or chronic poisoning may develop.

In this article you will learn what will happen if you take a lot of acetylsalicylic acid tablets, what effect does aspirin have in case of poisoning, what are the symptoms and consequences of an overdose of the drug, and you will also learn how to provide first aid to the patient in this case.

Causes of overdose

To avoid poisoning, it is necessary to correctly calculate the dose of the drug.

The dosage is calculated depending on the patient's weight. Adults and children over 15 years old take 40 milligrams per 1 kilogram of body weight. This is a single dose.

The daily dose of aspirin should not exceed 3 grams, that is, 6 Aspirin tablets. In this case, an interval between doses of at least 4 hours should be observed.

Symptoms of acute and chronic overdose

An overdose of acetylsalicylic acid can be acute or chronic. This depends on the time of exposure and the dose of the drug.

Aspirin is widely known for its ability to reduce elevated body temperature and thin the blood. It is one of the main components of home first aid kits. This medicine helps many patients improve their health.

But can acetylsalicylic acid be dangerous? Moreover, can you be poisoned by aspirin? If this happens, how can we see the intoxication and what kind of help will be needed? How to treat an overdose, are there any consequences? How does acetylsalicylic acid act on the body? There are a lot of questions, we need to sort them out.

The effect of aspirin on the body

Aspirin has many analogues, but they are all made on the basis of acetylsalicylic acid. This drug belongs to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and antiplatelet agents. It relieves pain, inflammation, and has an antipyretic effect. By reducing platelet aggregation, the drug prevents the formation of blood clots.

Aspirin is completely absorbed from the digestive tract. Its breakdown occurs in the liver, and excretion through the kidneys. Aspirin is used for acute colds, accompanied by fever, migraines, pain from inflammation, to prevent cardiovascular complications in people with atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular accident and other cardiovascular diseases.

Causes of aspirin poisoning

Like any drug, in large doses, aspirin can be poisonous. The causes of aspirin overdose are as follows.

  1. Treatment without a doctor’s prescription, when taken in the wrong dose or without taking into account contraindications.
  2. Intentional excess of the therapeutic dosage (happens very rarely).
  3. When taken correctly in case of significant impairment of liver and (or) kidney function.
  4. When a child finds a package of medicine.

Aspirin poisoning can be acute or chronic.

A single intake of a large dose over two days leads to the development of acute intoxication. In this case, the concentration of acetylsalicylic acid in the blood will exceed 300 mcg/l.

If the maximum daily dose is exceeded for a long time, chronic poisoning develops. The content of the drug in the blood in this case is 150-300 mcg/l.

Diagnostics

If a patient is admitted to the toxicology department with a suspected overdose of acetylsalicylic acid, an examination is immediately started:

  1. They find out from those accompanying the patient or the patient himself what he took and in what quantity. If a person took another drug or alcoholic drink at the same time as Aspirin, be sure to inform the doctor.
  2. To determine the concentration of the substance, laboratory blood tests are prescribed, and special test strips are used to detect it in the urine.
  3. When damage to internal organs is suspected, hardware methods are used.

Based on the examination results, the therapy program is adjusted.

Treatment methods

The treatment regimen includes:

  1. Forced diuresis with Furosemide.
  2. Alkalinization of blood with sodium bicarbonate.
  3. Elimination of bleeding with Dicinon or Etamsylate, if significant, surgical intervention is possible.
  4. Restoration of blood volume in case of significant loss with hemodez, Reopoliglyukin.
  5. Use of a pressure chamber or oxygen cushion.
  6. Introduction of hepatoprotectors - Karsil, Essentiale, Heptral.
  7. Use of benzodiazepines for seizures.

What the prognosis will be depends largely on the severity of the condition and the time of assistance. It must be remembered that a severe overdose is fatal.

Antidote

There is no specific antidote, but the use of general sorbents makes it possible to treat intoxication.

Properties of a familiar product

Aspirin belongs to the group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Its active substance is acetylsalicylic acid (or salicylic ester of acetic acid). The mechanism of its action is the irreversible suppression of platelet aggregation (possibility of gluing) and neutralization of cyclooxygenase, an enzyme that promotes the formation of arachidonic acid, a substance responsible for the development of the inflammatory process.

Due to its ability to thin the blood, acetylsalicylic acid is actively used in drugs for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases, the prevention of heart attacks and strokes. But this same property contributes to the occurrence and intensification of internal bleeding - depending on the dose of aspirin taken - by 50-100%. Moreover, the effect of the medicine remains for 2 days after discontinuation.

After ingestion, the active substance of aspirin is absorbed very quickly - a significant part from the small intestine, a smaller part - in its wall. After this, the active substance binds to blood proteins and spreads freely throughout the body. The highest level of concentration of the substance in the blood is achieved five hours after taking the tablets on an empty stomach. If aspirin is taken with food, its maximum values ​​are recorded after 8 hours.

The drug is broken down by the liver and excreted by the kidneys. The duration of the process depends on the amount of the drug taken, the ability of liver enzymes to convert acetylsalicylic acid, and the condition of the kidneys. A healthy body copes with the removal of small doses of acid in 2-3 hours, cleansing from large amounts of the drug takes about 15-30 hours.

Properties of Aspirin, indications for use

Aspirin has a huge number of analogues, but they are all made on the basis of acetylsalicylic acid. This drug is considered an anti-inflammatory non-steroidal drug and also belongs to antiplatelet agents. It has antipyretic and analgesic properties, reduces blood clotting and prevents the development of inflammatory processes.

Despite this, if you exceed the prescribed dosage, you can easily become poisoned. At the same time, the beneficial qualities of the drug turn into negative ones: inhibition of the blood coagulation system creates the risk of bleeding and ulceration of the gastrointestinal mucosa, especially the stomach.

ASA is absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract, excreted through the kidneys, and degraded in the liver.

Indications for use of Aspirin:

  • increased body temperature;
  • migraine;
  • inflammatory processes with pain syndrome;
  • rheumatism, rheumatoid arthritis;
  • cardiovascular pathologies (myocarditis);
  • cardiac ischemia;
  • atherosclerosis;
  • prevention of myocardial infarction, thrombosis and embolism.

For pregnant women and nursing mothers, acetylsalicylic acid can only be taken as prescribed by a doctor. Uncontrolled use of Aspirin by pregnant women can lead to developmental abnormalities of the child, weakening of labor and other negative consequences. ASA easily passes into breast milk, so if a nursing mother takes an Aspirin tablet, the baby may develop stomach bleeding.

In pediatric practice, the use of Aspirin for children under 15 years of age is prohibited due to the risk of developing Reye's syndrome (encephalopathy, cerebral edema, liver damage).

The main indication for the use of acetylsalicylic acid is pain of any origin (headache, toothache, muscle pain). Aspirin can even cope with joint pain, which is particularly drug-resistant.

The second indication for the use of acetylsalicylic acid is an increase in body temperature during infectious diseases and other diseases. Aspirin allows you to quickly and gently lower your temperature.

Repeated use of aspirin tablets when the temperature does not decrease or persistent pain is not recommended due to a significant increase in the risk of side effects of the drug. In this case, the patient is recommended to seek medical help. The consequences of an overdose of acetylsalicylic acid are very serious.

Providing first aid in case of overdose

To remove Aspirin in case of poisoning, medical treatment is necessary. At home, before the medical team arrives, you can reduce symptoms and the risk of death by resorting to the following procedures:

  • Stop taking the drug.
  • Rinse the stomach with 1–1.5 liters of a weak solution of potassium permanganate or warm water. If the dosage was exceeded more than an hour ago, the measure is ineffective.
  • They cleanse the food tract with sorbents - Activated carbon, Enterosgel, Laktofiltrum, Polysorb are used as an antidote.
  • A saline laxative, magnesium sulfate, is recommended.

What can you do if you notice symptoms of poisoning? In case of suspicion, it is important to immediately consult a doctor. In the meantime, you need to rinse your stomach and induce vomiting, take activated charcoal, as it helps perfectly with any poisoning. You can give the victim a saline laxative (magnesium sulfate). If a severe degree of intoxication is observed, it is important to urgently transport the patient to a hospital, where he can be provided with qualified assistance.

In the hospital, the victim will undergo a high-quality gastric lavage, forced diuresis, which means intravenous drip infusion of a solution, and administration of diuretics. If necessary, cardiac medications are administered, symptomatic therapy and hemodialysis are performed. Thus, if you suspect Aspirin intoxication, you should not self-medicate; it is important to immediately consult a doctor.

First aid for suspected intoxication with acetylsalicylic acid is to call an ambulance. Before medical workers arrive, try to induce vomiting and give the victim activated charcoal. Gastric lavage is performed through a tube in the clinic or at home under the supervision of an emergency physician.

Treatment tactics depend on the degree of intoxication and the age of the patient. Elderly people, infants, children under 3 years of age, and persons who deliberately took high doses of aspirin are subject to mandatory hospitalization, regardless of the severity of the condition, if a chronic form of poisoning is suspected.

Therapy for salicylate intoxication is carried out in 3 stages:

  • stopping the drug from entering the body;
  • forcing diuresis, hemodialysis is possible;
  • prevention and elimination of dehydration.

According to indications, cardiac medications and symptomatic treatment are prescribed.

Standard patient management:

  1. After gastric lavage, Vaseline oil is administered through a tube.
  2. After 1 hour, an anti-burn emulsion and 0.5 liters of baking soda solution are introduced into the stomach.
  3. Taking diuretics orally or by drip.
  4. If bleeding develops, use hemostatic agents. Medicines "Vikasol", aminocaproic acid. A blood transfusion may be prescribed.
  5. In case of severe intoxication - hemodialysis.

Patients are prescribed bed rest for 3 days.

Identification of symptoms of overdose in a person is an indication to begin first aid. In this case, perform the following simple steps:

  1. It is necessary to thoroughly rinse the stomach until clean rinsing water appears (see. Gastric lavage). This method allows you to remove excess acetylsalicylic acid from the body and prevent its further absorption. Washing is carried out in the following way: a person is given 1-1.5 liters of clean water to drink, after which they induce vomiting by pressing on the root of the tongue.
  2. Enterosorbents (Activated carbon, Enterosgel) must be taken in the first hours after an overdose of acetylsalicylic acid. These drugs bind aspirin in the lumen of the stomach and intestines, disrupting its absorption processes and removing it from the body.
  3. You should always seek medical attention if symptoms of poisoning occur.

These first aid measures are very simple and can be performed by the victim himself. After their provision and hospitalization of the patient, special medical care is provided using intravenous infusions, increased diuresis, and dialysis.

What happens if you overdose on acetylsalicylic acid? The person develops symptoms of acute or chronic poisoning, which pose a serious health hazard. In this regard, it is necessary to monitor the intake of aspirin and other medications, and also store them out of the reach of children. It is important to remember that preventing poisoning is much easier than curing it.

Possible consequences

Complications resulting from Aspirin poisoning:

  • acute renal, liver failure;
  • damage to lung tissue;
  • toxic hepatitis;
  • ulcers of the stomach and duodenum;
  • bleeding;
  • metabolic ketoacidosis;
  • coma.

If timely assistance is not provided as a result of an overdose of Aspirin, death is declared.

For adults, the safe dose of Aspirin is 650 mg, which is 2 tablets(!). Only a doctor can increase it if necessary. Take the medicine, then wait an hour. If noise or ringing appears in the ear, this is a sign of an overdose. If Aspirin is prescribed for your course of treatment, tell your doctor about the overdose symptom and have him adjust the dose.

Acetyl salicylic acid, especially large amounts of it, acts as a blood thinning substance that interferes and changes the composition and also irritates the walls of the esophagus, stomach, and the entire gastrointestinal tract.

Therefore, the first symptoms of poisoning appear precisely in:

  • Vomiting or nausea;
  • Pain, burning;
  • Blood in stool;
  • Sometimes it's a nosebleed;
  • Temporary decrease in hearing acuity;
  • Temporary disruption of usual vision indicators.
  • Aspirin poisoning will go away without consequences if you contact a specialist in time.

Thus, the risk of poisoning increases while drinking alcohol. Yes, doctors never tire of repeating: take your medications only with water! And it is advisable to drink a full or at least half a glass of liquid. You should not take medications with tea, juice, or even alcohol. You also need to be treated in a sober, sane state.

A severe overdose is indicated by the following symptoms:

  1. Consciousness becomes confused;
  2. Thinking is disrupted and confused;
  3. Clarity and sobriety of mind are lost;
  4. Shortness of breath appears, even without physical effort;
  5. Increased drowsiness;
  6. The occurrence of tremor;
  7. Sometimes suffocation occurs;
  8. The fluid level drops sharply, which leads to dehydration;
  9. Depression occurs;
  10. The harmony of carbohydrate metabolism is disrupted.

Moreover, if you do not contact specialists in time, death is possible. Monitor yourself carefully after taking Aspirin, track the number of tablets given to a sick relative, and monitor the time of taking so that there is enough time between sessions. After all, a doctor can reveal the severity of poisoning only after knowing the dose of the medicine:

  1. If less than 150 mg calculated per body weight, the poisoning is mild, there may even be no symptoms;
  2. When the dose is 150 or 300 mg/kg, it is mild or moderate poisoning. One or two of the listed symptoms are possible;
  3. Dose from 300 to 500 mg/kg – severe poisoning (urgent help is required);
  4. More than 500 mg/kg is almost fatal poisoning (this is about 60 tablets, each 500 mg, a child needs much less for poisoning, 10 g).

In order not to start the situation, you need to carefully monitor the symptoms that indicate an overdose. After all, it precedes poisoning. If treatment with Aspirin gave the following symptoms:

  • Noise appears in one or two ears at once;
  • Dizziness occurs;
  • Tachycardia was detected;
  • Blood pressure decreases;
  • Nausea, even vomiting;
  • Breathing quickens;
  • Wheezing appears;
  • Bleeding;
  • Severe drowsiness;
  • Allergic reaction.

The latter can manifest itself unexpectedly, even in non-allergy sufferers who have not previously detected a reaction of this kind. A person could be treated with Aspirin for many years, and the body would not accept it as an allergen, but here it manifested itself. The allergy manifests itself in itching or difficulty breathing, and anaphylactic shock occurs.

You should definitely contact your doctor, and if it was self-medication, immediately stop taking Aspirin and go to the clinic closest to your home. There, be sure to tell us when and how many tablets you took, how long the “course” lasts, and what you were actually treated for.

If a person does not pay due attention to the symptoms, then continued treatment will manifest itself in more serious symptoms:

  1. The occurrence of hallucinations;
  2. Hearing loss (partial or even complete);
  3. Severe, even pathological bleeding;
  4. Confusion, clouding of consciousness;
  5. The occurrence of convulsions;
  6. Increased drowsiness (possibly permanent);
  7. Increased sweating;
  8. Causeless fever;
  9. Constant thirst (a consequence of dehydration);
  10. Problems with vision (will fall greatly).

Here, an ordinary doctor is unlikely to help; we need toxicologists who work with emergency poisonings. When the overdose is serious, the consequences are severe, up to 10% dehydration. Children show anxiety and high excitability. The cause of death is lack of breathing, which will cause swelling of the lungs or brain, bleeding, shock or severe electrolyte disturbances.

Sometimes a poisoned person can no longer stop using Aspirin on his own or cannot call for help. Closely monitor your loved ones when they are prescribed courses of medication. You can be poisoned by any drug. Having mixed up the dosage or not seeing the effect, people double the dose, believing that four tablets instead of two will “get the job done” faster.

Alas, pharmacology does not justify the proverb: “more is better”; this science encourages extreme precision and increased attention to drugs. Taking Aspirin should be monitored by family at home and by a doctor at a distance. Especially when a child or teenager is undergoing treatment. After all, children are given medications by their parents, and teenagers often take their medications themselves. Here you need to constantly monitor.

Mild and moderate severity of intoxication goes away without harm to health with proper treatment. The likelihood of developing multiple organ failure is low.

Long-term intoxication with acetylsalicylic acid is particularly dangerous. Possible consequences:

  • renal failure;
  • severe liver damage;
  • disruption of higher nervous activity and brain functions;
  • bronchial asthma - the danger of this form is that after recovery, an attack can begin when using any drugs from the NSAID group, which are effective antipyretics and analgesics;
  • an ulcer caused by acid damage to the mucous membrane of the stomach and intestines.

Symptoms of chronic aspirin overdose

Chronic intoxication is difficult to diagnose. Usually, relatives can tell for sure if they find the packaging of a recently purchased drug empty. The most reliable diagnostic method is to determine the level of acetylsalicylic acid in the blood. Chronic intoxication occurs more often in older people.

In case of chronic overdose of aspirin, the symptoms will be as follows:

  • noise in ears;
  • indigestion;
  • stomach ache;
  • hearing loss;
  • nausea, vomiting;
  • sweating;
  • headache;
  • anemia, decreased levels of white blood cells and platelets;
  • stupor, loss of consciousness.

Chronic intoxication is dangerous by provoking bleeding and the development of drug-induced bronchial asthma. Prolonged overdose may worsen heart failure.

Symptoms of acute aspirin poisoning

Acute poisoning has 3 degrees of severity. In case of mild intoxication, the symptoms will be the same as with chronic intoxication, only consciousness in this case will not be impaired.

A moderate overdose is manifested by increased frequency and difficulty breathing, a cough with mucous sputum appears, and body temperature begins to rise. The toxic effect is aimed at the nervous system, lungs, kidneys, liver, blood.

A severe overdose of acetylsalicylic acid causes respiratory failure in victims, leading to pulmonary edema. It is accompanied by even more rapid breathing, coughing, pale skin followed by blue discoloration. When foaming appears at the mouth, at this stage of pulmonary edema it is rare that anyone can be saved.

Body temperature reaches high levels. Blood pressure gradually decreases, the pulse increases, and patients feel interruptions in the functioning of the heart. Before loss of consciousness, which develops gradually, there is a short period of excitement. First, drowsiness and stupor appear. The victim then falls into a coma. Convulsions develop.

With kidney damage, urine output decreases. A life-threatening electrolyte imbalance in the blood develops. Plasma sodium increases and potassium decreases.

Poisoning is characterized by the development of toxic encephalopathy (brain disease). In mild cases, it manifests itself as general weakness, distracted attention, irritability, poor sleep, slowness, apathy, and anxiety. With further progression, consciousness is impaired.

Aspirin overdose ends in death from acute liver or kidney failure, pulmonary edema, paralysis of the centers of the brain that control breathing and cardiac activity.

First aid and further treatment

If you notice signs of an aspirin overdose, what can you do? If you suspect poisoning, you should immediately consult a doctor. While the ambulance is on the way, try to induce vomiting and then give activated charcoal. Subsequently, the intake of sorbents continues for several more days. In case of severe aspirin poisoning, the victim should be taken to the hospital as quickly as possible.

At the clinic, the stomach is washed, forced diuresis is performed, which involves intravenous drip administration of solutions, and then diuretics. The treatment also includes correction of the ionic and water balance of the blood. If necessary, cardiac drugs are administered and symptomatic treatment is carried out. Hemodialysis is also prescribed if severe poisoning with acetylsalicylic acid occurs.

Consequences of aspirin overdose

Preventive actions

To avoid poisoning from acetylsalicylic acid, it is enough to follow several recommendations:

  1. Use only after consulting a doctor, especially if you are planning to use other medications at the same time.
  2. Keep away from children.
  3. At the slightest side effects, stop therapy.
  4. Do not combine treatment with drinking alcohol.

If there are risks of poisoning, it is better not to use Aspirin, but replace it with drugs such as Paracetamol, Validol, Heparin.

Simple poisoning, which is caused by excessive use of aspirin, has minor consequences, but more severe poisoning is fraught with dangerous diseases: toxic encephalopathy, ulcers, kidney or liver failure and other ailments that ultimately result in disability.

In this regard, it is important to follow the rules for storing medications and, most importantly, keep them out of the reach of children.

Under no circumstances should you violate the doses indicated by the doctor or in the instructions and take the medicine more often than prescribed.

When there is a need to use other medications, you should inform the doctor who prescribed aspirin treatment.

Monitor the expiration date of medications and buy them at the pharmacy only from reputable manufacturers. After all, poisoning can also be caused by the use of counterfeit products, of which there are quite a few on the pharmaceutical market.

All these simple measures will help you prevent the undesirable consequences of the toxic effects of the drug on the body and maintain your health. So be careful and don't get sick!

Large or small aspirin tablets have been known to mankind for a long time. They are quite popular among us and are present at home in almost every family. Previously, this medicine was used mainly as an antipyretic drug. Over the years, the spectrum of action of aspirin has expanded significantly.

Now it is prescribed and taken orally for many diseases, without thinking at all that with a large accumulation in the body, an overdose of Aspirin occurs.

Let's figure it out - how can you get poisoned with aspirin and is there a lethal dose of the drug?

Panacea for many ailments

People are accustomed to treating absolutely all diseases with these miracle pills. When we feel a severe headache, we take aspirin.

With its help we relieve the inflammatory process in the body. We “sit” on it when we are sick with acute respiratory viral infections, and in the end, thanks to its blood-thinning properties, we take it to prevent strokes and heart attacks, and indeed any circulatory disorders, without even thinking about whether it is possible to get poisoned?

Typically, acetylsalicylic acid poisoning occurs when a person, for greater effect, begins to independently increase the dose recommended by the attending physician or takes pills for a long time, without doubting the safety of the drug!

IMPORTANT! In our country, poisoning with analgesics (this group includes aspirin) consistently holds first place, with fatal outcomes. In more than 12% of deaths, it is the excessive use of aspirin and its content in other medications.

Acetylsalicylic acid is especially dangerous for the elderly and children or school-age children. Therefore, with any approach to the treatment of any disease, probably as elsewhere, the main thing is to know when to stop.

Action of Aspirin


Aspirin is easily tolerated by the body because it is absorbed in the stomach, broken down in the liver and excreted by the kidneys. The price of the drug also speaks in its favor. And the widest spectrum of action indicates that ASA has an unusually many good properties.

That is why doctors use it to treat pain in various locations, feverish conditions and other things.

This non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug is prescribed when it is necessary to prevent the process of platelets sticking together, that is, to prevent the formation of blood clots. For example, in people with pathologies of cerebral circulation, heart, blood vessels, or in old people diagnosed with atherosclerosis.

In general, if the patient has no contraindications to taking this drug and he complies with the prescribed therapeutic dose, no side effects occur and the patient tolerates the drug well.

However, if these “rules” are not followed, aspirin poisoning occurs, in other words, the patient develops intoxication.

This usually happens under the following circumstances:

  • improper self-administration of aspirin;
  • failure to comply with recommendations for the use of the drug prescribed by a doctor or in the instructions;
  • when the child found the pills and ate them;
  • when the patient specifically, to speed up recovery, without consulting a therapist, increased the frequency of taking the drug or its quantity;
  • with poor functioning of the organs responsible for the absorption and excretion of aspirin, especially when the patient does not even suspect it.

Symptoms of intoxication


An overdose of aspirin, depending on the severity of the patient’s condition (determined by the concentration of the active substance in the blood), is divided into three types:

  • light– has the same symptoms as chronic poisoning only without fainting. In this condition, ASA in plasma reaches a level of 150 μg/l;
  • average– the victim is breathing heavily and frequently, coughing with sputum, his temperature is elevated, the level of the drug in the blood is 300-500 mcg/l;
  • heavy– aspirin poisoning has symptoms of respiratory failure and, as a result, pulmonary edema, increased cough, cyanosis of the skin. If foamy saliva appears in one of the corners of the mouth, then this is already a symptom of a critical condition, which is very difficult to treat and leads to death.

Subsequently, the picture develops as follows: the outflow of urine is disrupted, the electrolyte balance is disrupted (an increase in sodium in the blood and a decrease in potassium), signs of confusion, excessive excitement, although of a short nature, appear, followed by lethargy and a sleepy state, convulsions and coma.

Thus, an overdose of aspirin and its consequences are truly dangerous.

But can death result from this, and what dose of the drug is harmful not only to health, but also to life?

This question is especially interesting for mothers and fathers whose child accidentally put the entire package of acetylsalicylic acid into his mouth.

It should be noted right away that serious aspirin poisoning can occur not only by taking a huge dose of the medicine. It also depends on the person’s well-being, the presence of concomitant ailments in the body, weight and other factors of the poisoned person.

It is quite clear that it is much more difficult for children to overcome this condition than for adults, so a fatal outcome is quite possible.

IMPORTANT! Knowing that aspirin is sold in pharmacies in tablets of 0.25 g, we can calculate that for a person weighing 15 kg, the lethal dose in one dose will be 30 tablets of the drug, when packaged in 0.5 g - 15.

Diagnosis: poisoning


If you suspect that an adult or child has aspirin poisoning, you should immediately call an ambulance. Before resuscitators arrive, it is advisable to induce vomiting in the poisoned person to avoid further spread of toxins, and give him some sorbent to drink, the simplest one is activated carbon.

Medical workers who come to the call must be told how much medicine was taken, whether other drugs were taken, and also, if the victim is an adult, whether alcohol was consumed.

First of all, the doctor will pay attention to breathing; if it is difficult, the patient will be connected to oxygen. Then, in the hospital, using the necessary tests, doctors will determine how badly the patient’s internal organs have been damaged, determine the level of aspirin overdose, and use special test strips to determine the amount of the active substance in the urine.

When the stage of poisoning caused by an overdose of acetylsalicylic acid has been established, appropriate therapy is prescribed, aimed primarily at:

  • preventing the accumulation of toxins in the body - the active ingredient of the drug;
  • reducing the amount of acid taken by the patient;
  • restoration of acid-base balance.

If very little time has passed since taking aspirin, then the person who has been poisoned is immediately “washed” the gastrointestinal tract and given sorbent. To a patient who is unconscious, the sorbent in liquid form is administered through an umbrella.

If you are mildly dehydrated, drink more fluids. This could be purified water, fruit juices or milk. When the condition is more severe, special solutions are used that are administered intravenously.

High fever is relieved with appropriate medications, and bleeding in the body is “healed” with vitamin K. If treatment is started as early as possible, the patient recovers quickly.

Preventive actions


Simple poisoning, which is caused by excessive use of aspirin, has minor consequences, but more severe poisoning is fraught with dangerous diseases: toxic encephalopathy, ulcers, kidney or liver failure and other ailments that ultimately result in disability.

In this regard, it is important to follow the rules for storing medications and, most importantly, keep them out of the reach of children.

Under no circumstances should you violate the doses indicated by the doctor or in the instructions and take the medicine more often than prescribed.

When there is a need to use other medications, you should inform the doctor who prescribed aspirin treatment.

Monitor the expiration date of medications and buy them at the pharmacy only from reputable manufacturers. After all, poisoning can also be caused by the use of counterfeit products, of which there are quite a few on the pharmaceutical market.

All these simple measures will help you prevent the undesirable consequences of the toxic effects of the drug on the body and maintain your health. So be careful and don't get sick!

Aspirin is probably one of the most popular drugs in the whole world. Acetylsalicylic acid has been used scientifically for a long time by people completely independently. A fever has risen, a headache has occurred, or a person is afraid of blood clots; in all cases, aspirin is the first aid. Most people don't even realize that an aspirin overdose is very real.

How does an overdose happen?

For example, a person who suffers from thrombosis, or thinks that he suffers, finds information about the blood-thinning effect of the drug. Fearing mortal danger in the form of a blood clot, he begins to absorb the drug in unimaginable doses. The result is acute aspirin poisoning. Or he slightly exceeds the prescribed norm for greater effect, resulting in chronic poisoning.

Taking the drug, even with a small amount of alcohol in the human body, has a toxic effect.

Unfortunately, not all parents know that acetylsalicylic acid, as an antipyretic drug, is absolutely not indicated in childhood. The consequences will be discussed below.

The main and unifying circumstance in case of overdose is self-medication. Prescribe your doses by eye. Treating aspirin like ascorbic acid.

Signs of aspirin poisoning.

Chronic poisoning with acetylsalicylic acid can occur in those who take the drug in courses. Symptoms of intoxication are as follows:

  • Dizziness;
  • Noise in ears;
  • Increased breathing, wheezing;
  • Tachycardia;
  • Low blood pressure;
  • Nausea or vomiting;
  • Drowsiness;
  • Blood from the nose;
  • Abdominal pain;
  • Drowsiness, confusion;
  • Fainting.

What are the dangers of overdose?

The damage done to the body depends on several factors:

  • The state of a person’s health, the presence of chronic diseases;
  • Severity of poisoning. For example, mild poisoning does not make significant changes in the functioning of organs;
  • Speed ​​of first aid for moderate and severe poisoning.

Aspirin poisoning can leave the following marks:

  • Bleeding, the liquefying effect will make itself felt. In this case, the bleeding may be internal;
  • Kidney failure;
  • Bronchial asthma;
  • Liver failure;
  • Stomach ulcer;
  • Encephalopathy;
  • Coma;
  • If a lethal dose of 500 mg per kg of body weight was taken, death occurs.

I would also like to add about the dangers of aspirin for children. The combination of a childhood viral infection and acetylsalicylic acid is likely to lead to a condition such as Reye's syndrome. The end result is death in 80% of cases.

Treatment and first aid.

In case of serious poisoning, it is important to provide first aid as soon as possible to stop the destructive effect on the human body.

It is possible that part of the medicine has not yet been absorbed by the body, so it is necessary to prevent the absorption process from continuing. At home, you should immediately induce vomiting. Upon arrival, the ambulance will perform gastric lavage and administration of activated charcoal. In the future, to remove the absorbed aspirin, drink plenty of fluids.

In case of severe consequences, droppers are prescribed, which will speed up the elimination process.

After emergency assistance is provided, the extent of the consequences of an overdose is identified, and a set of treatment and rehabilitation measures is selected. In any case, the poisoned person will take sorbents for some time.

About the dangers and benefits of aspirin in the video:

Prevention.

Never use medications yourself. At least read the instructions. Remember that an overdose is possible even when taking vitamins. Medicinal herbs even have contraindications. Aspirin is a serious chemical that can be very dangerous, even fatal.

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