Question

All of the following are potential complications of this patient’s over-use of aspirin EXCEPT one, which one is this EXCEPTION?

A. Tinnitus
B. Gastritis
C. Bruising
D. Diaphoresis

Answer 1

Option B, gastritis

Step-by-step explanation:

Over-the-counter (OTC) aspirin is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) with anti-pyretic (fever relief) and analgesic (pain relief) properties used for mild-to-moderate pain relief, inflammation reduction, fever reduction, and reduced likelihood or experiencing a heart attack (myocardial infarction, MI) or transient ischemic attack (TIA) -- it is the only NSAID with the ability to do this last indication. Like all medications, there are common side effects (SEs) or uncommon-yet-known adverse events (AEs). For aspirin, these include tinnitus (ear ringing) and diaphoresis (sweating) as signs of overdose or toxicity, and bruising as a result of the medication's antiplatelet properties prolonging bleeding times.

However, gastritis is NOT one of the known potential complications of OTC aspirin or prescription aspirin. Though, GI irritation and GI bleeding are among the known gastric SEs/AEs to be monitored by medical personnel.