UA | Pharmaceutical Toxicology

ASPIRIN
Synonyms: Acetyl salicylic acid, 2-acetoxybenzoic acid, ASA
Toxicity Rating: Moderately Toxic

EXPT 7: ASPIRIN Properties: This is the aceto-salicylic acid formed by the action of acetic anhydride or
acetylchloride upon salicylic acid. It is white, inodorous, crystalline powder having sweet,
acidulous taste and with a melting point of 137°C. It is about one and one-half times more
toxic as sodium salicylate in men.

ASPIRIN ASPIRIN
Lethal dose: 0.2-0.5g/kg Toxic Action:
• Aspirin causes the toxic syndrome “salicylism”.
• The major toxic signs and symptoms arise from the stimulation and terminal depression of the CNS.
(35 tablets of 300mg ASA or 130 tablets of 80mg ASA)
• After 30 minutes to 1 hour of ingestion some of it may be found unchanged in the urine. The
remainder is hydrolyzed to salicylic acid which is excreted partly unchanged, partly glucuronide
Uses: Analgesic, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, anti-rheumatic, fungistatic, conjugates after conversion of salicylic acid to gentisic acids.
rubefacient. • gastro-duodenal bleeding.
• acidosis

PLGF, RPh, MSHSA 1

UA | Pharmaceutical Toxicology

ASPIRIN ASPIRIN
SYMPTOMS OF ACUTE POISONING: SYMPTOMS OF CHRONIC POISONING:
1. Burning pain the throat, stomach and abdomen 1. Tinnitus, abnormal bleeding (gastric or retinal)
2. Slight to moderate hyperpnoea, lethargy, vomiting
2. Gastric ulcer, weight loss, mental deterioration and skin eruptions.
3. Tinnitus, hearing loss and dizziness
3. Liver damage
4. Dimness of vision, fullness in the head and headache.
5. Irritability, restlessness, confusion and delirium 4. Acetone-odor breath and urine

6. Fever, sweating, and dehydration

7. Cyanosis, oliguria, uremia, pulmonary edema
8. Convulsions, coma and respiratory failure.

ASPIRIN ASPIRIN
TREATMENT TREATMENT
1. Administer emetic using syrup of Ipecac 7. If blood pressure is low, give 10-15mL/Kg of whole blood by transfusion over a period of 1 hour.

2. Delay absorption of the remaining poison by giving activated charcoal. 8. Treat respiratory depression by administering artificial respiration with oxygen.

3. Do gastric lavage with water or 1% Na bicarbonate solution 9. If convulsions occur and hypoglycaemia is not a contributing factor, the administration of

4. Use saline cathartic such as sodium or magnesium sulfate. succinylcholine is encouraged.

5. Correct dehydration and hypoglycaemia with infusion of dextrose of water (D5W) or isotonic saline 10. Give phytonadione in cases of abnormal bleeding or hypoprothrobinemia.

solution (PNSS). 11. If renal function is impaired, dialysis must be used to remove salicylate. If peritoneal dialysis is used,

6. Administer an osmotic diuretic such as mannitol (useful to prevent systemic alkalosis) to treat cerebral add 5% human albumin (Albuminer) to the dialysate. Potassium chloride, 5meq/L should be added to

edema if coma persists even if salicylate poisoning has returned to normal. the dialysate unless serum potassium is elevated.
12. Reduce hyperpyrexia by tepid sponging. Do not use alcohol for sponging.

PLGF, RPh, MSHSA 2

UA | Pharmaceutical Toxicology

TEST: PART I

DETECTION OF
TEST A PORTION OF THE PRODUCT THAT WILL

ASPIRIN RE-CRYSTALLIZE OUT USING CHLORIDE TS

(+) YELLOW SOLUTION

TEST: PART II

+ A FEW DROPS OF ALCOHOL AND A FEW

DROPS OF CONCENTRATED SULFURIC ACID

(+) SWEET SMELL

PLGF, RPh, MSHSA 3