Q: I used to use aspirin if I had a problem sleeping in the middle of the night and it worked. Now I can’t find aspirin without NSAID stamped on the bottle, and at least three times I’ve used it to try to sleep and it makes me edgy. I looked at my mom’s old bottle of aspirin and it does NOT have NSAID on the bottle. Do you know about this? Thank you so much.
A: Aspirin is an over-the-counter pain reliever. It also has anti-coagulant properties which cause the blood to be less sticky making clotting more difficult, especially when taken in high doses over a period of time.
As for the NSAID now stamped on the bottle, I can only say that aspirin is indeed an NSAID (and has always been so), which is the abbreviation for Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug. This simply means that the pill relieves pain and inflammation without the use of a steroid. Other medications in this class include OTC ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, etc.) and naproxen (Aleve) and their prescription strength equivalents.
Aspirin can cause drowsiness but this isn’t a common side effect and I would never recommend someone use it as a sleep aid. Because of the drug’s ability to slow clotting and the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding, I don’t generally recommend it as a pain reliever for the general population. Although occasional use of low doses aren’t harmful for most, the risk of side effects such as bruising, easy bleeding, stomach upset, etc., make it an inappropriate choice if other OTCs are successful. Under physician approval; however, aspirin may be the best option, such as using it for its anti-coagulating properties in place of stronger prescription drugs such as Coumadin.
As for your recent experiences in which the medication no longer works to make you sleep, I am 99% positive that it has nothing to do with the recent inclusion of the NSAID stamp. I highly doubt that the formula has changed. This new stamp is likely a marketing booster as many physicians recommend OTC NSAIDs for minor aches and pains and this helps the user to identify those drugs that fall into this category.
I recommend you speak to your physician about your current sleep issues. Perhaps he or she would suggest a trial of melatonin (a natural chemical found within the body that stimulates sleep) or diphenhydramine (the antihistamine Benadryl). Try getting out of bed and reading a book or magazine (something not too engrossing in order to let your mind relax) for 15 or 30 minutes and then get back into bed. Take a walk every night before retiring in order to tire yourself out. Drink a warm glass of milk or a cup of decaffeinated or herbal tea such as one of the several kinds marketed toward relaxation and sleep.
Readers who are interested in learning more can order Dr. Gott’s Health Reports “Consumer Tips on Medicine” and “Sleep/Wake Disorders” by sending a self-addressed, stamped number 10 envelope and a $2 (for each report) to Peter H. Gott, MD’s Health Reports, PO Box 433, Lakeville, CT 06039. Be sure to mention the title or print an order form from the website, www.AskDrGottMD.com.
