Dr Oz and Aspirin

[carolmaccas66]

Me and Mum were watching Dr Oz yesterday. He was reviewing what to do with his 'helper' and the audience member when someone has an MI in the bathroom. One of the first things he said was: Keep aspirin in the medicine cabinet and give that sublingually. Now, I for one was not taught this. As far as I was taught, up to 80% of people are allergic to Aspirin; if they have an anaphylactic reaction, there's no point in giving it. I would not give anything myself - unless they were on GTN or I KNEW they weren't allergic to Aspirin. But there's also a risk they could choke on the Aspirin.

I think this is the wrong advice. Just curious as to what everyone else has been taught? What do you think of this advice, and what would you do in this situation?

[carolmaccas66, BSN, RN]

I was taught Aspirin right away. i think when that many people are allergic, its not a true anaphylactic reaction type allergy. Sometimes a sensitivity can be classified as an "allergy" in some peoples terms.

I dont know but i was taught aspirin right away. I can tell you now though, that i was taught NOT to keep medicine in a cabinet in the bathroom because of the moisture from a shower, causes elevated temperatures in medications. Repeated elevations in temperatures can decrease the effectiveness of some medications.

That is right as above. I think the instructor was TRYING to say that not 80% of people would have an anaphylactic reaction, but have some sort of allergy to Aspirin. And yes we all queried that statistic.

[carolmaccas66, BSN, RN]

Very interesting responses, thank you.

[carolmaccas66, BSN, RN]

Are you a nurse?

MI = MONA...morphine, oxygen, nitro, asprin.

And Dr Oz gives advice to average lay people, not medical people. If someone is having an MI at home, it would be great if they went ahead and took an asprin before the ems arrived.

If you look above my at my experience I have 2 years ONLY as a Registered General Nurse (Bachelor of Nursing), but have 26 years experience doing theatre coordination, nursing assistant, carer and so many other hospital jobs I couldn't possibly fit them on here!

What I was saying AS A RN we are taught here (the last time I updated CPR) NOT to give Aspirin. We have to follow what we are taught under Oz law. But it's interesting how this differs in different countries.

I was just curious as to what others thought and what they would do.

I found the 'Are you a nurse' to be a bit sarcastic. You can look me up on the AHPRA website if you email me I can give you my AHPRA number - it's no secret, it's public information.

Thanks for all the mature responses, very interesting.

[GilaRRT]

I just took a CE class where the nurse speaker helped to rewrite part of the 2010 ACLS protocol. According to her, O2 should not be given for patients with >95% O2 Sat.

And ASA for sure.

I also happened to talk with a flight nurse who told me that they like Fentanyl more than Morphine for a variety of reasons for stabilizing MI patients.

The current consensus is that the evidence supporting alternatives to morphine is insufficient. At this point, the morphine versus fentanyl discussion for chest pain is largely opinion based on anecdote.

The new guidelines are okay with withholding oxygen when saturations are above 94%; however, the patient must not be experiencing any respiratory issues such as dyspnea.

[Fly Guy JB, MSN, RN, EMT-P]

I was taught, up to 80% of people are allergic to Aspirin

Ever notice the amount of pts. that are "allergic" to aspirin, yet take it everyday? "Oh, I am allergic to the 324 mg asa!" Really, what is your allergy? Allergic = stomach upset?

[madwife2002, BSN, RN]

I have a sensitivity to Aspirin which is listed as an allergy but if I am having an MI I would rather take the Aspirin and deal with my sensitivity later.

My sensitivity is extreme migraine headache, nausea and vomiting.

Which I also get with cooked apples LOL

[noahsmama]

I'm in my first semester of nursing school and three different professors (NPs and PhDs) have instructed give aspirin. If the clot that causes an MI, stroke, etc if platelet rich (which it usually is if it's arterial, such as an MI) the aspirin could save their life.

Aspirin for symptoms of MI, yes, for symptoms of stroke, no. There's no way of knowing for sure (in the field, before they get to the hospital) if it's a ischemic stroke or hemorrhagic stroke, and aspirin for the latter is contraindicated.