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From: dyer@spdcc.UUCP (Steve Dyer)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Aspirin vs. [sic] Codine
Message-ID: <443@spdcc.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 23-Oct-86 22:28:26 EDT
Article-I.D.: spdcc.443
Posted: Thu Oct 23 22:28:26 1986
Date-Received: Fri, 24-Oct-86 20:27:34 EDT
References: <1823@bu-cs.bu-cs.BU.EDU> <529@cci632.UUCP> <433@spdcc.UUCP> <564@cci632.UUCP>
Reply-To: dyer@spdcc.UUCP (Steve Dyer)
Organization: S.P. Dyer Computer Consulting, Cambridge MA
Lines: 25

>In article <433@spdcc.UUCP> dyer@spdcc.UUCP (Steve Dyer) writes:
>[excellent article on FDA schedules, restrictions...].
>>But, its [aspirin] abuse potential
>>is just about NIL.
>Not quite, aspirin *abuse* has been shown to be a major factor in ulcers.
>In spite of warnings to the contrary, many people do take aspirin for
>extended periods of time, and more that the amount reccomended for a
>24 hour period.

Geez.  Just as "controlled substance" means something quite specific, so does
the phrase "abuse potential".  There may be a group of people who habitually
does themselves with aspirin for real or imagined ills, but the "abuse" is not
related to the pharmacological actions of aspirin.  In the same vein, it is
not "aspirin abuse" that can cause a propensity to developing ulcers.  It may
be necessary to prescribe long-term high doses of aspirin or other anti-
inflammatory drugs even though they can produce outright stomach ulcers or
simply gastric bleeding.  In selected cases, the therapeutic benefits outweigh
the chances of GI problems and other side-effects.

Aspirin is not thought to have any psychotropic effects which would otherwise
cause it to be chosen as a drug of abuse.
-- 
Steve Dyer
dyer@harvard.HARVARD.EDU
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