Aspirin Poisoning

Aspirin is one of the oldest and most widely-used pain reduction medications. Although it is safe in normal usage, excessive doses can lead to sickness and even death. Due its safeness in low doses, and possibly because of the perceived safety of over-the-counter medications, there are many cases every year of aspirin overdose. Some of these are fatal, but many of them result in serious injury.

There are two main types of aspirin poisoning: acute and chronic. Acute aspirin poisoning involves taking a dangerously high dose of aspirin all at once or over a short period of time. Chronic poisoning involves dangerously high doses of aspirin, although often lower than in acute poisoning, over the course of multiple days.

Acute aspirin poisoning requires doses on the order of at least 150mg per kilogram of body mass, or about 10,000mg for someone who weighs 70kg (about 150lbs). A dangerous dose of moderate severity is about twice that dose, and at about three times that dose the risk of death begins. Chronic aspirin poisoning usually involves smaller doses than this, drawn out over at least two days. Chronic aspirin poisoning tends to have a much higher fatality rate than acute poisoning.

Less-severe cases of aspirin poisoning tend to include the patient feeling nauseous and dizzy, and suffering from symptoms which can include abdominal pain and ringing in the ears. More serious cases can include high fever, confusion, hallucinations, low blood sugar, and loss of consciousness. Fatal cases are often the result of the lungs filling with fluid.

Contact Us

If you or someone you love has unknowingly suffered from an aspirin overdose, and you think someone might be liable, the skilled Philadelphia personal injury lawyers of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C. can help you. To discuss your case with one of our experienced attorneys, contact us today at 215-238-1130.