Tuesday, May 12, 2009

No aspirin is ASININE....

You gotta read this....

While DH contends that the newest "no aspirin" rule, was one made up by folks who really had too much time on their hands, and probably thought they might even make an extra buck putting together the ASPIRIN confiscation teams on FOBS ...I contend that this is completely ridiculous.

The contention is this...

Blood loss is the most common cause of preventable death associated with combat injuries, the memorandum said.

Carter recalled Casscells asking his staff if the military was discouraging aspirin use by people deploying to combat zones where they stood risk of injury. The answer at the time was no, Carter said.

The subsequent memorandum, Carter said, also directed the cessation of "over-the-counter access" to aspirin through Army and Air Force Exchange Service outlets or morale, welfare and recreation activities in war zones. AAFES has jurisdiction over Army post exchanges and Air Force base exchanges.

AAFES is complying with the Health Affairs-issued memorandum, noting in a news release that its "operations in contingency locations are removing all products containing aspirin from their shelves."

The intent of the new policy, Carter said, is to "discourage the inadvertent use of aspirin" in combat zones. People who routinely take small doses of aspirin per doctor's orders to maintain vascular health should be all right, he said, but they should consult their physician.

Service members and civilians could substitute over-the-counter, non-aspirin-based medications – such as Tylenol or Motrin -- for treatment of colds, fever, muscle aches and other maladies, Carter said.

"I think we should take every measure possible to make sure that we minimize blood loss," Carter said. "And, not taking aspirin, unless you need to take it, is one of those mechanisms that we want to use."



OK, as a nurse I get this. Aspirin works to treat many things. And yes it is an anti-platlet....

HOWEVER......as a military spouse I assure you, TRI-CARE relies heavily on (fill in the blanks folks and see if you get the answer correct)

__________________



Yes you guessed correctly. The Army Lurves Ibuprofen, Motrin, and Advil in BIG 800mg doses.

Uhhh....

Note, they are still OK'ing Ibuprofens use...




Ibuprofen, drug used to reduce inflammation, fever, and the sensation of pain. In prescription form, ibuprofen is usually taken to relieve the more severe symptoms associated with arthritis. The nonprescription form available over the counter is taken for low-intensity pain, inflammation, or fever.

Ibuprofen works by inhibiting the action of prostaglandins (chemicals that cause inflammation and contribute to the brain’s perception of pain). Ibuprofen reduces fever by blocking prostaglandin synthesis in the hypothalamus, a structure in the brain that regulates body temperature. Ibuprofen also acts as an anticoagulant, suppressing the formation of blood clots.

In adults, the dosage of ibuprofen commonly prescribed for arthritis is 1200 to 3200 mg per day, usually divided into 3 or 4 doses. For mild to moderate pain in nonprescription uses, the dosage is generally 400 mg taken every 4 to 6 hours as necessary. Because ibuprofen can cause stomach upset, pills should be swallowed with a full glass of water, and may be taken with food. Ibuprofen is not recommended for use by pregnant women.



10 comments:

Sarah said...

That's just crazy. Of course they can't outlaw their beloved Motrin. What else would doctor's prescribe? 800mg of Motrin and quarters are the only Rx's they know lol

LeeAnn said...

The thing that drives me crazy about TriCare is that they prescribe Robittusin (sorry about the unsure spelling) for everything cold-related. Never mind the thousands of times I've told them it doesn nothing for me. Ibuprofen and Robittusin, every time.

Rachelle Jones said...

This is really insane....

send someone to a war zone, and take away aspirin....???

Seriously.

XtnYoda said...

And the FDA is calling Cheerios a "drug"...

Blessings!

Bradley said...

I was so happy that I had a 'red tag' (allegry aller tag) with Ibuprofens listed as a DNRX)Do Not prescribe)!

It was soo nice to see the docs go, ok take X 400mg Motrin ever 4-6 hours, and then the face drop after I show the 'red tag'

Retired Navy CPO said...

I thought the Navy Docs just gave us Motrin by the truck load. Some how that's not very comforting. HA ha.

Ziggy Stardust said...

Very interesting reading, thanks for visiting my blog!

airforcewife said...

I totally KNEW you would go there with the Motrin!

It's a serious joke, right? Got a fever? Motrin. Rash? Motrin. Debilitating migraines? Motrin. Break a leg? Motrin.

I'm beginning to think that the US Military is partially subsidized by the makers of Motrin. Kind of like Pepsi Field? It's the Motrin Army.

Guard Wife said...

Someone needs a hobby.

M.A. said...

I don't get why they would outlaw aspirin. Is their some conspiracy that I am un-aware of going around? Its not like aspirin is evil or anything. This makes no sense, especially in a war zone.