The continuing unacceptable marketing of Alka-Seltzer containing aspirin for stomach-related disorders.
Drug Safety 2009; 32(7):619-621.
ABSTRACT
Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) is one of the most successful drugs in the history of medicine. Its benefits are unquestionable, in particular when used at low doses (75-150 mg/day) for the secondary prevention of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disorders. Although declining in some countries, its use at higher doses for pain, inflammation and fever is still highly prevalent, with more than 4 billion 500 mg tablets sold worldwide in 2006. Aspirin is also an ingredient of multiple over-the-counter fixed-dose combination products. One of the most popular of these is the group of medicines included under the trade name Alka-Seltzer©, whose advertising has been celebrated as one of the most successful and influential of all time.