Durlaza (Aspirin) - Oral

What Is Durlaza?

Durlaza, commonly known by its generic name aspirin, is a prescription nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used to prevent blood clots, heart attacks, strokes, or death after a heart attack, or severe chest pain (angina).

The active ingredient in Durlaza is a 24-hour extended-release aspirin. This is a long-acting form of aspirin that does not work right away. It is an off-white opaque capsule containing 162.5 mg of aspirin. Durlaza works by preventing platelets from clustering in the blood. Platelets form blood clots by clumping together.

Use other forms of aspirin such as an immediate-release aspirin when a rapid effect is needed, such as for pain relief or after a heart attack.

What Is Durlaza Used For?

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Durlaza for use in adults to lower the risk of a repeat heart attack, repeat stroke, or death after a heart attack, stroke, or severe chest pain (angina).

How to Take Durlaza

Use this medicine exactly as directed by your healthcare provider. Follow all directions on your prescription label. Ask your pharmacist for any clarification you may need.

Take Durlaza with a full glass of water (eight ounces) at the same time each day. Swallow the capsule whole. Do not crush, chew, break apart, or open. Do not take two hours before or one hour after drinking alcohol.

Storage

Store Durlaza at room temperature in a tightly closed container. Keep out of the reach of children and pets. Keep away from moisture, direct light, and extreme hot or cold temperatures. When traveling, transport aspirin in your carry-on or your checked baggage in its original labeled container.

What Are the Side Effects of Durlaza?

This is not a complete list of side effects, and others may occur. A medical professional can advise you on side effects. If you experience other effects, contact your pharmacist or a medical professional. You may report side effects to the FDA at www.fda.gov/medwatch or 1-800-FDA-1088.

Like other medications, Durlaza can cause side effects. Tell your healthcare provider about any side effects you have while taking this medication.

Potential side effects of Durlaza are:

• Abdominal pain
• Agitation
• Anorexia (an eating disorder where you starve yourself to avoid weight gain)
• Brain swelling or bleeds
• Coma
• Confusion
• Dehydration
• Excessive sweating
• Dizziness
• Indigestion
• Elevated liver enzymes
• Gastritis or inflammation of the stomach lining
• Gut bleeds
• Headache
• Hearing loss or ringing in the ears
• Hepatitis
• Electrolyte imbalance
• High blood sugar
• Elevated uric acid
• Hyperventilation
• Inflamed or damaged kidney tissues
• Kidney failure
• Low energy
• Nausea and vomiting
• Stomach ulcers
• Protein in urine
• Itchy skin
• Rash
• Reye's syndrome
• Seizures

Common Side Effects

More common side effects of Durlaza can include:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Abdominal pain
• Indigestion
• Headache
• Low energy

Severe Side Effects

Call your healthcare provider right away if you have serious side effects. Call 911 immediately if you think you or someone else is having a medical emergency.

Serious side effects can include:

• Allergic reaction or anaphylaxis
• Severe bleeding
• Bronchospasm (narrowing of airways)
• Stomach perforation or ulcer
• Kidney failure
• Reye’s syndrome

Durlaza can also cause clotting disorders or abnormal blood values, including conditions such as:

• Disseminated intravascular coagulation (abnormal blood clotting) 
• Pancytopenia (too few red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets)
• Thrombocytopenia (low platelets)
• Agranulocytosis (low white blood cells)
• Hypoprothrombinemia (insufficiency of prothrombin, a blood-clotting substance)

Long-Term Side Effects

Aspirin use can prolong labor in people who are giving birth or cause extreme blood loss during delivery up to 36 hours after the last dose of the drug. Avoid using this medication one week before and during labor.

Dosage: How Much Durlaza Should I Take?

Modifications

Avoid Durlaza in the third trimester of pregnancy because it can harm the unborn baby.

It can cause low birth weight, brain bleeds, stillbirth, or early closure of the ductus arteriosus. The ductus arteriosus is a hole in the aorta that is meant to close after the baby is born. Aspirin can also prolong childbirth or cause excessive blood loss during delivery. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

Durlaza can also cross into breast milk and harm the breastfed child. It is not safe for use in children. You and your provider will decide to either stop Durlaza or stop breastfeeding.

Patients with liver or kidney damage may need to avoid taking Durlaza.

Missed Dose

If you forget to take a dose of Durlaza, do not panic. You can skip the missed dose and resume your regular schedule. Do not try to double-up to make up for the missed one.

Overdose: What Happens If I Take Too Much Durlaza?

An aspirin overdose can occur if you take too much at once or if the medication builds up in the body over time.

Overdose symptoms can include: 

• Ringing in the ears
• Hot flashes
• Dehydration
• Confusion
• Fast breathing
• Seizures
• Nausea or vomiting
• Stomach pain
• Bloody or dark stools
• Bloody sputum
• Vomit that looks like coffee grounds
• Fever lasting longer than three days

Precautions

What Are Reasons I Shouldn’t Take Durlaza?

You should avoid taking Durlaza if you have:

• An allergy to the medication or have ever had an asthma attack after taking an NSAID
• Asthma
• Stuffy nose
• Nasal polyps
• Peptic ulcer disease: Durlaza can increase bleeding risk or cause stomach ulcers.
• Liver or kidney damage
• A blood clotting disorder

Do not take Durlaza during pregnancy and while breastfeeding. Durlaza can cause complications during labor and harm the baby.

Durlaza can also cause Reye’s syndrome in children. Reye’s syndrome is a deadly condition linked to aspirin use after chickenpox or other viral illnesses.

What Other Medications Interact With Durlaza?

There are some medications and other substances that interact with Durlaza. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about any concerns you may have.

Durlaza may interact with:

• Alcohol
• Renin-angiotensin system inhibitors
• Anticoagulants and antiplatelets
• Anticonvulsants
• Methotrexate
• NSAIDs
• Dichlorphenamide
• Live vaccines

Alcohol

Do not take Durlaza two hours before or one hour after drinking. Alcohol can affect the controlled release properties of Durlaza. If you drink three or more alcoholic drinks daily, you have a higher risk of bleeding with Durlaza.

Renin-Angiotensin System Inhibitors

You may take renin-angiotensin system inhibitors if you need help lowering your blood pressure. Using these types of medications with Durlaza raises the risk of kidney damage, low blood pressure, and high potassium levels.

Anticoagulants and Antiplatelets

Anticoagulants and antiplatelet medications are commonly known as blood thinners. They help keep blood clots from forming. You may bruise or bleed more easily when taking these with Durlaza. When you bleed, it may take longer to stop. Call your healthcare provider if you have bloody urine or if your stool is red or dark.

Anticonvulsants

Anticonvulsants are medications used to treat seizure disorders. Some anticonvulsants are narrow therapeutic index drugs. This means small changes in dose or blood concentration may cause them not to work at all or have deadly side effects. Durlaza can interact with anticonvulsants to cause seizures or toxicity.

Methotrexate

Methotrexate is a disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug used to treat rheumatic disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and psoriatic arthritis. Aspirin can block the removal of methotrexate from the body, leading to toxicity. Older adults (aged 65 years and older) and those with kidney damage are most at risk.

NSAIDs 

Using Durlaza with other NSAIDs increases the risk of bleeding and kidney injury. Specifically, ibuprofen can interfere with how Durlaza works. Wait two hours after Durlaza before taking ibuprofen. Wait eight hours after ibuprofen before taking Durlaza.

Dichlorphenamide

Dichlorphenamide is a medication used to treat inherited muscle disorders. Taking it at the same time as Durlaza may increase dichlorphenamide or aspirin levels which can be toxic to the body.

Live Vaccines

You should not use aspirin within four weeks of receiving the influenza vaccine and six weeks of the varicella vaccine because of the risk of Reye’s syndrome.

What Medications Are Similar?

There are other medications similar to Durlaza that are also used to reduce stroke or heart attack risks.

Medications that are similar to Durlaza include:

• Brilinta (ticagrelor)
• Plavix (clopidogrel)
• Zontivity (vorapaxar)

Brilinta (Ticagrelor)

Brilinta is also an antiplatelet medicine like Durlaza. Brilinta is usually given together with lower-dose aspirin. It may be a better option for people with kidney problems, as the dose does not need to be adjusted in this group.

Plavix (Clopidogrel)

Clopidogrel is also used to lower the risk of stroke, blood clots, or heart attacks. However, it may not work well if you have genetic factors that affect the breakdown of this drug in your body.

Your healthcare provider may perform a blood test to make sure clopidogrel will work for you. Plavix tablets can be crushed, so they may be a good option for people who have trouble swallowing. It is also a safer choice in pregnancy compared with Durlaza.

Zontivity (Vorapaxar)

You must use Zontivity with either aspirin or clopidogrel. It may not be a good option for those who may be overwhelmed by handling multiple pills.

This is a list of drugs also prescribed to reduce the risk of strokes and heart attacks. It is NOT a list of drugs recommended to take with Durlaza. In fact, you should not take these drugs together. Ask your pharmacist or a healthcare provider before using other medicines for stroke or heart attack prevention. They may contain ingredients similar to aspirin.

How Can I Stay Healthy While Taking Durlaza?

Having a stroke or heart attack can be a scary experience. Sadly, about one in four strokes are in people who have had one before. One in five people who have had a heart attack will be back to the hospital for a second one within five years. Taking medications like Durlaza can help prevent repeat strokes or heart attacks.

Durlaza is taken once daily. If you keep forgetting to take it, consider setting alarms on your phone or calendar. Ask your doctor or pharmacist any questions you might have about the medication.