WHICH SUBSTANCES CROSS-REACT? ASPIRIN
Acetylsalicylic acid is the active chemical in aspirin. It was originally extracted from the bark of willow trees and occurs naturally as methyl salicylate, oil of wintergreen. Synonyms for acetylsalicylic acid are salicylate and salicylic acid. If you react to aspirin, you may cross-react to other drugs and painkillers containing salicylates. Your doctor or pharmacist will be able to advise you on what to avoid.
Oil of wintergreen (methyl salicylate) is used in many over-the-counter liniments, antiseptics and medicines (including sinus decongestants, sinus inhalers and rectal suppositories). Your pharmacist will be able to tell you whether a product you are using contains oil of wintergreen. It is also used as a flavouring in some toothpastes. Contact the manufacturer if you want to check any toothpaste you use.
Many foods naturally contain salicylates, especially certain fruits, spices, herbs and nuts. If you react strongly to aspirin, and still have reactions after avoiding it, it may be worth trying a diet that avoids foods rich in salicylates. However, such a diet would need to be very restrictive so it is only worth doing if you have strong motivation. It should only be undertaken with medical supervision. The foods shown in Table 2 (overleaf) are low in salicylates and should form the core of a low-salicylate diet. Those listed in Table 3 are high in salicylates and should be avoided if possible.
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