What is the overdose treatment for aspirin (ASA)?

• A. Dantrolene to treat the pyrexia
• B. Calcium Chloride
• C. Sodium Bicarb
• D. Glucagon

Answer: (C)

The appropriate treatment for aspirin overdose involves the administration of sodium bicarbonate. Aspirin toxicity can lead to metabolic acidosis, and sodium bicarbonate helps to alkalinize the urine, promoting the renal excretion of salicylates. This treatment not only corrects metabolic acidosis but also increases the solubility of aspirin in the urine, enhancing elimination and decreasing toxicity.

Sodium bicarbonate effectively corrects the acid-base imbalance associated with aspirin overdose, which is essential in managing the patient's clinical status. The alkalinization of urine is particularly important because salicylates are better excreted in an alkaline environment.

Other treatments such as activated charcoal can also be considered if the overdose is recent, but sodium bicarbonate is a key component in addressing the systemic effects of an overdose.