Q. I have a question about aspirin. I had a serious heart attack 15 years ago and have been carrying a packet of BC Powder (845 mg aspirin and 65 mg caffeine) in a plastic bag in my pants pocket ever since. There is also a note to put the powder under my tongue in case of a heart attack.
I just looked at the BC packet for the first time in a while. It was past its expiration date. I also found instructions to store it below 77 degrees.
Is it safe to keep this drug in my pants pocket even though it is over 77 degrees? I have replaced it with a fresh packet. BC Powder seems perfect for this purpose otherwise.
A. Anyone who suspects he or she is having a heart attack MUST call 911 before doing anything else!
BC Powder was created over 100 years ago in Durham, North Carolina to provide fast pain relief. Customers often poured the powder on their tongues and washed it down with water.
BC Powder is well known and loved in the south, but folks from “up north” are not as familiar with this pain reliever. (Joe was frequently interviewed on one of the local AM radio stations in Raleigh, North Carolina during the 1970s and 1980s. One of the members of the family that developed BC Powders was a regular caller to the show and liked to share fond memories of the company.)
A Quick Jolt of Aspirin:
Putting BC Powder on your tongue and following it with a full glass of water is a quick way to get aspirin into your system in the event of a heart attack. Our reservations are that the dose is higher than recommended and the extra caffeine might strain the heart.
People who do not like the idea of pouring aspirin powder on their tongue can stir the powder into a glass of water or other beverage and swallow it down the hatch. Both strategies would get aspirin into the system promptly.
Keeping BC Powder in a pants pocket might speed deterioration. You could be better off with a small container of chewable low-dose aspirin.
Other Ways to Get Fast Action from Aspirin:
If you have regular un-coated aspirin sitting around the house you can always put a tablet under your tongue. It should dissolve in less than 30 seconds. Then wash it down with a full glass of water.
You could also make your own fizzy aspirin concoction. Our strategy is to put an aspirin tablet in an empty glass, pour in seltzer water and squeeze a little lemon juice into the mixture. The aspirin should dissolve within a minute or less.
Stories from Readers:
KKH offers this about BC Powder:
“My local Walgreen’s carries BC powder, which is just powdered aspirin and a bit of caffeine. I keep some in my car and my purse. I just dump in some water and drink it. Each dose is wrapped up in individual little wax paper bindles.”
Rita says:
“My husband usually puts a regular aspirin tablet in tablespoon of water, lets it stay there for about 30 sec until it breaks down into powder and then drinks it with a glass of water, this will prevent the tablet sitting on your stomach.”
Joan in Milwaukee asks:
“My husband takes warfarin so we have it on hand. Would it be effective for me to take one of those in case of heart attack symptoms?”
People’s Pharmacy Response:
NO Joan! Do NOT try warfarin. For one thing, it is way too dangerous and for another it takes too long to go to work. Bad idea!
D.J. wants to know:
“I’m confused. I would much rather chew 2 baby aspirin (because they would taste better). But that only comes to 162 mg. So, would the standard 325 mg. aspirin (even if it tastes terrible) be the best to take if I were having heart attack symptoms? I am 68 yrs. old.”
People’s Pharmacy Response:
We would go with one or two chewable baby aspirins. Of course, anyone who thinks he is having a heart attack MUST call 911 first! If all you have on hand is a 325 mg aspirin tablet, you could cut it in half and then chew…or dissolve in water as described above. There is no absolute right dose, though most health professionals recommend only a baby aspirin to prevent blood platelets from sticking and creating a blood clot.
You can learn more about aspirin and dosing at our link: “Best Way to Take Aspirin for a Heart Attack.”
