Aspergum

Aspergum (generic name Aspirin Gum-Oral) [MedicineNet.com (March 2, 2005) " [http://www.medicinenet.com/aspirin_gum-oral/article.htm Aspirin Gum-Oral (Aspergum) side effects, medical uses, and drug interactions.] "] is the United States trademark name for an analgesic chewing gum, whose active ingredient is aspirin.

Such acetylsalicylic-acid chewing gum typically contains a dose of 227 mg (3½ grains) of aspirin, and is available in cherry and orange flavors. [ [http://www.umm.edu/altmed/drugs/aspirin-009000.htm Aspirin] , online reference, Complementary Medicine, University of Maryland Medical Center] The aspirin in the gum delivers qualities that may assist in areas such as analgesic, salicylate, anti-inflammatory, pain, arthritis, and fever. The Aspergum trademark is currently owned by Insight Pharmaceuticals, [ [http://portal.uspto.gov/external/PA_1_0_V9/OpenServletWindow?serialNumber=72205129&scanDate=2006011826745&DocDesc=Notice-Acceptance-Renewal&docType=ACR&currentPage=1&rowNum=1&rowCount=5&formattedDate=16-Jan-2006 U.S. Trademark Notice-Acceptance-Renewal dated January 16, 2006] ] the same company that produces the aspirin and caffeine based Anacin.

History

Medicated chewing gum containing aspirin was first sold in the United States in 1924. [Washington, Neena et al. (December 21, 2000) " [http://books.google.com/books?id=8jIHhhjiyKcC&pg=PA49&dq=aspergum&sig=pavXLHTQJMtsvLReiWLEh7t9G4k Physiological Pharmaceutics: Barriers to Drug Absorption.] " Page 49. Publisher: CRC. ISBN 0-74840-562-3] In December 1927, Frank M. Dillard (inventor of Feenamint) [Dibner, David R. (2001) [http://books.google.com/books?id=-KK7-C9cwtwC&pg=PA95&dq=aspergum&sig=oO_2M9t6uIWZP8nxsOQzRCjiXh8#PPA95,M1 Dreams and Schemes: Stories of People and Architecture.] " Page 95. Publisher: Xlibris Corporation. ISBN 0-73886-100-6] and William C. Nalle formed the Dillard-Nalle company and sought U.S. trademark protection for Aspergum. [ [http://portal.uspto.gov/external/PA_1_0_V9/OpenServletWindow?serialNumber=71258732&scanDate=2005102686367&DocDesc=Registration+Certificate&docType=ORC&currentPage=1&rowNum=2&rowCount=2&formattedDate=27-Mar-1928 United States Trademark No. 240,417.] ] Dillard-Nalle then began selling their Dellard's Aspergum in the United States in 1928. [Advertisement, "Appleton Post Crescent", Wisconsin, October 15, 1930] [Sohn, Emily. (February 19, 2007), [http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-he-gum19feb19,1,6907789.story?ctrack=1&cset=true "Chew on this: It's for your health Suppress appetite, boost memory, fight disease. Gums could do it all -- thanks to the cheeks"] , "Los Angeles Times", Section: Health; Page 1.] it was an early example of a functional gum - chewing gum as a drug delivery system.

It was significant in the recognition of aspirin's antithrombotic effect, when general practitioner Lawrence Craven reported in 1953 that patients who chewed Aspergum as an analgesic after tonsillectomy tended to bleed more easily. [ [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/dispomim.cgi?id=608223 Aspirin resistance] , text MIM 608223, "Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man"] [ [http://www.aspirin-foundation.com/uses/cardio/thrombosis.html Aspirin and Coronary Thrombosis] , Aspirin Foundation] As a result of Dr. Craven's discovery through Aspergum in the 1950s, physicians themselves now often take low-dose aspirin to prevent heart attacks and strokes and emergency rooms routinely give aspirin to patients who they suspect may be experiencing a heart attack. [Graedon, Joe; Graedon, Teresa. (August 12, 1997) Baltimore Sun. "Take two asprin and sing "Happy Birthday." Section: Features; Page 4E.]

In June 1993, Farmades spa of Rome, Italy began manufacturing Aspergum Confetti Gommosi Masticabili for sale in Italy. [Farmaci Generici. " [http://www.generici.com/Motore/Singolo.asp?AIC=017635044 - Il Miglior Prezzo - Acido Acetilasalicilico.] " Obtained July 16, 2007.]

People have adopted their own uses for the gum. For example, in her 1997 book "Streisand", Academy Award-winning American singer Barbra Streisand relates a story of how she filled in the gap caused by the removal of two front teeth with Aspergum when she began her career. [Wiegand, David. (April 27, 1997) "San Francisco Chronicle". " [http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/1997/04/27/RV5620.DTL&hw=aspergum&sn=001&sc=1000 Making sense of Streisand - How seeking her mother's approval and losing her father shaped her career.] " Section: Sunday Review; page 4.]

In 1998, Gumtech announced that it was to produce Aspergum for Schering-Plough HealthCare Products. [Owens, Lamar. (April 14, 1998) Business Wire " [http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-20483012.html Gumtech to Produce Aspergum and Chooz for Schering-Plough HealthCare Products.] "]

As of 2006, Aspergum is no longer being manufactured or sold.

References

ee also

*Functional gum

External links

* [http://www.insightpharma.com/product_details_Aspergum.cfm Official Aspergum webpage]
* [http://books.google.com/books?um=1&q=aspergum&btnG=Search+Books Aspergum in books]
* [http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&q=aspergum&btnG=Search+Images&gbv=2 Aspergum images]