salsalate

Take salsalate with food, milk, or an antacid to lessen stomach upset, unless you are taking any enteric coated tablet.

Do not break, chew, or crush the enteric-coated tablets. Swallow them whole.

Watch for bloody, black, or tarry stools or blood in your vomit. These symptoms could indicate damage to the stomach.

Avoid alcohol during treatment with salsalate. Together, alcohol and salsalate may increase the risk of bleeding in the stomach.

Salsalate is in a class of drugs called salicylates. It works by reducing substances in the body that cause pain and inflammation.

Salsalate is used to reduce pain and inflammation caused by conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and related rheumatic conditions.

Salsalate may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you

• have an allergy to aspirin or any other NSAIDs,
• have an ulcer or bleeding in your stomach,
• drink more than three alcoholic beverages a day,
• have liver or kidney disease,
• have a coagulation (bleeding) disorder,
• have congestive heart failure,
• have fluid retention,
• have heart disease, or
• have high blood pressure.

You may not be able to take salsalate, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above.

Salsalate is in the FDA pregnancy category C. This means that it is not known whether salsalate will be harmful to an unborn baby. Do not take this medication without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment.

It is not known whether salsalate passes into breast milk. Do not take this medicine without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Do not use salsalate to treat a child or teenager who has a fever, flu symptoms, or chicken pox without first talking to a doctor. In children younger than 18 years of age, salsalate may increase the risk of Reye's syndrome, a rare but often fatal condition.

Take salsalate exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these instructions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.

Take each dose with a full glass of water.

Take salsalate with milk, food, or an antacid to lessen stomach upset.

Do not take salsalate more often than every 4 hours, and do not take more than is recommended. If your condition does not improve within 3 to 4 days, seek medical attention.

Be aware of the salicylate (aspirin) content of other over-the-counter and prescription products. Care should be taken to avoid taking more than the recommended amount of salicylate per dose or per day.

Store salsalate at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember and do not take another dose for at least 4 hours. Do not take a double dose of the medication.

Seek emergency medical attention.

Symptoms of an salsalate overdose include ringing in the ears, headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, confusion, hallucinations, coma, seizures, rapid breathing, and fever.

Be aware of the salicylate (aspirin) content of other over-the-counter and prescription products. Care should be taken to avoid taking more than the recommended amount of salicylate per dose or per day.

Avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight. Salsalate may increase the sensitivity of the skin to sunlight. Use a sunscreen and wear protective clothing when exposure to the sun is unavoidable.

Avoid alcohol during treatment with salsalate. Together, alcohol and salsalate may increase the risk of bleeding in the stomach.

Stop taking salsalate and seek emergency medical attention or contact your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following serious side effects:

• an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives);
• black, bloody, or tarry stools;
• nausea, vomiting, or abdominal pain;
• uncontrolled fever;
• blood in urine or vomit;
• decreased hearing or ringing in the ears;
• seizures; or
• dizziness, confusion, or hallucinations.

If you experience any of the following less serious side effects, notify your doctor:

• heartburn or indigestion,
• faint ringing in the ears,
• drowsiness, or
• headache.

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

Do not take salsalate without first talking to your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:

• an anticoagulant such as warfarin (Coumadin), heparin, enoxaparin (Lovenox), dalteparin (Fragmin), danaparoid (Orgaran), ardeparin (Normiflo), or tinzaparin (Innohep);
• a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, Nuprin, others), ketoprofen (Orudis, Orudis KT, Oruvail), naproxen (Naprosyn, Anaprox, Aleve), diclofenac (Voltaren, Cataflam), nabumetone (Relafen), oxaprozin (Daypro), piroxicam (Feldene), etodolac (Lodine), fenoprofen (Nalfon), flurbiprofen (Ansaid), indomethacin (Indocin), ketorolac (Toradol), sulindac (Clinoril), or tolmetin (Tolectin); or
• another salicylate such as aspirin (Acuprin, Ecotrin, Ascriptin, Bayer, others) or choline salicylate and/or magnesium salicylate (Magan, Doan's, Bayer Select Backache Pain Formula, Mobidin, Arthropan, Trilisate, Tricosal).

You may not be able to take salsalate, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring if you are taking any of the medicines listed above.

Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with salsalate. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines, including herbal products.

Your pharmacist has additional information about salsalate written for health professionals that you may read.

Salsalate is available with a prescription under the brand names Mono-Gesic, Salflex, Disalcid, and Salsitab. Other brand or generic formulations may also be available. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about this medication, especially if it is new to you.

• Mono-Gesic 750 mg--oval, pink, film-coated, bisected tablets
• Salflex 500 mg--oval, white, film-coated, scored tablets
• Salflex 750 mg--white, film-coated, scored tablets
• Disalcid 500 mg--aqua/white capsule
• Disalcid 500 mg--round, aqua, film-coated, bisected tablets
• Disalcid 750 mg--capsule-shaped, aqua, film-coated, bisected tablets
• Salsitab 500 mg--round, blue, film-coated tablets
• Salsitab 750 mg--capsule-shaped, blue, film-coated, scored tablets