What is the most important information I should know about salsalate?
You should not use this medication if you are allergic to aspirin or to an NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug).
Before taking salsalate, tell your doctor if you have asthma, heart disease, high blood pressure, stomach or intestinal bleeding, diabetes, anemia, a bleeding disorder, liver or kidney disease, nasal polyps, a genetic enzyme deficiency, or if you are dehydrated.
This medicine may cause life-threatening heart or circulation problems such as heart attack or stroke, especially if you use it long term. Do not use salsalate just before or after heart bypass surgery (coronary artery bypass graft, or CABG).
Get emergency medical help if you have chest pain, weakness, shortness of breath, slurred speech, or problems with vision or balance.
This medicine may also cause serious effects on the stomach or intestines, including bleeding or perforation (forming of a hole). These conditions can be fatal and can occur without warning while you are taking salsalate, especially in older adults.
Call your doctor at once if you have symptoms of stomach bleeding such as black, bloody, or tarry stools, or coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds.
This medication should not be given to a child or teenager who has a fever, especially if the child also has flu symptoms or chicken pox. Salicylates can cause a serious and sometimes fatal condition called Reye's syndrome in children.
What is salsalate?
Salsalate is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) in a group of drugs called salicylates (sa-LIS-il-ates). This medicine works by reducing substances in the body that cause pain, fever, and inflammation.
Salsalate is used to reduce pain, swelling, and joint stiffness caused by arthritis.
Salsalate may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking salsalate?
Salicylates may cause life-threatening heart or circulation problems such as heart attack or stroke, especially if you use it long term. Do not use salsalate just before or after heart bypass surgery (coronary artery bypass graft, or CABG).
Salicylates may also cause serious effects on the stomach or intestines, including bleeding or perforation (forming of a hole). These conditions can be fatal and can occur without warning while you are taking salsalate, especially in older adults.
You should not use this medication if you are allergic to aspirin or to an NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug).
To make sure you can safely take salsalate, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:
- asthma;
- heart disease, high blood pressure, congestive heart failure;
- a history of stroke or heart attack;
- a stomach ulcer or intestinal bleeding;
- a bleeding or blood clotting disorder;
- diabetes;
- swelling or fluid retention;
- anemia (a lack of red blood cells);
- liver disease;
- kidney disease;
- an enzyme deficiency called glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (G6PD);
- nasal polyps; or
- if you are dehydrated.
FDA pregnancy category C. Salsalate may be harmful to an unborn baby if the mother takes the medication during the last 3 months of pregnancy. Do not take this medication without telling your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.
Salsalate can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
This medication should not be given to a child or teenager who has a fever, especially if the child also has flu symptoms or chicken pox. Salicylates can cause a serious and sometimes fatal condition called Reye's syndrome in children.
Older adults may be more likely to have side effects from salsalate.
How should I take salsalate?
Take exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.
Salsalate may be taken up to 3 times per day. Follow your doctor's instructions.
Take the medicine with a full glass of water.
Take salsalate with food, milk, or an antacid if it upsets your stomach. To prevent stomach upset, do not lie down for at least 30 minutes after taking salsalate.
It may take up to 2 weeks before your symptoms improve. Keep using the medication as directed and tell your doctor if your symptoms do not improve after 2 weeks of treatment.
This medication can cause unusual results with certain medical tests. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using salsalate.
If you need surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are using salsalate. You may need to stop using the medicine for a short time.
Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Since salsalate is taken as needed, you may not be on a dosing schedule. If you are taking the medication regularly, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.
Overdose symptoms may include ringing in your ears, severe dizziness or drowsiness, sweating, fast breathing, severe vomiting or diarrhea, confusion, or seizure (convulsions).
What should I avoid while taking salsalate?
Salsalate may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert.
Ask a doctor or pharmacist before using any other over-the-counter medicine. Salicylates and NSAIDs are contained in many combination medicines. Taking certain products together can cause you to get too much of a certain drug. Check the label to see if a medicine contains aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, ketoprofen, magnesium salicylate, or similar medicines.
If you are also taking low-dose aspirin because your doctor has prescribed it to prevent heart attack or stroke, do not stop taking it or change your dose without your doctor's advice. Aspirin should be used for cardiovascular conditions only under the supervision of a doctor.
Avoid drinking alcohol. It may increase your risk of stomach bleeding.
Avoid smoking, since it can also increase your risk of stomach bleeding.
What are the possible side effects of salsalate?
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Stop using this medication and call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:
- chest pain, severe dizziness, shortness of breath, slurred speech, problems with vision or balance;
- sudden numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the body;
- feeling like you might pass out;
- black, bloody, or tarry stools;
- coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds;
- hearing problems, ringing in your ears;
- swelling in your hands or feet, rapid weight gain;
- fast or pounding heartbeats;
- easy bruising or bleeding, fever, chills, sore throat, flu symptoms;
- urinating more or less than usual;
- severe stomach pain, ongoing nausea or vomiting; or
- dark urine, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).
Less serious side effects may include:
- upset stomach, heartburn; or
- mild dizziness.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What other drugs will affect salsalate?
Many drugs can interact with salsalate. Below is just a partial list. Tell your doctor if you are using:
- acetazolamide (Diamox);
- cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune);
- lithium (Eskalith, LithoBid);
- methotrexate (Rheumatrex, Trexall);
- pemetrexed (Alimta);
- tenofovir (Viread);
- an antidepressant such as fluoxetine (Prozac) or sertraline (Zoloft);
- a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin);
- oral diabetes medication;
- a diuretic (water pill);
- gout medication such as probenecid (Benemid);
- heart or blood pressure medication such as atenolol (Tenormin), captopril (Capoten), lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril), losartan (Cozaar, Hyzaar), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol), and others;
- medication used to prevent blood clots, such as cilostazol (Pletal) or clopidogrel (Plavix);
- osteoporosis medication such as alendronate (Fosamax), ibandronate (Boniva), risedronate (Actonel), and others;
- sodium bicarbonate, potassium citrate (K-Lyte, Urocit-K), sodium citrate and citric acid (Bicitra, Oracit), or sodium citrate and potassium (Citrolith, Polycitra);
- seizure medication such as phenytoin (Dilantin), phenobarbital (Solfoton), valproic acid (Depakene); or
- steroid medicine (prednisone and others).
This list is not complete and there are many other drugs that can interact with salsalate. Tell your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor. Keep a list of all your medicines and show it to any healthcare provider who treats you.
Where can I get more information?
Your pharmacist can provide more information about salsalate.
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
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