SALICYLATES

Brand & Generic Names

Amigesic	Mono-Gesic
Arthropan	Omnicol
Back-Ese	Rhinogesic
CHOLINE MAGNESIUM	Salcylic Acid
SALICYLATES	Salflex
Choline Magnesium	Salgesic
Trisalicylate	SALICYLAMIDE
CHOLINE SALICYLATE	Salphenyl
Citra Forte	SALSALATE
Diagen	Salsitab
Disalcid	Scot-tussin Original 5-Action
Doan's Pills	Cold Medicine
Dodd's Pills	SODIUM SALICYLATE
Fendol	Tricosal
Improved SinoTuss	Trilisate
Kolephrin	Tussanil DH Tablets
Kolephrin NN Liquid	Tussirex w/Codeine Liquid
Magan	Uracel
MAGNESIUM SALICYLATE	Uromide
Mobidin

Basic Information

• Habit forming? No
• Prescription needed? For some
• Available as generic? Yes
• Drug class: Analgesic, anti-inflammatory (non-steroidal)

Uses

• Reduces pain, fever, inflammation.
• Relieves swelling, stiffness, joint pain of arthritis or rheumatism.
• Decreases risk of myocardial infarction in unstable angina (aspirin only).

Dosage & Usage Information

How to take:
Tablet or capsule--Swallow with liquid.
Extended-release tablets--Swallow each dose whole.
Suppositories--Remove wrapper and moisten suppository with water. Gently insert into rectum, large end first.

When to take:
Pain, fever, inflammation--As needed, no more often than every 4 hours.

If you forget a dose:
Pain, fever--Take as soon as you remember. Wait 4 hours for next dose.
Arthritis--Take as soon as you remember up to 2 hours late. Return to regular schedule.

What drug does:
Affects hypothalamus, the part of the brain that regulates temperature by dilating small blood vessels in skin.
Prevents clumping of platelets (small blood cells) so blood vessels remain open.
Decreases prostaglandin effect.
Suppresses body's pain messages.

Time lapse before drug works:
30 minutes for pain, fever, arthritis.

Don't take with:
Tetracyclines. Space doses 1 hour apart.
Any other medicine without consulting your doctor or pharmacist.

Overdose

SYMPTOMS:
Ringing in ears; nausea; vomiting; dizziness; fever; deep, rapid breathing; hallucinations; convulsions; coma.

WHAT TO DO:

• Dial 911 (emergency) or O (operator) for an ambulance or medical help. Then give first aid immediately.
• See EMERGENCY Information.

Possible Adverse Reactions or Side Effects

Life-threatening:

Hives, rash, intense Seek emergency itching, faintness soon treatment immediately. after a dose (anaphylaxis); black or bloody vomit; blood in urine.

Common:

• Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain.
• Heartburn, indigestion.
• Ringing in ears.

Infrequent:

None expected.

Rare:

• Black stools, unexplained fever.
• Rash, hives, itchy skin, diminished vision, shortness of breath, wheezing, jaundice.
• Drowsiness, headache.

Warnings & Precautions

Don't take if:

• You need to restrict sodium in your diet. Buffered effervescent tablets and sodium salicylate are high in sodium.
• Salicylates have a strong vinegar-like odor, which means it has decomposed.
• You have a peptic ulcer of stomach or duodenum.
• You have a bleeding disorder.

Before you start, consult your doctor:

• If you have had stomach or duodenal ulcers.
• If you have had gout.
• If you have asthma or nasal polyps.

Over age 60:
More likely to cause hidden bleeding in stomach or intestines. Watch for dark stools.

Pregnancy:
Risk to unborn child outweighs drug benefits. Don't use.

Breast-feeding:
Drug passes into milk. Avoid drug or discontinue nursing until you finish medicine. Consult doctor for advice on maintaining milk supply.

Infants & children:

• Overdose frequent and severe. Keep bottles out of children's reach.
• Consult doctor before giving to persons under age 18 who have fever and discomfort of viral illness, especially chicken pox and influenza. Probably increases risk of Reye's syndrome.

Prolonged use:

• Kidney damage. Periodic kidney function test recommended.
• Talk to your doctor about the need for follow-up medical examinations or laboratory studies to check liver function.

Skin & sunlight:
Aspirin combined with sunscreen may decrease sunburn.

Driving, piloting or hazardous work:
No restrictions unless you feel drowsy.

Discontinuing:
For chronic illness--Don't discontinue without doctor's advice until you complete prescribed dose, even though symptoms diminish or disappear.

Others:

• Salicylates can complicate surgery, pregnancy, labor and delivery, and illness.
• For arthritis--Don't change dose without consulting doctor.
• Urine tests for blood sugar may be inaccurate.

Possible Interaction with Other Drugs

GENERIC NAME	COMBINED EFFECT
------------------------	-----------------------
ACE inhibitors*:	Decreased ACE inhibitor effect.
Acetaminophen	Increased risk of kidney damage
	(with high, prolonged dose of each).
Allopurinol	Decreased allopurinol effect.
Antacids*	Decreased salicylate effect.
Anticoagulants*	Increased anticoagulant effect.
	Abnormal bleeding.
Antidiabetics*, oral	Low blood sugar.
Aspirin, other	Likely salicylate toxicity.
Beta-adrenergic	Decreased antihypertensive
blockers*	effect.
Bismuth	Increased risk of salicylate
subsalicylate	toxicity.
Bumetanide	Decreased diuretic effect.
Calcium supplements*	Increased salicylate effect.
Carteolol	Decreased antihypertensive effect
	of carteolol.
Cortisone drugs*	Increased cortisone effect. Risk of
	ulcers and stomach bleeding.
Ethacrynic acid	Decreased diuretic effect.
Furosemide	Possible salicylate toxicity.
Gold compounds*	Increased likelihood of kidney
	damage.
Indomethacin	Risk of stomach bleeding and
	ulcers.
Insulin	Decreased blood sugar.
Methotrexate	Increased methotrexate effect and
	toxicity.
Non-steroidal	Risk of stomach bleeding
anti-inflammatory	and ulcers.
Para-aminosalicylic	Possible salicylate toxicity.
Penicillins*	Increased effect of both drugs.
Phenobarbital	Decreased salicylate effect.
Phenytoin	Increased phenytoin effect.
Probenecid	Decreased probenecid effect.
Rauwolfia alkaloids*	Decreased salicylate effect.
Salicylates*, other	Likely salicylate toxicity.
Sotalol	Decreased antihypertensive effect
	of sotalol.
Spironolactone	Decreased spironolactone effect.
Sulfinpyrazone	Decreased sulfinpyrazone effect.
Terazosin	Decreases effectiveness of
	terazosin. Causes sodium and fluid
	retention.
Urinary acidifiers*	Decreased excretion, increased
	salicylate effect.
Urinary alkalizers*	Increased excretion, decreased
	salicylate effect.
Valproic acid	Possible increased valproic acid
	toxicity.
Vitamin C (large	Possible salicylate
doses)	toxicity.
Zidovudine	Increased zidovudine effect.

Possible Interaction with Other Substances

INTERACTS WITH	COMBINED EFFECT
---------------	---------------
Alcohol:	Possible stomach irritation and
	bleeding. Avoid.
Beverages:	None expected.
Cocaine:	None expected.
Foods:	None expected.
Marijuana:	Possible increased pain relief, but
	marijuana may slow body's recovery.
	Avoid.
Tobacco:	None expected.