Salicylate(s)

Pronunciation

Brand Names

Therapeutic Categories

What is this medicine used for?

• This medicine is used for mild to moderate pain, inflammation, and fever.
• It is used to prevent heart attacks.
• It is used to prevent transient ischemic attacks (mini-strokes).
• It is also used for the management of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, rheumatic fever, and gout.

How does it work?

• Salicylate(s) decreases inflammation and pain. It blocks production and release of chemicals responsible for pain and swelling. It decreases fever by changing the body's thermostat in the brain.

How is it best taken?

Oral:

• Take with or without food. Take with food if this medicine causes an upset stomach.
• Swallow enteric-coated and sustained-release tablet whole. Do not chew, break, or crush.
• Chewable tablet can be crushed and put in food or chewed and swallowed.

Rectal:

• Use the suppository rectally.

What do I do if I miss a dose?

• Take a missed dose as soon as possible.
• If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed one. Return to your regular schedule.
• These may also be taken on an as needed basis.
• Do not take a double dose or extra doses.

What are the precautions when taking this medicine?

• Do not use in children younger than 16 years of age who have chickenpox or flu symptoms.
• If you are 65 or older, you may have more side effects.
• Avoid alcohol (includes wine, beer, and liquor). Can cause stomach irritation.
• If you have had a stomach ulcer or bleeding, tell healthcare provider.
• Avoid other aspirin-containing products, such as, ibuprofen or like products, other blood thinners (warfarin, ticlopidine, clopidogrel), garlic, ginseng, ginkgo, vitamin E.
• You will have a tendency to bleed more easily. Tell dentists, surgeons, and other healthcare providers about this medicine. You may be instructed to stop this medication for a while before any procedure. Ask for specific instructions about the time for stopping and restarting.
• Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of face, lips, tongue, throat; or any other symptoms involved.
• Tell healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan on getting pregnant.
• Tell healthcare provider if you are breast-feeding.

What are the common side effects of this medicine?

• Nausea or vomiting. Small frequent meals, frequent mouth care, sucking hard candy, or chewing gum may help.
• Belly pain, heartburn.
• Stomach bleeding or ulceration. Watch stools for dark, tarry black color. Talk with healthcare provider.

What should I monitor?

• Follow up with healthcare provider.

Reasons to call healthcare provider immediately

• Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing; tightness in the chest; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits; swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Changes in thinking clearly and logically.
• Severe headache.
• Blood in the stool and toilet bowl or vomiting blood.
• Ringing in the ears, confusion, anger, or hallucinations.
• Any rash.
• No improvement in condition or feeling worse.

How should I store this medicine?

• Store in a tight, light-resistant container at room temperature.

General statements

• Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's medicine.
• Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.
• Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, herbal/supplements, vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider (doctor, nurse, pharmacist, physician assistant)
• Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine, including over-the-counter or natural products (herbs, vitamins).

Copyright © 1978-2000 Lexi-Comp Inc. All Rights Reserved