What is Magnesium Salicylate?

Magnesium salicylate 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.
Magnesium salicylate is used to reduce pain, swelling, and joint stiffness caused by arthritis.
Magnesium salicylate may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What is the most important information I should know about Magnesium Salicylate?

You should not use this medication if you are allergic to aspirin or to an NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug), or if you have recently used cidofovir (Vistide) or ketorolac (Toradol).
Before taking magnesium salicylate, 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.
Magnesium salicylate may cause life-threatening heart or circulation problems such as heart attack or stroke, especially if you use it long term. Do not use magnesium salicylate just before or after heart bypass surgery (coronary artery bypass graft, or CABG).
Get emergency medical help if you have chest pain, severe dizziness, 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 magnesium salicylate, 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 should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Magnesium Salicylate?

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 magnesium salicylate 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 magnesium salicylate, 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), or if you have recently used:

cidofovir (Vistide); or
ketorolac (Toradol)

Ask a doctor or pharmacist about using magnesium salicylate if you have:

kidney disease
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
an enzyme deficiency called glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (G6PD)
nasal polyps; or
if you are dehydrated

FDA pregnancy category C. Magnesium salicylate 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.
Magnesium salicylate 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 magnesium salicylate.

Magnesium Salicylate Side Effects

What are the possible side effects of Magnesium Salicylate?

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
blood in your urine, urinating more or less than usual
hearing problems, ringing in your ears
swelling, rapid weight gain
easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness, fever, chills, sore throat, flu symptoms
fast or pounding heartbeats
severe stomach pain, ongoing nausea or vomiting; or
dark urine, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes)

Less serious side effects may include:

heartburn; or
upset stomach

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.

Magnesium Salicylate Interactions

What other drugs affect Magnesium Salicylate?

Many drugs can interact with magnesium salicylate. Below is just a partial list. Tell your doctor if you are using:

acetazolamide (Diamox)
cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune)
gabapentin (Neurontin)
lithium (Eskalith, LithoBid)
methotrexate (Rheumatrex, Trexall)
milk of magnesia
pemetrexed (Alimta)
tenofovir (Viread)
an antidepressant such as fluoxetine (Prozac) or sertraline (Zoloft)
a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin)
diabetes medication you take by mouth
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)

medicine to treat or prevent osteoporosis, such as alendronate (Fosamax), ibandronate (Boniva), risedronate (Actonel), and others
seizure medication such as phenytoin (Dilantin), phenobarbital (Solfoton), valproic acid (Depakene); or
steroid medicine such as danazol (Danocrine), oxandrolone (Oxandrin), prednisone, and others

This list is not complete and there are many other medicines that can interact with magnesium salicylate. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor. Keep a list of all the medicines you use and show this list to any doctor or other healthcare provider who treats you.

What should I avoid while taking Magnesium Salicylate?

If you also take an antibiotic, avoid taking it within 2 hours before or after you take magnesium salicylate. This medication can make it harder for your body to absorb certain antibiotics.
Do not use any other over-the-counter medication without first asking your doctor or pharmacist. Salicylates and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are contained in many medicines available over the counter. If you take certain products together you may accidentally take too much of a certain drug. Read the label of any other medicine you are using to see if it 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 alcohol or use it in moderation while taking magnesium salicylate. If you drink more than three alcoholic beverages a day, the risk of stomach bleeding may increase.
Avoid smoking while you are taking this medication. Smoking can also increase your risk of stomach bleeding.

Magnesium Salicylate Dosage

ow should I take Magnesium Salicylate?

Take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take it in larger amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.
Magnesium salicylate may be taken up to 4 times per day. Follow your doctor’s instructions.
Take the medicine with a full glass of water.
Take magnesium salicylate 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 the medication.
It may take up to 2 weeks of using this medicine before your symptoms improve. For best results, keep using the medication as directed. Talk with your doctor if your symptoms do not start to improve after 2 weeks of treatment.
This medication can cause you to have unusual results with certain medical tests. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using magnesium salicylate.
If you need to have any type of surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are using magnesium salicylate. You may need to stop using the medicine for a short time.
Store magnesium salicylate at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I overdose on Magnesium Salicylate?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.
Overdose symptoms may include ringing in your ears, severe dizziness or drowsiness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, confusion, fast breathing, or seizure (convulsions).

What happens if I miss a dose of Magnesium Salicylate?

Since magnesium salicylate is often used as needed, you may not be on a dosing schedule. If you are using the medication regularly, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and wait until your next regularly scheduled dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
Edited from everydayhealth.com

Magnesium Salicylate