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Q. What can you tell me about the pain reliever salsalate? My doctor says that it will not only help ease my arthritis pain but might help control my blood sugar. Diet has not controlled my borderline diabetes.
A. Salsalate has been used for more than century to relieve arthritis pain. The name indicates its chemical connection with salicylic acid, which is similar to aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid). Like aspirin, salsalate is effective against inflammation and pain, but it does not irritate the digestive tract as aspirin does.
Preliminary research suggests that salsalate may help control blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes (Diabetes Care, Feb. 2008). Two other studies are now underway to determine how well this drug works for diabetes and whether it can reduce the complications of this disease.
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Is this available over the counter?
PEOPLE'S PHARMACY RESPONSE: NO. SALSALATE IS A PRESCRIPTION DRUG.
Where can you get or how do you get salsalate? I need something for inflammation and pain.
Thank you.
PEOPLE'S PHARMACY RESPONSE: TALK WITH YOUR DOCTOR. IT IS A PRESCRIPTION DRUG.
Your information is not entirely correct. Salsalate is not absorbed in the gastric acid of the stomach, however it is readily soluble in the small intestine. Thus although you may experience less stomach upset, your bowel is still affected by the drug.
Would also like to know where or how to get salsalate. Certainly something I could use. Cannot use any ibuprofen or rx arthritis drugs. Am very allergic to them. Aspirin helps the most, but I have to be very careful taking it to avoid stomach discomfort. Thanks.
PEOPLE'S PHARMACY RESPONSE: SALSALATE IS AVAILABLE ONLY BY PRESCRIPTION. TALK WITH YOUR DOCTOR.
Can you use salsalate with Coumadin?
PEOPLE'S PHARMACY RESPONSE: IT IS SOMETIMES DONE. AS WITH ANY MEDICATION ADDED TO COUMADIN, CAREFUL MONITORING MAKES SENSE.
Salsalate is NOT available over-the-counter. Salsalate is a prescription only product.
It is part of a larger class of medications called nonacetylated salicylates. It is prefered over other prescription NSAID's (ibuprofen, naproxen, diclofenac) for arthritis pain in people that have heart attack risk factors, because it does not cause heart attack and has no affect on clotting. Aspirin which is a acetylated salicylate is no longer widely used for pain and will thin the blood at low doses.
Salsalate is very effective and taken twice a day. The dose can be increased over time to increase pain relief.
For pain in those with heart attack risks people should follow this general approach. First use acetaminophen --> salsalate --> tramadol --> periodic opioids --> NSAID's --> COX-2 inhibitors (Celebrex)
I heard of the Joslin study of salsalate on your show, called a representative, and tried three weeks of it. I found no obvious decrease in blood sugar, but a dramatic increase in tinnitus noise and choose to stop. Initial study implied a link between inflammation and type 2, but I think hearing no connection could be found-what a wonderful concept though!
Does Salsalate require a prescription from my doctor? Thank you.
Robert
PEOPLE'S PHARMACY RESPONSE: SALSALATE IS A PRESCRIPTION DRUG.
Greg, I don't agree with your recommendation of tramadol/opiods before any class of NSAIDS. Salsalate is equivalent to Naproxen (Aleve) in indication and mechanism, which has actually shown to be cardioprotective compared with other NSAIDS.
Of course, any long term NSAID therapy should be taken with caution due to GI effects and the risk of CV problems, but as a pharmacy student you must know that the dependence/tolerance risk of opioids has been studied enough to consider these last-line to combat mild/moderate pain.