The Basics
What is Salsalate?
Used to relieve pain, tenderness, swelling, and stiffness caused by rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and other conditions that cause swelling.
Brand names for Salsalate
Vivlodex
How Salsalate is classified
Analgesic Agents, Nonsteroidal Antiinflammatory Agents
Salsalate During Pregnancy
Salsalate pregnancy category
Category N/ANote that the FDA has deprecated the use of pregnancy categories, so for some medications, this information isn’t available. We still think it’s useful to list historical info, however, given what a common proxy this has been in the past.
What we know about taking Salsalate while pregnant
N/A
Taking Salsalate While Breastfeeding
What are recommendations for lactation if you're taking Salsalate?
Salsalate has not been studied during breastfeeding, but salsalate results in salicylic acid in the blood. Salicylic acid and aspirin have been studied during breastfeeding. The excretion of salicylate into breastmilk increases disproportionately as the maternal dosage increases. Long-term, high-dose maternal aspirin ingestion probably caused metabolic acidosis in one breastfed infant. Reye’s syndrome is associated with aspirin administration to infants with viral infections, but the risk of Reye’s syndrome from salicylate in breastmilk is unknown. An alternate drug is preferred over salsalate.
Maternal / infant drug levels
Salsalate has not been studied during breastfeeding, but salsalate results in salicylic acid in the blood. Salicylic acid and aspirin have been studied during breastfeeding. The excretion of salicylate into breastmilk increases disproportionately as the maternal dosage increases. Long-term, high-dose maternal aspirin ingestion probably caused metabolic acidosis in one breastfed infant. Reye’s syndrome is associated with aspirin administration to infants with viral infections, but the risk of Reye’s syndrome from salicylate in breastmilk is unknown. An alternate drug is preferred over salsalate.
Possible effects of Salsalate on milk supply
Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Possible alternatives to Salsalate
Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen.
List of References
Lactation sources: Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed) [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US); 2006-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK501922/1. Levy G. Salicylate pharmacokinetics in the human neonate. In, Morselli PL, Garattini S, Sereni F, eds. Basic and therapeutic aspects of perinatal pharmacology. 1975;Raven Press :New York:319-30.
2. Putter J, Satravaha P, Stockhausen H. Quantitative analysis of the main metabolites of acetylsalicylic acid. Comparative analysis in the blood and milk of lactating women. Z Geburtshilfe Perinatol. 1974;178:135-8. PMID: 4422623
3. Jamali F, Keshavarz E. Salicylate excretion in breast milk. Int J Pharm. 1981;8:285-90.
4. Findlay JW, DeAngelis RL, Kearney MF et al. Analgesic drugs in breast milk and plasma. Clin Pharmacol Ther. 1981;29:625-33. PMID: 7214793
5. Bailey DN, Welbert RT, Naylor A. A study of salicylate and caffeine excretion in the breast milk of two nursing mothers. J Anal Toxicol. 1982;6:64-8. PMID: 7098450
6. Unsworth J, d’Assis-Fonseca A, Beswick DT. Serum salicylate levels in a breast fed infant. Ann Rheum Dis. 1987;46:638-9. PMID: 3662653
7. Clark JH, Wilson WG. A 16-day-old breast-fed infant with metabolic acidosis caused by salicylate. Clin Pediatr (Phila). 1981;20:53-4. PMID: 7449246
8. Terragna A, Spirito L. [Thrombocytopenic purpura in an infant after administration of acetylsalicylic acid to the wet-nurse] . Minerva Pediatr. 1967;19:613-6.
9. Harley JD, Robin H. Late neonatal jaundice in infants with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase-deficient erythrocytes. Australas Ann Med. 1962;11:148-55. PMID: 13960788
10. Ito S, Blajchman A, Stephenson M et al. Prospective follow-up of adverse reactions in breast-fed infants exposed to maternal medication. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1993;168:1393-9. PMID: 8498418
Disclaimer: This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Consult your healthcare provider with any questions.
