Drug & supplement interaction

Meadowsweet + Salsalate

Salsalate brand names: Disalcid, Salsitab, Salflex, Mono-Gesic, Amigesic.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Meadowsweet has a moderate interaction with Salsalate. Theoretically, meadowsweet might have an additive effect with other salicylate-containing drugs such as salsalate.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Meadowsweet and Salsalate

Here is the interaction we found between these two, with the evidence behind it.

Moderate

SALSALATE (Disalcid)

Theoretically, meadowsweet might have an additive effect with other salicylate-containing drugs such as salsalate.
Meadowsweet contains salicin, a plant salicylate.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Interaction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's the simple version: salsalate is itself a salicylate (it's in the same family as aspirin), and meadowsweet naturally carries salicylates too. So if you take both, you're essentially stacking aspirin-like compounds on top of each other. That can add up and nudge your total salicylate load higher than you intended.

What might that look like in real life? More of the usual salicylate side effects, things like stomach upset or irritation, heartburn, ringing in the ears, or a higher chance of stomach bleeding with regular use. I'll be honest with you: this concern is theoretical, based on what we know about the chemistry rather than solid studies, and a little meadowsweet in tea probably isn't a big deal. Still, since you're already on a salicylate medicine, it's worth a quick chat with your pharmacist or doctor before adding concentrated meadowsweet supplements.

References
  1. McGuffin M, Hobbs C, Upton R, Goldberg A, eds. American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, LLC 1997.

What These Ratings Mean

Every interaction above is graded three ways — here’s the key to each label.

Severity how clinically significant the interaction is
Major

Clinically significant. Avoid the combination, or use only under close professional supervision.

Moderate

Usually worth avoiding or managing — may need monitoring, a dose change, or timing apart.

Minor

Generally not serious. Be aware of it and mention it to your pharmacist.

Likelihood how strong the evidence is that the interaction actually happens in people
  • LikelyWell-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction.
  • ProbableInteraction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
  • PossibleInteraction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.
  • UnlikelyInteraction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.
Evidence the quality of the studies behind the rating (graded A–D)
  • AHigh-quality meta-analysis (quantitative systematic review).
  • BCase-control study.
  • CConsensus.
  • DAnecdotal evidence.

These ratings are for information only. Never start, stop, or otherwise change your therapy before speaking with your provider.

Keep it in perspective

Meadowsweet Also Interacts With Other Medications

Meadowsweet has 38 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Salsalate one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Meadowsweet

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Meadowsweet. Pick one to open its full report.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Salsalate

This page covers Meadowsweet only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Salsalate page lists 37 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Asarabacca (major), Beer (major), Siberian Cocklebur (major) and Wine (major).

By severity: 5 major · 20 moderate · 12 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Salsalate page

“Beer and wine top my worry list for anyone taking salsalate (Disalcid), an aspirin-like salicylate used for arthritis pain, since alcohol alongside it raises the risk of stomach and intestinal bleeding. Those drinks account for two of the five major-rated interactions among the 37 ingredients on file, and this list deserves real caution.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Salsalate interaction page

One more smart check

Taking Meadowsweet as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions

We hold 197 real supplement products containing Meadowsweet, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Meadowsweet. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Salsalate too, on top of Meadowsweet — and those would not show on this page. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where Meadowsweet and Salsalate Sit Against Everything Else

Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.

Supplement Meadowsweet
Top half

#495 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Salsalate
Steady interest

#2,124 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.

Supplement

About Meadowsweet

What is Meadowsweet?

Meadowsweet
  • Heartburn and indigestion
  • Cold and flu symptoms
  • Mild aches and pains
  • Fever
  • Joint discomfort

Meadowsweet is a traditional European herb that contains natural salicylates (aspirin-like compounds) and is used mainly for digestive upset, colds, and minor aches. High-quality human studies are lacking, so its benefits are not well proven, and people sensitive to aspirin should be cautious. Talk with your pharmacist or doctor before using it.

Read the full Meadowsweet monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Salsalate

What Is Salsalate Used For?

Brand names: Disalcid, Salsitab, Salflex, Mono-Gesic, Amigesic

Salsalate tablets are used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and related rheumatic disorders. It helps relieve pain, swelling, and stiffness associated with these conditions.

It is not approved for use in children, and it must not be used for pain relief around the time of coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) heart surgery.

See full Salsalate drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Meadowsweet

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Meadowsweet — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

0Major
38Moderate
0Minor
2,791No known interaction
Moderate

38 interactions

No interaction 2,791 drugs checked — show the list
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Interaction details are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database. The medication overview comes from MedlinePlus.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

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Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Meadowsweet and Salsalate Together: Common Questions

Can you take Meadowsweet with Salsalate?
There is a moderate interaction, so it may be acceptable with monitoring or timing changes — but check with your pharmacist first. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
How serious is the Meadowsweet and Salsalate interaction?
We rate it Moderate. This combination may require monitoring, a dose adjustment, or separating the times you take each one. Consult your pharmacist before using them together.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Still Have a Question About Salsalate and Meadowsweet?

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This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.