Choline Magnesium Trisalicylate

Choline magnesium trisalicylate is used to relieve the pain, tenderness, inflammation (swelling), and stiffness caused by arthritis and painful shoulder. It is also used to relieve pain and lower fever. Choline magnesium trisalicylate is in a class of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) called salicylates. It works by stopping the body's production of a substance that causes pain, fever, and inflammation.

Choline magnesium trisalicylate comes as a tablet and a liquid to take by mouth. It is usually taken one to three times a day. To help you remember to take choline magnesium trisalicylate, take it around the same time every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take choline magnesium trisalicylate exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Before taking choline magnesium trisalicylate,

• tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to choline magnesium trisalicylate, aspirin, choline salicylate (Arthropan), diflunisal (Dolobid), magnesium salicylate (Doan's, others), salsalate (Argesic, Disalcid, Salgesic), or any other medications.

• tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking. Be sure to mention any of the following: acetazolamide (Diamox); antacids; anticoagulants ('blood thinners') such as warfarin (Coumadin); dichlorphenamide (Daranide); insulin and oral medications for diabetes such as acetohexamide (Dymelor), chlorpropamide (Diabinese), glimepiride (Amaryl), glipizide (Glucotrol), glyburide (DiaBeta, Glynase, Micronase), tolazamide (Tolinase), and tolbutamide (Orinase); medications for gout such as probenecid (Benemid) and sulfinpyrazone (Anturane); methazolamide (GlaucTabs, Neptazane); methotrexate (Rheumatrex); oral steroids such as dexamethasone (Decadron, Dexone), methylprednisolone (Medrol), and prednisone (Deltasone); other salicylate pain relievers such as aspirin, choline salicylate (Arthropan), diflunisal (Dolobid), magnesium salicylate (Doan's, others), and salsalate (Argesic, Disalcid, Salgesic); phenytoin (Dilantin); and valproic acid (Depakene, Depakote). Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.

• tell your doctor if you have or have ever had stomach problems such as ulcers or kidney or liver disease.

• you should know that choline magnesium trisalicylate should not be taken by children and teenagers with chicken pox or the flu, because of the risk of Reye Syndrome, a rare but serious disease.

• tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking choline magnesium trisalicylate, call your doctor.

• if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking choline magnesium trisalicylate.

• ask your doctor about the safe use of alcoholic beverages while you are taking choline magnesium trisalicylate. Alcohol can make the side effects from choline magnesium trisalicylate worse.

Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, continue your normal diet.

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.

• Choline magnesium trisalicylate may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

  • upset stomach

  • vomiting

  • heartburn

  • diarrhea

  • constipation

  • stomach pain

  • headache

  • lightheadedness

  • dizziness

  • drowsiness

  • lack of energy

• Some side effects can be serious. The following symptoms are uncommon, but if you experience any of them, call your doctor immediately:

  • ringing in the ears

  • hearing loss

  • black and tarry stools

  • red blood in stools

  • bloody vomit

  • vomiting material that looks like coffee grounds

• Choline magnesium trisalicylate may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.

• If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online (http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch) or by phone (1-800-332-1088).

Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom).

Unneeded medications should be disposed of in special ways to ensure that pets, children, and other people cannot consume them. However, you should not flush this medication down the toilet. Instead, the best way to dispose of your medication is through a medicine take-back program. Talk to your pharmacist or contact your local garbage/recycling department to learn about take-back programs in your community. See the FDA's Safe Disposal of Medicines website (http://goo.gl/c4Rm4p) for more information if you do not have access to a take-back program.

It is important to keep all medication out of sight and reach of children as many containers (such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers) are not child-resistant and young children can open them easily. To protect young children from poisoning, always lock safety caps and immediately place the medication in a safe location – one that is up and away and out of their sight and reach. http://www.upandaway.org

In case of overdose, call the poison control helpline at 1-800-222-1222. Information is also available online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. If the victim has collapsed, had a seizure, has trouble breathing, or can't be awakened, immediately call emergency services at 911.

Symptoms of overdose may include:

• headache

• dizziness

• ringing in the ears

• hearing loss

• confusion

• drowsiness

• sweating

• vomiting

• diarrhea

• rapid breathing

Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor may order certain lab tests to check your body's response to choline magnesium trisalicylate.

Before having any laboratory test, tell your doctor and the laboratory personnel that you are taking choline magnesium trisalicylate.

Do not let anyone else take your medication. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription.

It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.