Drug interactions
Mefenamic acid + Salsalate
Severity: Moderate
Mefenamic acid and Salsalate: moderate interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Salsalate is a salicylate prodrug with NSAID properties, so combining it with mefenamic acid duplicates therapy and increases the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding and kidney injury without added efficacy.
What this interaction means in plain words
Mefenamic acid and Salsalate can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.
Why it happens
Additive cyclooxygenase inhibition reducing protective prostaglandin synthesis in the gut and kidney.
What to do
Avoid concurrent use of the two agents; choose one. If unavoidable, monitor for GI bleeding and renal function and use the lowest effective doses.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Should I take them at different times of day?
- Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
- Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?
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Other interactions of Mefenamic acid
- Ketorolac intranasal + Mefenamic acid Contraindicated
- Ketorolac + Mefenamic acid Contraindicated
- Aceclofenac + Mefenamic acid Major
- Acemetacin + Mefenamic acid Major
- Acetylsalicylic acid + Mefenamic acid Major
- Alteplase + Mefenamic acid Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Mefenamic acid with Salsalate?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Mefenamic acid and Salsalate can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Salsalate is a salicylate prodrug with NSAID properties, so combining it with mefenamic acid duplicates therapy and increases the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding and kidney injury without added efficacy.
How serious is the interaction between Mefenamic acid and Salsalate?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Avoid concurrent use of the two agents; choose one. If unavoidable, monitor for GI bleeding and renal function and use the lowest effective doses.
What other medicines interact with Mefenamic acid?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Mefenamic acid with, for example, Ketorolac intranasal, Ketorolac, Aceclofenac. The full list is on the Mefenamic acid page.
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