Drug interactions
Salsalate + Tolbutamide
Severity: Moderate
Salsalate and Tolbutamide: 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 hydrolyzed to salicylic acid, which can lower blood glucose and may add to the effect of tolbutamide. Hypoglycemia is possible, particularly at higher doses.
What this interaction means in plain words
Salsalate and Tolbutamide 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 glucose-lowering effect of salicylate and possible protein binding displacement.
What to do
Monitor blood glucose when starting or adjusting salsalate and reduce the tolbutamide dose if hypoglycemia develops.
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 Tolbutamide
- Glyburide-metformin + Tolbutamide Major
- Insulin degludec-liraglutide + Tolbutamide Major
- Aceclofenac + Tolbutamide Moderate
- Acemetacin + Tolbutamide Moderate
- Acetylsalicylic acid + Tolbutamide Moderate
- Albiglutide + Tolbutamide Moderate
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Salsalate with Tolbutamide?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Salsalate and Tolbutamide 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 hydrolyzed to salicylic acid, which can lower blood glucose and may add to the effect of tolbutamide. Hypoglycemia is possible, particularly at higher doses.
How serious is the interaction between Salsalate and Tolbutamide?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Monitor blood glucose when starting or adjusting salsalate and reduce the tolbutamide dose if hypoglycemia develops.
What other medicines interact with Tolbutamide?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Tolbutamide with, for example, Glyburide-metformin, Insulin degludec-liraglutide, Aceclofenac. The full list is on the Tolbutamide page.
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