The use of salsalate for control of long-term musculo-skeletal pain: an open, non-comparative assessment

An open study was carried out in general practice to assess the analgesic effectiveness, tolerance and side-effects of salsalate when given at a dosage of 3 g per day for 6 weeks. Sixty-six patients who were known long-term analgesic users were treated: they included 16 with active inflammatory disease of rheumatoid type, 20 with degenerative joint disease, and 27 with other musculo-skeletal conditions. Three patients were withdrawn during the study because of gastro-intestinal upset. Assessments, using rating scale scores, were made pre-trial and at 2-weekly intervals of joint pain, other musculo-skeletal pain, and duration of morning stiffness. The results showed that there was marked improvement in joint pain and morning stiffness, particularly in those patients with inflammatory joint disease. Improvement in musculo-skeletal discomfort was less evident. Side-effects were reported on 24 occasions, the most frequent being dyspepsia. Faecal occult blood tests showed that there were 7 patients with probable blood loss during treatment, 4 of them, however, had no other clinical signs or symptoms of gastrointestinal intolerance.