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If you are taking this drug on a regular schedule (not "as needed") and you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not double the dose to catch up.

If you are taking the over-the-counter product, read all directions on the product package before taking this medication. Take this medication by mouth, usually 3 to 4 times daily with a full glass of water (8 ounces or 240 milliliters) or as directed by your doctor. Do not lie down for at least 10 minutes after taking this drug. If stomach upset occurs while taking this medication, take it with food, milk, or an antacid. Dosage is based on your medical condition and response to therapy. To reduce your risk of stomach bleeding and other side effects, take this medication at the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible time. Do not increase your dose, take it more frequently, or take it for a longer time than prescribed. Do not take the over-the-counter product for more than 10 days unless otherwise directed. For ongoing conditions such as arthritis, continue taking this medication as directed by your doctor. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor or pharmacist. For certain conditions (e.g., arthritis), it may take up to 2 weeks of taking this drug regularly until you get the full benefit. If you are taking this drug "as needed" (not on a regular schedule), remember that pain medications work best if they are used as the first signs of pain occur. If you wait until the symptoms have worsened, the medicine may not work as well. If your condition persists or worsens, if you develop new symptoms, or if you think you may have a serious medical problem, seek immediate medical attention.

If you are taking this medication under your doctor's direction, your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with them first. Before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription/herbal products you may use, especially of: anabolic steroids (e.g., danazol, oxandrolone), anti-platelet drugs (e.g., cilostazol, clopidogrel), "blood thinners" (e.g., enoxaparin, heparin, warfarin), carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (e.g., acetazolamide), certain diabetes drugs (e.g., sulfonylureas such as glyburide), certain drugs for seizures (phenytoin, phenobarbital, valproic acid), cidofovir, corticosteroids (e.g., prednisone), cyclosporine, drugs for gout (e.g., probenecid, sulfinpyrazone), drugs for high blood pressure (including ACE inhibitors such as captopril, angiotensin II receptor antagonists such as losartan, and beta blockers such as metoprolol), gabapentin, lithium, magnesium-containing drugs (e.g., milk of magnesia), methotrexate, oral bisphosphonates (e.g., alendronate), pemetrexed, SSRI antidepressants (e.g., fluoxetine, sertraline), tenofovir, "water pills" (diuretics such as furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide, spironolactone). Check all prescription and nonprescription medicine labels carefully since many contain pain relievers/fever reducers (NSAIDs such as aspirin, ibuprofen, ketorolac, or naproxen) that are similar to this drug and, if taken together, may increase your risk for side effects. Low-dose aspirin should be continued if prescribed by your doctor for specific medical reasons such as heart attack or stroke prevention (usually at dosages of 81-325 milligrams per day). Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details. Some medications (e.g., ciprofloxacin, tetracycline) cannot be taken with magnesium. The magnesium in this product may bind with these medication, preventing their full absorption. Take these medications 2-3 hours before or after taking magnesium salicylate. Ask your pharmacist for more details. This medication may interfere with certain laboratory tests (including certain urine glucose tests), possibly causing false test results. Make sure laboratory personnel and all your doctors know you use this drug. This document does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist.

If your doctor has prescribed this medication for you, do not share it with others. If your doctor has instructed you to take this medication regularly, laboratory and/or medical tests (e.g., blood pressure, complete blood count, liver and kidney function tests, magnesium levels) may be performed periodically to monitor your progress or check for side effects. Consult your doctor for more details. If you have arthritis, lifestyle changes (e.g., weight loss if needed, strengthening/conditioning exercises) may help improve your flexibility and joint function. Consult your doctor for specific instructions.

If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. US residents can call the US National Poison Hotline at 1-800-222-1222. Canada residents can call a provincial poison control center. Symptoms of overdose may include: dizziness, ringing in the ears, weakness, nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, fast breathing, confusion, seizures.

Before taking magnesium salicylate, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or to aspirin or other NSAIDs (e.g., ibuprofen, naproxen, salsalate); or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details. This medication should not be used if you have certain medical conditions. Before using this medicine, consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have: severe kidney disease. Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: aspirin-sensitive asthma (a history of worsening breathing with runny/stuffy nose after taking aspirin or other NSAIDs), kidney disease, liver disease, poorly controlled diabetes, stomach/intestine/esophagus problems (e.g., bleeding, ulcers, recurring heartburn), heart disease (e.g., congestive heart failure, history of heart attack), high blood pressure, stroke, swelling of the ankles/feet/hands, a severe loss of body water (dehydration), blood disorders (e.g., anemia), bleeding/clotting problems, asthma, growths in the nose (nasal polyps), certain genetic conditions (G-6-PD deficiency, pyruvate kinase deficiency). Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist that you are using this medication. This medicine may cause stomach bleeding. Daily use of alcohol and tobacco, especially when combined with this medicine, may increase your risk for stomach bleeding. Limit alcohol and stop smoking. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more information. Caution is advised when using this drug in the elderly because they may be more sensitive to its side effects, especially stomach bleeding and kidney effects. This medication is similar to aspirin. Children and teenagers should not take this medication if they have chickenpox, flu, or any undiagnosed illness, or if they have just been given a live virus vaccine, without first consulting a doctor about Reye's syndrome, a rare but serious illness. This medication is not recommended for use during pregnancy. Consult your doctor for more details. This drug may pass into breast milk and could have undesirable effects on a nursing infant. Therefore, breast-feeding is not recommended while using this drug. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

Store at room temperature between 59-86 degrees F (15-30 degrees C) away from light and moisture. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medicines away from children and pets. Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company for more details about how to safely discard your product.

Upset stomach or nausea may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, notify your doctor or pharmacist promptly. If your doctor has directed you to use this medication, remember that he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects. Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: stomach pain, heartburn, swelling of ankles/feet/hands, sudden/unexplained weight gain, hearing changes (e.g., ringing in the ears, decreased hearing). Stop taking magnesium salicylate and tell your doctor immediately if any of these rare but very serious side effects occur: fast/pounding heartbeat, change in the amount of urine, easy bruising/bleeding, signs of infection (e.g., fever, persistent sore throat), dark urine, yellowing eyes/skin, unusual/extreme tiredness, severe stomach/abdominal pain, persistent nausea/vomiting. A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, seek immediate medical attention if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing. This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice any other side effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist. In the US - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (including magnesium salicylate) may rarely increase the risk for a heart attack or stroke. This effect does not apply to low-dose aspirin. (See Drug Interactions section.) The risk may be greater in people with heart disease or increased risk for heart disease (e.g., due to high blood pressure, diabetes), or with longer use. This drug should not be taken right before or after heart bypass surgery (CABG). Also, this drug may infrequently cause serious (rarely fatal) bleeding from the stomach or intestines. This bleeding can occur without warning symptoms at any time during treatment. Stop taking this medication and seek immediate medical attention if you notice any of the following rare but very serious side effects: chest pain, severe dizziness, weakness on one side of the body, sudden vision changes, slurred speech, black stools, persistent stomach/abdominal pain, vomit that looks like coffee grounds. (See also Precautions section.) Talk with your doctor or pharmacist about the risks and benefits of treatment with this medication.