The
serum salicylate concentrations of patients taking large doses of
aspirin or other salicylates as anti-inflammatory drugs can be reduced to subtherapeutic levels by aluminium/magnesium hydroxide or sodium bicarbonate
antacids.
Care should be taken to monitor
serum salicylate levels if any antacid is started or stopped in patients where the
control of salicylate levels is critical. Probably of little importance with small or one-off doses of
aspirin. Note that
antacids may also increase the rate of absorption of
aspirin given as enteric-coated tablets.