diethylamine salicylate: prescribing and clinical use
Focused clinical detail for use alongside current product information, local policy and patient-specific assessment.
diethylamine salicylate: clinical details
Prescribing considerations
- Confirm that the pain is suitable for symptomatic topical treatment and investigate persistent symptoms.
- Review aspirin, salicylate or NSAID hypersensitivity, asthma history, pregnancy, breastfeeding and concurrent medicines.
- Avoid application over large areas or damaged skin because systemic adverse effects may occur if substantial amounts are absorbed.
- Counsel about local irritation and the serious fabric fire hazard.
Contraindications and cautions
- Hypersensitivity to diethylamine salicylate or formulation excipients.
- Known hypersensitivity to aspirin, other salicylates or other NSAIDs, particularly when associated with asthma.
- Application to cut, abraded or broken skin.
- For Algesal, use in children with a history of convulsions because terpene-containing excipients may lower the seizure threshold.
Monitoring
- Assess local skin tolerance and discontinue if excessive irritation develops.
- For a patient taking a coumarin anticoagulant, consider whether anticoagulation monitoring requires closer review.
- Assess urgently for salicylate toxicity after ingestion or clinically significant extensive exposure.
Clinical pharmacology
A cutaneous salicylate analgesic with local anti-inflammatory and counter-irritant activity. The Algesal SmPC reports detectable but small plasma amounts of salicylic acid after topical application.
Formulation and product differences
- Algesal is an off-white, lavender-scented cream containing a lavandin fragrance with d-limonene and linalool, which may cause allergic reactions.
- Odour Free Lloyds Cream contains cetostearyl alcohol and parahydroxybenzoate preservatives that may cause local or delayed allergic skin reactions.
- Advice for children under six differs: Algesal is not recommended, whereas Odour Free Lloyds Cream specifies use only on medical advice.
- Algesal is supplied in aluminium tubes; Odour Free Lloyds Cream is described in an amber glass jar.
diethylamine salicylate interactions
Systemic exposure is usually limited, but clinically important interactions are described for topical salicylates.
Warfarin and other coumarin anticoagulants
Topical salicylates may enhance anticoagulant effects and increase bleeding risk, so use requires caution.
Methotrexate
Salicylates may delay methotrexate elimination, increasing its blood concentration and toxicity risk.
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.