Choline salicylate, a well-known analgesic, which is highly hygroscopic, has been prepared in pharmaceutically acceptable, solid dosage forms, by means of a salicylate of a metal having a valence of at least 2, such as aluminum, bismuth, calcium or magnesium. It has further been shown that such composition is stabilized to a greater extent by the addition thereto of carboyxmethylcellulose. All of the above is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,067,974.
While the compositions of U.S. Pat. No. 4,067,974 constitute a considerable improvement over older choline salicylate compositions, a need has been found to improve the stability of pharmaceutical preparations thereof which are solid in nature, such as tablets, capsules, suppositories and granules.