This randomized phase II trial studies how well choline magnesium trisalicylate with idarubicin and cytarabine works in treating patients with acute myeloid leukemia. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as choline magnesium trisalicylate, idarubicin, and cytarabine, work in different ways to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. It is not yet know whether choline magnesium trisalicylate and combination chemotherapy is more effective than combination chemotherapy alone in treating patients with acute myeloid leukemia.