Sodium Bicarbonate

Who is Sodium Bicarbonate for ?

Sodium bicarbonate is an antacid used to relieve heartburn and acid indigestion. Your doctor also may prescribe sodium bicarbonate to make your blood or urine less acidic in certain conditions. this medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

When should I be careful taking Sodium Bicarbonate ?

Before taking sodium bicarbonate,

• tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications you are taking, especially other antacids, aspirin or aspirin-like medicines, benzodiazepines, flecainide (Tambocor), iron, ketoconazole (Nizoral), lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid), methenamine (Hiprex, Urex), methotrexate, quinidine, sulfa-containing antibiotics, tetracycline (Sumycin), or vitamins. Take sodium bicarbonate at least 2 hours apart from other medicines.
• tell your doctor if you have or have ever had high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, or kidney disease or if you have recently had bleeding in your stomach or intestine.
• tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking sodium bicarbonate, call your doctor.

Sodium Bicarbonate Side Effects

Although side effects from sodium bicarbonate are not common, they can occur. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• increased thirst
• stomach cramps
• gas

• severe headache
• upset stomach
• vomit that resembles coffee grounds
• loss of appetite
• irritability
• weakness
• frequent urge to urinate
• slow breathing
• swelling of feet or lower legs
• bloody, black, or tarry stools
• blood in your urine