The drug is an antacid, is used to relieve heartburn and lower the concentration of acid in the stomach. The doctor, under certain conditions, can also prescribe sodium bicarbonate to regulate the acid-base reaction of the patient’s blood or urine (lower the pH, that is, make them less acidic). This medicine is sometimes prescribed for other purposes. Due to the rapid neutralization of hydrochloric acid of gastric juice, a short-term antacid effect occurs very quickly. Due to the increase in pH of bronchial mucus, sputum liquefies (becomes less viscous) and begins to spit up. The medicine does not cause hypercalcemia and hypercalciuria, like calcium bicarbonate. With absorption, alkalosis develops - an increase in pH in the tissues of the body, including blood. Thanks to alkalization of urine, the risk of precipitation of uric acid in the urinary tract is reduced.
Sodium Bicarbonate is available as a 5% solution for injection (200 ml and 400 ml glass bottles) or 8.4% infusion solution (30 glass 200 ml bottles in cardboard boxes), as well as a 7.5% solution for microbiological studies. In addition, it is produced in the form of a powder, packaged in 2, 10 or 50 g. The powder is taken up to four times a day, depending on the reason, but they do it strictly as prescribed by the doctor. If the powder is used as an antacid, then its interval after a meal should be one to two hours, be sure to drink it with a full glass of water. If it was prescribed for another reason, then it is used regardless of the time of eating. Do not take sodium bicarbonate on a full stomach. Using this medication for more than 2 weeks is not recommended. If symptoms do not improve, then consult a doctor. Giving this medicine to children under 12 years of age should not be. Store the medicine under room conditions in a dark place.
When a doctor prescribes sodium bicarbonate, the patient should tell him about other drugs that he uses. For example, aspirin, benzodiazepines, flecainide, ketoconazole, urotropin, methotrexate, quinidine, sulfonamide antibiotics, tetracycline or vitamins. If sodium bicarbonate and after that will be prescribed by a doctor, then you should divide by time the intake of drugs with an interval of at least two hours. You should tell your doctor about high blood pressure, heart failure, kidney disease, recent bleeding in your stomach or intestines. If a woman becomes pregnant while taking this drug, then you need to see a doctor. It should also be done when planning pregnancy or breastfeeding. The drug increases the amount of sodium in the body, therefore, being on a sodium diet, you need to consult a doctor before you start taking this remedy.
When taking the drug, you should monitor changes in the state of the body, for any deviations immediately get medical advice. Sodium bicarbonate can cause many side effects. These include: increased thirst, abdominal cramps, gas, severe headache, nausea, vomiting (reminds coffee grounds), loss of appetite, irritability, weakness, frequent urination, slow breathing, swelling of the feet and legs, blood in the urine. If such symptoms appear, the doctor may need information about the food that the patient took before they appeared. The intense release of carbon dioxide during the interaction of the drug with hydrochloric acid can provoke a perforation of the walls of the stomach.
Sodium bicarbonate is prescribed for manifestations of metabolic acidosis. Including with infectious diseases, diabetes mellitus, intoxications, necrosis, kidney diseases. The doctor may recommend this medication as a symptomatic remedy to eliminate heartburn or discomfort in the stomach caused by a lowered pH of gastric juice. Its use is indicated for the symptomatic treatment of cough with sputum that is difficult to separate, the appearance of which accompanies various diseases of the respiratory tract. Sodium bicarbonate relieves the patient's condition caused by sea or air sickness. It can be prescribed locally: in cases of inflammatory diseases of the eyes, upper respiratory tract, oral cavity or as a baking powder of earwax.