sodium bicarbonate Oral

Nausea, bloating, or gas may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, contact your doctor or pharmacist promptly.
If your doctor has directed you to use this medication, remember that he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.
Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: swelling hands/ankles/feet, unusual weight gain.
When taken with sodium bicarbonate, large doses of calcium from your diet, medications, or supplements can rarely cause a serious problem called milk-alkali syndrome. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about using calcium products safely while you are using this medication. Tell your doctor immediately if any of these rare but very serious side effects occur: dizziness, muscle aches/spasms, mental/mood changes (e.g., confusion, irritability, memory problems), vomiting, weakness, change in the amount of urine.
Seek immediate medical attention if any of these rare but very serious side effects occur: chest pain, seizures.
A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, seek immediate medical attention if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing.
This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
In the US -
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.

Before taking sodium bicarbonate, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.
This product should not be used if you have certain medical conditions. Before using this product, consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have: a certain breathing problem (pulmonary edema), congestive heart failure, severe kidney disease (e.g., inability to make urine), severe liver disease (e.g., ascites, cirrhosis), high sodium levels, swollen ankles/legs/feet due to retaining water (peripheral edema).
If you have any of the following health problems, consult your doctor or pharmacist before using this product: low calcium levels, high blood pressure, heart problems (e.g., irregular heartbeat), kidney disease.
Because this medication contains salt (sodium), do not use if you are on a salt-restricted diet.
During pregnancy, this medication should be used only when clearly needed. This medication may worsen high blood pressure during pregnancy (toxemia of pregnancy). Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor.
This medication may pass into breast milk. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

If you are taking this product under your doctor\'s direction, your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor or pharmacist first.
Before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you use any of the following products: aspirin and other salicylates (e.g., salsalate), barbiturates (e.g., phenobarbital), calcium supplements, corticosteroids (e.g., prednisone), medications with a special coating to protect the stomach (enteric coating), lithium, quinidine, stimulants/decongestants (e.g., amphetamine, pseudoephedrine), \"water pills\" (thiazide diuretics such as hydrochlorothiazide).
This medication can decrease the effectiveness of certain drugs that require stomach acid to work, including: ampicillin, amprenavir, atazanavir, certain azole antifungals (e.g., ketoconazole, itraconazole), iron supplements, sucralfate.
Before using this medication, consult your doctor or pharmacist on how to manage this possible interaction.
If your doctor has directed you to take low-dose aspirin for heart attack or stroke prevention (usually at dosages of 81-325 milligrams a day), you should continue taking it unless your doctor instructs you otherwise. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more details.
This document does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist.

If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. US residents can call the US National Poison Hotline at 1-800-222-1222. Canada residents can call a provincial poison control center. Symptoms of overdose may include: muscle spasms, seizures.

NOTES:
Laboratory and/or medical tests (e.g., calcium/potassium/sodium levels, bicarbonate levels) should be performed periodically to monitor your progress or check for side effects if you are taking large doses or taking this medication for more than 2 weeks. Consult your doctor for more details.

MISSED DOSE:
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not double the dose to catch up.

STORAGE:
Store at room temperature between 59-86 degrees F (15-30 degrees C) away from heat, light, and moisture. Keep all medicines away from children and pets.
Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company for more details about how to safely discard your product.
Information last revised May 2012. Copyright(c) 2012 First Databank, Inc.