An antacid used to treat acid indigestion and heartburn is sodium bicarbonate. In some circumstances, your doctor may also advise you to take sodium bicarbonate to reduce the acidity of your blood or urine.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more details if you’re interested in using this drug for any other conditions.

To be used orally, sodium bicarbonate is available as a tablet and powder. Depending on why you’re taking it, sodium bicarbonate can be taken once through four times each day. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any instructions on your prescription label that you are unsure about following. As recommended, take sodium bicarbonate as indicated. Never take it in larger or less amounts or more frequently than directed by your doctor.

When taking sodium bicarbonate as an antacid, you should drink a full glass of water with it and wait one to two hours after eating. You can take sodium bicarbonate with or without food if you need it for another purpose. Never take sodium bicarbonate with a stomach that is too full.

Put at least 4 ounces (120 millilitres) of water in a bowl and stir in the sodium bicarbonate powder. Utilizing a measuring spoon, gently dispense powdered medications.

A doctor’s prescription is required if you intend to use sodium bicarbonate for longer than two weeks. Call your doctor if sodium bicarbonate does not help your symptoms.

Children under the age of 12 should not be given sodium bicarbonate unless specifically instructed to do so by a doctor.

Before taking sodium bicarbonate,

• In particular, mention any additional antacids, aspirin or aspirin-like medications, benzodiazepines, iron, ketoconazole (Nizoral), lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid), methenamine (Hiprex, Urex), methotrexate, quinidine, sulfa-containing antibiotics, tetracycline (Sumycin), or vitamins that you are taking to your doctor and pharmacist. When taking sodium bicarbonate with other medications, wait at least 2 hours.
• Inform your physician if you have or have ever had high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, kidney disease, or recent stomach or intestine bleeding.
• Inform your doctor if you are expecting, intend to get pregnant, or are nursing a baby. Call your doctor if you become pregnant while taking sodium bicarbonate.

The amount of sodium in your body rises as a result of this medication. Consult your doctor before taking sodium bicarbonate if you are on a diet that restricts your intake of sodium.

Take the missed dose of sodium bicarbonate as soon as you remember it if your doctor prescribed you to take it on a specific schedule. If the next dose is soon due, skip the missed one and carry on with your regular dosing plan. To make up for a missing dose, do not take a second one.

Side effects from sodium bicarbonate are possible. If any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away, let your doctor know right once:

• Heightened thirst
• Stomach pain
• Gas

Call your doctor right away and stop taking sodium bicarbonate if you experience any of the following symptoms:

• Terrible headache
• Nausea
• Poop that looks like coffee grounds
• Reduced appetite
• Irritability
• Weakness
• Urge to urinate frequently
• The breath slowly
• Swelling in the lower legs or feet
• Faeces that are red, black, or tarry
• Urine with blood in it

You or your doctor can submit a report to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting programme online or by phone if you have a serious side event (1-800-332-1088).

Keep this medication tightly closed in the original container and out of the reach of children. Store it away from excessive heat and moisture at room temperature (not in the bathroom).

Unused prescriptions must be disposed of carefully to prevent pets, kids, and other people from ingesting them. You should not, however, dispose of this medication in the toilet. Instead, utilising a medicine take-back programme is the easiest approach to get rid of your medication. To find out about take-back programmes in your area, speak with your pharmacist or the garbage/recycling department in your city. If you do not have access to a take-back programme, see the FDA’s Safe Disposal of Medicines website at http://goo.gl/c4Rm4p for additional information.

As many containers (such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers) are not child-resistant and are simple for young children to open, it is crucial to keep all medications out of sight and out of reach of children. Always lock safety caps and promptly stash medication up and away from young children where it is out of their sight and reach to prevent poisoning. http://www.upandaway.org

Call the poison control hotline at 1-800-222-1222 in the event of an overdose. Additionally, information can be found online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. Call 911 right once if the person has collapsed, experienced a seizure, is having difficulty breathing, or cannot be roused.

Keep all scheduled appointments if your doctor has ordered sodium bicarbonate so that the effectiveness of the medication can be evaluated.

You should keep a written record of every medication you take, including any over-the-counter (OTC) items, prescription drugs, and dietary supplements like vitamins and minerals. This list should be brought with you whenever you see a doctor or are admitted to the hospital. You should always have this information with you in case of emergencies.