sodium bicarbonate
Sodium bicarbonate injection is typically used to lower the amount of acid in the blood when the acid level is too high, which can happen with certain medical conditions such as kidney problems, uncontrolled diabetes, or heart conditions. It can also help restore bicarbonate levels in the body if a person experiences severe diarrhea. Sodium bicarbonate injection is infused into your veins (IV) by a healthcare provider, typically in a hospital setting. The dosage of sodium bicarbonate injection depends on your specific condition. You might experience certain side effects, such as muscle twitching or numbness, if you receive too much sodium bicarbonate.
What is Sodium bicarbonate injection?
What is Sodium bicarbonate injection used for?
- Lower blood acid levels when it's too high (metabolic acidosis)
- Reverse the toxic side effects of certain medications, such as barbituates
- Restore bicarbonate levels after severe diarrhea
How Sodium bicarbonate injection works
Sodium bicarbonate is an alkalinizing agent that neutralizes, or balances, the pH level of your blood to help reverse the effects of having acidic blood. It also serves to restore sodium and bicarbonate that your body might have lost.
Drug facts
Side effects of Sodium bicarbonate injection
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
See Risks and Warnings
Sodium bicarbonate injection serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Metabolic alkalosis: headache, feeling irritated, muscle twitches
Pros and cons of Sodium bicarbonate injection
Pros
- Works quickly to correct electrolyte disturbances or low acid blood levels
- Dosage can be adjusted based on your response
Cons
- Not recommended for people with certain medical conditions, such as high blood pressure, heart failure, and kidney problems
- Given as an injection into your veins
Pharmacist tips for Sodium bicarbonate injection
- Sodium bicarbonate injection contains sodium, which is present in table salt. Avoid this medication if you've been told to limit or restrict salt in your diet due to conditions like high blood pressure or congestive heart failure. If you have any of these health conditions, ask your healthcare provider before taking sodium bicarbonate.
- There's not enough information to say whether sodium bicarbonate injection is safe during pregnancy. If you're pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant, talk with your provider.
- Let your provider know if you notice tremors, a tingling sensation, or muscle twitching, any time during your treatment. These might be symptoms of too much bicarbonate and your provider might need to adjust your dose of sodium bicarbonate injection.
- Keep an eye on the site where sodium bicarbonate injection is being injected into your veins. If you notice redness, pain, or swelling, let your provider know.
Common questions about Sodium bicarbonate injection
Sodium bicarbonate injection is used to lower the amount of acid in the blood when your blood acid level is too high. This problem can be caused by conditions such as kidney or blood sugar problems. Sodium bicarbonate injection can also be used to raise the level of bicarbonate in your blood when your level is too low. This is typically caused by loss through severe diarrhea. Lastly, sodium bicarbonate injection can be used to reverse the side effects of certain medications or chemicals, such as barbiturates.
Before your provider orders sodium bicarbonate injection for you, they'll look at your medical history make sure that it's safe for you. They'll also calculate the dose of sodium bicarbonate you need based on labs, like your blood pH level, to make sure you receive the appropriate dose. In general, sodium bicarbonate injection might not be safe for people with congestive heart failure or severe kidney problems. This is because sodium bicarbonate injection contains sodium, which causes you to hold onto fluid. If you have heart failure or kidney disease, it can be dangerous for your body have too much fluid in the body.
Yes. Sodium bicarbonate injection raises your blood pH level because it helps lower the acid in your blood. The less blood acid you have, the higher the pH level. During treatment, your provider will monitor your blood pH level to help get you to a safe range.
If you receive too much sodium bicarbonate, you can have metabolic alkalosis, which means your bicarbonate level is too high. This can lead to symptoms like headache, feeling irritated, and muscle twitches. Too much sodium bicarbonate injection can also lead to high a sodium level, which can cause symptoms such as feeling tired, thirsty, or restless.
Sodium bicarbonate injection is given through the veins intravenously (IV) by a healthcare provider. If you're receiving sodium bicarbonate injection to treat an urgent heart problem, your provider will give you your dose quickly over a span of minutes. If you're receiving it to treat low acid levels in your blood, you might receive this over a span of hours along with IV fluids.
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Risks and warnings for Sodium bicarbonate injection
Sodium bicarbonate injection can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Too much fluid in the body
Risk factors: Congestive heart failure | Severe kidney disease | High blood pressure
Sodium bicarbonate injection contains sodium, which can cause your body to hold on to fluid. This can be especially troublesome for people with heart failure or kidney disease because a buildup of fluid can worsen their symptoms. Hanging on to fluid can also cause your blood pressure to rise. Make sure to tell your provider about your full medical history before getting this medication.
Sodium bicarbonate injection dosage
Typical dosage for Sodium bicarbonate injection
Your provider will determine your dose of sodium bicarbonate injection (measured in milliequivalents, or mEq). The dose will depend on factors such as what you're being treated for, how serious your condition is, your weight, and certain lab results.
For example:
- To lower acid levels (in less urgent situations): The typical dose is based on your weight and response to the medication, and is often added to other IV fluids that you'll receive over a 4 to 8 hour period.
Sodium bicarbonate injection contraindications
Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because Sodium bicarbonate injection will not be safe for you to take.
- People taking certain diuretics (water pills)
- People who are vomiting or are getting gastric suction and are losing chloride
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