The harm of sodium bicarbonate

Safety grade of sodium bicarbonate

Proper oral consumption of sodium bicarbonate is often safe, including eating antacid products containing sodium bicarbonate, which are taken for a specific period and do not require a prescription, these products are considered safe according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), but potentially unsafe. Taking sodium bicarbonate in large quantities, as excessive and long-term use of sodium bicarbonate may cause some complications such as stomach rupture and serious changes in electrolyte levels in the body.

Also, it is possible that sodium bicarbonate is not safe to take during pregnancy, as it may increase the risk of fluid retention, or tissue pH imbalance, it is worth noting that there is not enough information about the degree of safety of sodium bicarbonate breastfeeding women or children, so it is recommended to avoid taking it by them.

Contraindications to the use of sodium bicarbonate

The following are some of the conditions that those who suffer from them should be careful when wanting to consume sodium carbonate :

People with diabetic ketoacidosis : raise sodium bicarbonate from blood acids known as ketones, which are associated with complications of diabetes when blood acid levels are too high.
Those who suffer from edema : sodium bicarbonate may increase the risk of swelling or edema resulting from the accumulation of fluid in the body, the reason is that sodium bicarbonate contains the sodium compound, so patients with heart failure, liver disease, and other conditions associated with fluid retention in the body should be careful when using sodium bicarbonate.
People with high blood calcium : people with high blood calcium levels may have difficulty excreting bicarbonate, so taking sodium bicarbonate may increase the risk of complications such as milk-alkali syndrome.
For those who suffer from high sodium in the blood : sodium bicarbonate contributes to increasing sodium levels in the blood, so it is recommended to avoid taking it in this case.
People with high blood pressure : sodium bicarbonate can raise blood pressure, so people with high blood pressure should avoid taking it.
Those with low potassium in the blood : sodium bicarbonate is likely to reduce potassium levels in the blood, so those with low blood potassium levels should avoid taking it.
Iron deficiencies : sodium bicarbonate may reduce the body’s ability to absorb iron, so people with iron deficiency should avoid taking sodium bicarbonate with iron supplements at frequent times.

Drug interactions with sodium bicarbonate

Taking sodium bicarbonate interferes with some types of medications, including the following :

Medications that may reduce potassium levels in the body : as mentioned earlier, taking sodium bicarbonate reduces potassium levels in the body, and some medications reduce potassium levels in the body, so taking sodium bicarbonate with these drugs may cause a significant decrease in potassium levels, and therefore potassium supplements may be needed, and these medicines include :
- Aminoglycosides.
- Amphotericin-B.
- Beta-2 agonist receptor.
- Cisplatin.
- Fluconazole.
- Some types of glucocorticoids.
- Methylxanthines.
- Penicillin.
- Stimulant laxatives.
- Loop diuretics and thiazide diuretics.
Aspirin : taking sodium bicarbonate intravenously may increase the speed of the body’s breakdown and elimination of aspirin, which leads to a decrease in the effect of aspirin in the body, so you should avoid taking them together.

Taking sodium bicarbonate with the antibiotic cefpodoxime proxetil reduces the concentration of cefpodoxime proxetyl in the body, which may reduce the efficiency of the antibiotic’s action.

Chlorpropamide : taking sodium bicarbonate with the antidiabetic drug chlorpropamide causes an increase in the speed at which the body gets rid of chlorpropamide, which reduces the effectiveness of this drug in the body.
Pseudoephedrine : taking sodium bicarbonate intravenously may reduce the body’s speed in breaking down pseudoephedrine, which may lead to increased levels of pseudoephedrine in the body, thus increasing the risk of pseudoephedrine poisoning.

Safe Dosing of Sodium Bicarbonate

It is necessary to consult a doctor before using sodium bicarbonate, sodium bicarbonate is available in the form of powder or tablets taken orally and can be taken one to four times a day depending on the reason for its use, but you must follow the instructions in the prescription carefully, and see a doctor or pharmacist if you do not understand any part of it.

It is worth noting the need to make sure that sodium bicarbonate is consumed exactly as written in the recipe without increasing or decreasing what the doctor prescribed; and if sodium bicarbonate is used as an antacid, it should be taken one to two hours after eating a meal, and with a full glass of water, but if it is taken for other reasons, it can be taken with or without food, but it should not be taken on an excessively full stomach.

Are there benefits of sodium bicarbonate ?

A study published in the Journal of Food Science indicated that sodium bicarbonate inhibited the growth of some types of bacteria and yeasts in laboratory agar under certain conditions, such as Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Lactobacillus plantarum. Sodium bicarbonate may also help fight inflammation in the body by activating the spleen to fight inflammation.

An overview of sodium bicarbonate and its uses

Sodium bicarbonate or as it is known as baking soda is a salt consisting of sodium ions and bicarbonate ions, its chemical formula (is NaHCO3) and is usually in the form of a crystalline white solid, or a fine powder, and sodium bicarbonate is involved in many uses, especially in baking, due to its possession of fermentation properties, as it contributes to swelling of the dough by producing carbon dioxide gas, and sodium bicarbonate is also used as an air freshener, weed killer, general cleaner, and in the manufacture of products Personal care.

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