Sodium Bicarbonate Infusion is an intravenous infusion
(into a vein). Sodium Bicarbonate Infusion is used when
your blood and urine contain too much acid.

You should not receive Sodium Bicarbonate Infusion if
you: • suffer from high blood pressure (hypertension)
• suffer from kidney disease
• suffer from heart disease
• have fluid in the lungs (pulmonary oedema)
• have above normal pH levels in your body (respiratory
or metabolic alkalosis)
• are overbreathing (hyperventilating)
• have high levels of sodium in your blood (hypernatraemia)
• have complications in your pregnancy called
eclampsia (symptoms include: convulsions, increased
blood pressure, circulatory problems, severe headaches,
vision problems, pain in the upper abdomen, vomiting,
sudden swelling of your feet, ankles, face and hands and
excessive weight gain).
Tell your doctor if you: • suffer from acute illness, pain,
post-operative stress, infections, burns, or disease of the
central nervous system. • have any type of liver disease.
• have been treated with a medicine increasing the effect
of vasopressin (a hormone regulating the body's water
retention) because this may increase the risk of
hospital-acquired low sodium levels in the blood
(hyponatraemia) • heat cramp
• have sickle cell disease ( a condition affecting the red
blood cells) • have excess fluids build up around the
brain (cerebral oedema) • have meningitis (swelling of
the protective membranes covering brain and spinal
cord) • have any brain injury.
Warnings and precautions
Sodium Bicarbonate Infusion must be given directly into a
vein and not into body tissue. Patients receiving
resuscitation may risk the possibility of fluid in their lungs

if they are given Sodium Bicarbonate Infusion.
Prolonged use of sodium bicarbonate should be avoided
because it may cause hypokalaemia (condition in which
the body fails to retain sufficient potassium levels)
The doctor or nurse will check that the solution is free
from particles before use.
Other Medicines and Sodium Bicarbonate Infusion
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have
recently taken or might take any other medicines. The
following drugs should not be mixed with Sodium
Bicarbonate Infusion: • Vitamin c (ascorbic acid)
• benzylpenicillin, oxytetracycline, tetracycline, streptomycin,
vancomycin (antibiotics)
• calcium chloride
• calcium gluconate (used in effervescent calcium tablets)
• calcium salts of drugs
• carmustine, cisplatin (used in chemotherapy)
• codeine phosphate (painkiller, anti-diarrhoea)
• adrenaline, corticotrophin, noradrenaline (hormone)
• dobutamine (used for heart disease)
• insulin (used in treatment of diabetes)
• labetalol (high blood pressure)
• levorphanol, pethidine, morphine sulphate (used to treat
severe pain)
• magnesium salts
• methadone (used in the treatment of drug addiction)
• pentobarbitone (tranquilizer and anticonvulsive
medicine)
• procaine (a local anesthetic drug)
• suxamethonium (muscle relaxant)
• vitamin B complex with C
• lithium (used in the treatment of mania, antidepressant)
• hexamine based drugs (urinary antiseptics)
• amphetamine (prescription stimulant used to treat
attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHDD)
• quinidine (antiarrhythmic agent)
• quinine (fever-reducing, painkiller and anti-inflammatory
medicine)
• Medicines leading to an increased vasopressin effect
e.g.(chlorpropamide. clofibrate, carbamazepine,
vincristine, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors,
3,4-methylenedioxy-N methamphetamine, ifosfamide,
antipsychotics, narcotics)
• Medicines potentiating vasopressin action (e.g.
non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, chlorpropamide,
cycophosphamide)
• Medicines acting as vasopressin, so called vasopressin
analogues e.g.: Desmopressin, oxytocin, vasopressin,
terlipressin
• other medicinal products increasing the risk of
hyponatraemia including diuretics in general and
antiepiliptics e.g. oxcarbazepine
If you are unsure whether you are taking one of the
above drugs, ask your doctor or pharmacist. These
medicines may be affected by sodium bicarbonate or
may affect how well it works.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be
pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor

Sodium Bicarbonate Infusion is considered safe to use
during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Sodium Bicarbonate
infusion should be given with special caution for
pregnant women during labour, if given in combination
with oxytocin this may cause low sodium concentration in
the blood.
Driving and using machines
Sodium Bicarbonate Infusion should not affect your ability
to drive or operate machinery.

Sodium Bicarbonate Infusion will be given to you in
hospital by a healthcare professional via intravenous
infusion (into a vein). The amount and rate at which the
infusion is given depends on your requirements. Your
doctor will decide on the correct dose for you
If you receive more Sodium Bicarbonate Infusion
than you should
It is very unlikely that you will receive more infusion than
you should. If you suspect that you received too much
sodium bicarbonate you should immediately inform your
doctor describing the symptoms. Excessive amounts of
infused Sodium Bicarbonate Infusion may result in:
• abnormally fast breathing (hyperpnoea) • nausea
(feeling sick) • convulsions (fits)
If Sodium Bicarbonate Infusion is administered too
quickly it may result in chemical imbalance in the body
(hyperosmolarity).
Dosage System
Fluid balance, glucose and salts along with other
electrolytes found within your blood may need to be
monitored before and during administration, especially if
you are at risk of high blood pressure or kidney problems.
Monitoring of your salt levels is important for this type of
infusion solution (hypotonic fluid), as it may become very
hypotonic after administration due to glucose utilisation in
the body.

Like all medicines, Sodium Bicarbonate Infusion can
cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Thrombosis (the formation of a clot) may occur in the
vein where the infusion is given. The symptoms of
thrombosis include: •pain, swelling and redness at the
blood clot site. •an itchy rash at the clot site
•warm skin around the clot •a mild fever
•major veins that stand out from your skin.
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effect, talk to your doctor or nurse.
This includes any possible side effect not listed in this
leaflet. By reporting side effects, you can help provide
more information on the safety of this medicine.

Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
Your doctor and hospital pharmacist are responsible for the
correct storage, use and disposal of Sodium Bicarbonate
Infusion. Store below 30°C. The solutions must not be used
after the expiry date shown on the label. The expiry date
refers to the last day of that month. Any solution remaining