Sodium Bicarbonate Injection 8.4%W/V
PACKAGE LEAFLET: INFORMATION FOR THE USER
Sodium Bicarbonate Injection BP 8.4% w/v
Sodium Bicarbonate 8.4% w/v
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you are given this medicine. It contains important information.
• Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
• If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or nurse.
• If any of the side effects gets serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your doctor or nurse.
In this leaflet:
1. What Sodium Bicarbonate Injection is and what it is used for
2. Before you are given Sodium Bicarbonate Injection
3. How Sodium Bicarbonate Injection is given
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Sodium Bicarbonate Injection
6. Further information
1. What Sodium Bicarbonate Injection is and what it is used for
Sodium Bicarbonate is one of a group of medicines known as alkalinising agents. It is used to correct the acid-alkaline balance in the body.
This medicine is used to control blood acidity following kidney failure, diabetic coma or after a heart attack.
2. Before you are given Sodium Bicarbonate Injection
You should not be given Sodium Bicarbonate Injection if:
• you are allergic (hypersensitive) to Sodium Bicarbonate or any of the other ingredients of this medicine, listed in section 6 of this leaflet
• your breathing is faster or deeper than usual (hyperventilation), or slower or more shallow than usual (hypoventilation)
• you have any blood abnormalities such as high levels of sodium, low levels of calcium or chloride, or your blood is less acidic than usual (your doctor will need to check this)
• you are having difficulty passing urine or are passing more urine than usual
• you are dehydrated
• you have high blood pressure
• you have problems with your liver
• you have heart problems
• you are suffering from eclampsia (a serious complication of pregnancy)
f any of the above apply to you or your child please tell your doctor or nurse before you are given Sodium Bicarbonate Injection.
Take special care with Sodium Bicarbonate Injection
Your doctor or nurse may want to regularly check your blood acid levels during the course of treatment with this medicine.
Taking other medicines
Please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have ecently taken any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription, including:
• corticosteroids or corticotropin (medicines used to reduce swelling or to treat hormone problems)
• medicines used to treat infections (tetracyclines) such as doxycycline
• quinidine (a medicine used to treat heart problems)
• amphetamines (medicines used to treat certain mental disorders and drowsiness)
• ephedrine and pseudoephedrine (medicines used to treat colds and asthma)
• potassium supplements
• medicines used to treat water retention and problems with passing urine such as ethacrynic acid, bumetanide or frusemide
• thiazides (a type of medicine used to treat high blood pressure)
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, or think you may be pregnant or if you are breast-feeding, before being given Sodium Bicarbonate Injection.
3. How Sodium Bicarbonate Injection is given
Your doctor will give you Sodium Bicarbonate Injection by slow injection into the vein (intravenous injection).
Adults, the elderly and children
Your doctor will decide on how much Sodium Bicarbonate Injection you should be given.
If you think you have been given too much Sodium Bicarbonate Injection
As this medicine will be given to you whilst you are in hospital, it is unlikely that you will be given too little or too much, however, tell your doctor if you have any concerns.
4. Possible side effects
Like all medicines, Sodium Bicarbonate Injection can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Possible side effects include:
• ulcers or skin or tissue loss at the site of injection
If any of the side effects get serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your doctor or nurse.
5. How to store Sodium Bicarbonate Injection
Keep all medicines out of the reach and sight of children.
This Sodium Bicarbonate Injection should not be used after the expiry date which is printed on the carton and ampoule label. The doctor or nurse will check that the expiry date on the label has not been passed before administering the injection to you. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
6. Further Information
What Sodium Bicarbonate Injection contains
The active substance is Sodium Bicarbonate BP 8.4%w/v The other ingredients are disodium edetate, nitrogen and water for injections.
What Sodium Bicarbonate Injection looks like and contents of the pack
Sodium Bicarbonate Injection is a clear, colourless solution supplied in 5ml and 10ml glass ampoules. Each pack contains 10 ampoules.
Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer
Martindale Pharmaceuticals Bampton Road,
Harold Hill Romford Essex RM38UG England
If you would like any more information, or would like the leaflet in a different format, please contact Medical Information at the above address Product licence number:
PL 01883/0023
Date of last revision: November 2009
Martindale KJfk Pharmaceuticals fVi
Bampton Road, Harold Hill, Romford, RM3 8UG, United Kingdom
Driving and using machines
This medicine is unlikely to affect your ability to drive or use machines.