Sodium Bicarbonate 500 mg Capsules

1. What Sodium Bicarbonate Capsules are and what they are used for
2. What you need to know before you take Sodium Bicarbonate Capsules
3. How to take Sodium Bicarbonate Capsules
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Sodium Bicarbonate Capsules
6. Contents of the pack and other information

• if you are allergic to sodium bicarbonate or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6)
• if you have reduced stomach acid
• if you have low levels of potassium in the blood
• if you have low levels of chloride in the blood
• if you have low levels of calcium in the blood
• if you have a liver problem
• if you have toxaemia of pregnancy
• if you have problems with urination
• if you have excess sodium in the blood
• if you are under 12 years old

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Sodium Bicarbonate Capsules:

• if you are on a salt-restricted diet
• if you have heart disease
• if you have high blood pressure or high blood pressure due to pregnancy
• if you have kidney disease or kidney stones
• if you are taking steroids

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicine. This includes medicines obtained without a prescription, also herbal medicines. This is because Sodium Bicarbonate Capsules can affect the way some other medicines work. Also, some other medicines can affect the way Sodium Bicarbonate Capsules works:

• lithium
• aspirin and other salicylates
• ACE inhibitors such as captopril, enalapril and fosinapril
• antibacterials and anti fungals such as azithromycin, cefaclor, cephadoxime, isoniazid, itraconazole, rifampicin, tetracyclines, ketoconazole and the quinoline group of antibacterials
• antivirals such as atazanivir, fosamprenavir and tipranavir
• antihistamines such as fexofenadine
• bisphosphonates
• digoxin
• quinidine or dipyridamole (used to treat heart rhythm disorders)
• antiepileptics such as gabapentin and phenytoin
• barbiturates such as phenobarbital
• ulcer healing drugs such as lansoprazole
• levothyroxine
• mycophenolate
• lipid regulating drugs such as rosuvastatin
• antipsychotics such as sulpiride, phenothiazines
• chloroquine
• hydrochloroquine
• penicillamine
• nilotinib
• dipyridamole (to prevent blood clots associated with heart problems).
• corticosteroids such as deflazacort
• tricyclic antidepressants
• sympathomimetics (used to treat e.g. asthma, severe allergic reactions, sinusitis or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder)
• anticholinergics (used to treat e.g. asthma, Parkinson, motion sickness, abdominal cramps and urinary tract disorders)

You can take Sodium Bicarbonate Capsules before or after food as directed by your doctor or pharmacist.

Do not take this medicine with large amounts of milk or milk products or calcium containing products. This may result in milk-alkali syndrome.

• If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.
• You should not use this medicine during the first three months of pregnancy unless your doctor feels it is absolutely necessary.

Sodium Bicarbonate Capsules contain 137 milligrams (mg) sodium per capsule. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you need three or more capsules daily for prolonged period, especially if you have been advised to follow a low salt (sodium) diet.

Sodium Bicarbonate Capsules does not affect the ability to drive or operate machinery.

Indigestion: 1 g to 5 g (2 to 10 capsules) taken when required. Metabolic Acidosis: as directed by your doctor.

If you are elderly you should consult your doctor before taking this medicine, and must be particularly careful to follow your doctor's instructions.

Not recommended.

• Call your doctor or go to your nearest hospital casualty department straight away. Take the medicine pack with you.
• Overdose may make you feel ill.

If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose.

Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.

• belching or flatulence
• increased blood pressure
• fluid retention or fluid in the lungs
• frequent urge to urinate
• headache
• loss of appetite
• mood or mental changes
• nausea or vomiting
• nervousness or restlessness
• slow breathing
• swelling of feet or lower legs
• unpleasant taste
• unusual tiredness or weakness
• extreme irritability
• muscle spasms
• increased potassium in the blood
• increased thirst
• stomach cramps
• stomach discomfort
• bloating
• formation of kidney stones with prolonged use
• Increased bicarbonate in the blood (metabolic alkalosis).

If you get any side effects talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme Website at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side affects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

The active substance is sodium bicarbonate. Each capsule contains 500 mg of sodium bicarbonate, of which 137 milligrams (mg) is sodium.

The other ingredients are microcrystalline cellulose and magnesium stearate. The capsule shell contains gelatin and Sodium laurilsulfate and the printing ink contains shellac (E904), black iron oxide (E172) and Propylene Glycol (E1520).

Empty Hard Gelatin Capsule shell, size"1", Clear Transparent Cap and body, imprinted with SB on Cap and 500 on body, containing white to off-white granular powder or powder plug.

These capsules are available in pack sizes of 56.

PL 43461/0113.