Composition:

Sodium Bicarbonate

Indications:

• Treatment of metabolic acidosis which may be due to severe renal disease, uncontrolled diabetes, circulatory insufficiency due to shock or severe dehydration, cardiac arrest and severe primary lactic acidosis.
• It is also indicated in severe diarrhea which is often accompanied by a significant loss of bicarbonate.

Principles of action:

Sodium bicarbonate is a systemic alkalinizing agent which, when given intravenously, will increase plasma bicarbonate, buffer excess hydrogen ion concentration, raise blood pH and reverse the clinical manifestations of acidosis. Sodium bicarbonate dissociates in water to provide sodium and bicarbonate ions.