SODIUM BICARB "500 MG TABLETS" 50 TABLETS"

Name
SODIUM BICARBONATE NOVA ARGENTIA 500 mg tablets
Sodium bicarbonate


What is it and what is it for?
SODIUM BICARBONATE NOVA ARGENTIA contains the active ingredient sodium bicarbonate belonging to the antacid class.
This medicine is indicated for the treatment of heartburn.

Talk to your doctor if you do not feel better or if you feel worse after a short time of treatment.


What you need to know before taking the medicine
Do not take SODIUM BICARBONATE NOVA ARGENTIA
- if you are allergic (hypersensitive) to sodium bicarbonate or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6);
- if you suffer from severe kidney problems (severe renal failure);
- if you have an increase in blood pH caused by breathing problems (respiratory alkalosis);
- if you have low levels of calcium in your blood (hypocalcemia, due to an increased risk of tetany);
- if you have low levels of chloride in your blood (hypochloraemia) caused by taking medicines such as diuretics (see section other medicines and SODIUM BICARBONATE NOVA ARGENTIA) or by the loss of excessive quantities of chloride following vomiting or other practices such as continuous gastrointestinal suction;
- if the person who is to take this medicine is under 12 years of age;
- if you are pregnant (see section Pregnancy and breastfeeding).


Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking SODIUM BICARBONATE NOVA ARGENTIA.

Use this medicine with caution and tell your doctor in the following cases:
- if you suffer or have suffered from serious heart problems (congestive heart failure);
- if you suffer from kidney problems (renal impairment);
- if you have problems urinating or do not produce urine at all (oliguria or anuria);
- if you have high blood pressure (hypertension);
- if you suffer from liver problems (liver cirrhosis);
- if you use anti-inflammatory medicines (corticosteroids);
- if you are on a low-sodium diet (for example in some cases of congestive heart failure, renal impairment, hypertension);
- if you suffer from fluid retention caused by sodium retention (may be due to diseases such as liver cirrhosis, congestive heart failure, kidney failure, toxemia or pregnancy);
- if you produce low levels of stomach acid, as this may decrease the effectiveness of the medicine and increase its absorption into the blood;
- if you have low potassium levels in your blood, in this case you will need to periodically monitor your heart function and the levels of mineral salts (electrolytes) in your blood;
- if you suffer from inflammation of the stomach or small intestine.

Children and adolescents
SODIUM BICARBONATE NOVA ARGENTIA should NOT be taken by children under 12 years of age.


Possible side effects
Like all medicines, SODIUM BICARBONATE NOVA ARGENTIA can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.

The following side effects may occur:
Not known (the frequency of which cannot be established from the available data):
- allergic and anaphylactic reactions such as hives and airway obstruction (bronchospasm);
- stomach pain, vomiting, flatulence, and stomach ulcers;
- swelling due to fluid accumulation (edema), especially in elderly patients and in the presence of heart or kidney failure;
- metabolic alkalosis, especially in patients with renal insufficiency, which manifests itself with symptoms such as:
shortness of breath, muscle weakness due to potassium deficiency, excessive increase in muscle tone, muscle spasms and stiffness (tetany);
- excessive increase in the amount of sodium in the blood (hypernatremia);
- accumulation of fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema);
- reduction of blood pumped by the heart (cardiac output);
- reduction of blood pressure (hypotension);
- accumulation of fluid in the brain (cerebral edema);
- blood loss in the head (intracranial hemorrhage);
- excessive increase in the amount of carbon dioxide in the blood (hypercapnia).

Following the instructions in the package leaflet reduces the risk of side effects.

Reporting of side effects
If you experience any side effects, including any not listed in this leaflet, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. You can also report side effects directly via the national reporting system at: https://www.aifa.gov.it/content/segnalazionireazioni-avverse .
By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.