Sodium bicarbonate capsules

[Athena]

Quick question: Do we need to take our sodium bicarbonate capsules on an empty stomach or is it okay to take with other medications & food? From a fleeting very brief statement from a rushed doctor in the past (who didn't quite finish their sentence), I think it may be dangerous to take sodium bicarbonate capsules with other meds & possibly with food. I'm confused. Can anyone confirm what they know to be true in relation to this?

[cassandra]

I have never had a problem with sodium bicarb capsules in combination with other meds. I'm pretty sure they are not supposed to be combined with Ranitidine or those kind of meds (Zantac, Omeprazol etc) As bicarb neutralises stomach acid too, I could stop those anyway.

[kickingandscreaming]

I try to take bicarb apart from other food.  I assume (correctly or incorrectly) that we need an acidic evironment to digest food.  Therefore, I try NOT to neutralize my stomach acid when food is involved.

[Charlie B53]

Maybe it is because I am a 'Guy', I sometimes get easily confused.

SODIUM?   I thought all sodium to be avoided as it causes me to retain more water.

Told you, I'm a 'Guy'.   What do I know?

[Athena]

I have never had a problem with sodium bicarb capsules in combination with other meds. I'm pretty sure they are not supposed to be combined with Ranitidine or those kind of meds (Zantac, Omeprazol etc) As bicarb neutralises stomach acid too, I could stop those anyway.

I have no stomach digestive issues so do not take any antacid type of meds but I do have to make several capsules of BP meds a day and that's when it really gets tricky for me - avoiding combination with the sodium bicarbonate capsules means that I constantly have to worry about taking meds throughout the day!

[Athena]

I try to take bicarb apart from other food.  I assume (correctly or incorrectly) that we need an acidic evironment to digest food.  Therefore, I try NOT to neutralize my stomach acid when food is involved.

Thanks KS. That makes sense. But that would also mean other meds as well, I assume? Don't we also need stomach acid to digest pharmaceutical meds as well.

[Athena]

Maybe it is because I am a 'Guy', I sometimes get easily confused.

SODIUM?   I thought all sodium to be avoided as it causes me to retain more water.

Told you, I'm a 'Guy'.   What do I know?

Charlie, from what I gather not every kidney patient needs to take sodium bicarbonate capsules. But many of us need to. It's actually a miracle type of substance because without it, many of us will develop metabolic acidosis.

https://www.kidney.org/atoz/content/metabolic-acidosis

I'm actually quite surprised that you have never had to worry about this.

[Athena]

https://www.drugs.com/cdi/sodium-bicarbonate-tablets.html

I'm starting to find out more now. The joy of having to be ones own doctor!

[cassandra]

Wow Athena thanx for that link.

[Charlie B53]

The listed symptoms are very broad, many are almost a normal for a renal patient.  Still, I will have to ask questions when the Dr makes his rounds.  I do take long deep breaths but I attribute that and repeated yawning to the Methadone I take for chronic pain.  Tiredness I've had for years.  Bone loss?  My bone density sucks, but my PTH is wacked out, we are 'adjusting' my sensipar and Vit D hoping to change that.

[Athena]

Wow Athena thanx for that link.

You're very welcome Cas & I'm pleased that anything I may discover on my joyless journey may be of help to anyone else.

[Athena]

The listed symptoms are very broad, many are almost a normal for a renal patient.  Still, I will have to ask questions when the Dr makes his rounds.  I do take long deep breaths but I attribute that and repeated yawning to the Methadone I take for chronic pain.  Tiredness I've had for years.  Bone loss?  My bone density sucks, but my PTH is wacked out, we are 'adjusting' my sensipar and Vit D hoping to change that.

Charlie, please do ask about this. I don't know what your lab results actually show but serum bicarbonate levels is generally a routine electrolyte test that's done along with our sodium, phosphate, calcium, phosphate levels & so forth. When blood becomes too acidic, it can be very easily treated with sodium bicarbonate supplementation. (No one patented sodium bicarbonate, but there is a medical grade version of this substance, as opposed to the household supermarket cleaning substance).