Sodium bicarbonate is an antacid medication that may help treat metabolic acidosis in people with kidney disease.

If a person has kidney disease, it may cause them to develop metabolic acidosis. This occurs when the kidneys do not remove enough acid from the blood, causing it to accumulate.

Antacid medications work by neutralizing stomach acid. People may use these medications to treat acid-related issues, such as heartburn and indigestion.

Sodium bicarbonate is an antacid medication and a possible treatment option for metabolic acidosis in those with kidney disease. However, it is important to talk with a healthcare professional to find out whether they recommend taking sodium bicarbonate. It may be necessary to do lab work first.

Read on to learn more about sodium bicarbonate and how someone may use it to treat metabolic acidosis. This article also looks at the possible risks of taking sodium bicarbonate.

Sodium bicarbonate is the medical term for baking soda. It is a medication that a person can use to treat a number of different medical conditions.

It has antacid properties, which means it can reduce the acid levels in the body.

People often take sodium bicarbonate to help treat a number of disorders that occur due to a buildup of acid in the body, such as heartburn and indigestion.

Kidney disease can cause damage to the organs, leading to a reduced ability to filter the blood properly.

If the kidneys do not filter the blood properly, acid may build up in the blood. The medical term for this metabolic acidosis.

The condition usually develops slowly, and mild metabolic acidosis usually does not cause symptoms. Symptoms of metabolic acidosis can include:

A person can use sodium bicarbonate to help treat metabolic acidosis that develops due to kidney disease. An individual may take sodium bicarbonate supplements in the form of tablets and powder.

Sodium bicarbonate helps treat metabolic acidosis by increasing the amount of base in the blood. This base then neutralizes the acid, reducing the symptoms of the condition.

If a person’s blood has a low pH level, it is more acidic. Metabolic acidosis due to kidney disease can cause blood pH levels to drop. This drop in pH level can cause the symptoms of metabolic acidosis.

The main therapeutic benefit of sodium bicarbonate treatment for people with metabolic acidosis is to raise the blood’s pH levels. It does this by increasing plasma bicarbonate levels in the blood.

Studies also show that, if a person with kidney disease uses sodium bicarbonate to treat metabolic acidosis, it can help slow the decline of kidney function. This means it may help slow the progression of someone’s kidney disease.

Possible side effects of taking sodium bicarbonate include:

Taking sodium bicarbonate may also cause someone to develop metabolic alkalosis. This occurs when the blood pH levels rise, causing the blood to be overly alkaline.

Symptoms of metabolic alkalosis include:

If a person with kidney disease uses sodium bicarbonate supplements for a long time, it may cause them to develop sodium-mediated fluid retention.

This buildup of fluid in the body can cause several possible complications to develop, such as:

Sodium bicarbonate infusions can also cause a person to develop hypernatremia. This medical condition occurs when the sodium levels in the blood become too high.

If a person with kidney disease treats metabolic acidosis with sodium bicarbonate, it can slow the decline of the kidneys. It may also significantly improve vascular endothelial function. This may help improve their overall outlook.

However, without proper treatment, metabolic acidosis can cause a number of complications, such as:

It may also be life threatening if a person does not receive appropriate treatment.

Treating metabolic acidosis with sodium bicarbonate may help improve the outlook and reduce the risk of complications.

Kidney disease can cause the kidneys to lose function, which can hinder their ability to filter the blood effectively. If the kidneys do not filter the blood effectively, it can cause metabolic acidosis. This is the term for the buildup of acid in the blood.

Sodium bicarbonate is an antacid medication that people with kidney disease may use to treat metabolic acidosis. It can help neutralize the pH level of blood. Sodium bicarbonate may also help slow the progression of kidney disease, which may improve a person’s outlook.

Possible side effects of sodium bicarbonate include headaches, nausea and vomiting, nervousness and restlessness, and increased urination. If a person with kidney disease takes sodium bicarbonate, it may also increase their risk of sodium-mediated fluid retention and hypernatremia.

Always speak with a healthcare professional before taking sodium bicarbonate.