SODIUM BICARBONATE SELLA 500 MG - 1000 TABLETS

SODIUM BICARBONATE SELLA 500 mg tablets
Sodium bicarbonate
What it is and what it is used for
Short-term treatment of gastric hyperacidity.

SODIUM BICARBONATE SELLA contains the active ingredient sodium bicarbonate belonging to the antacid class.
This medicine is indicated for the short-term treatment of excessive stomach acid.

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 SELLA
- 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 (hypocalcaemia, 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 SELLA) 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 breast-feeding).
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking SODIUM BICARBONATE SELLA.

Use this medicine with caution and inform 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 levels of potassium 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.

This medicine contains 137 mg sodium (main component of table salt) per tablet. This is equivalent to 6.8% of the maximum recommended daily dietary intake for an adult.

Children and adolescents
SODIUM BICARBONATE SELLA should NOT be taken by children under 12 years of age
Interactions with other medicinal products
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines.
Sodium bicarbonate can alter the pH of the stomach and urine, thus altering the absorption and elimination processes of many drugs
If you need to take other medicines in addition to SODIUM BICARBONATE SELLA, wait at least 2 hours between the two doses.

SODIUM BICARBONATE SELLA may modify the absorption or elimination of other medicines taken at the same time, reducing their effectiveness. Pay particular attention and inform your doctor if you are taking:
- medicines used against fungal infections such as itraconazole , ketoconazole ;
- atazanavir , a medicine used for AIDS;
- medicines used against bacterial infections such as cefpodoxime proxetil , methenamine , and tetracyclines (especially doxycycline );
- iron supplements;
- aspirin , a medicine used to relieve pain and inflammation;
- chlorpropamide , a medicine used for diabetes;
- lithium , a medicine used for mental problems.

SODIUM BICARBONATE SELLA may increase the effect and toxicity of other medicines taken at the same time. Take special care and inform your doctor if you are taking:
- medicines used to treat heart problems such as quinidine and flecainide ;
- medicines used for weight control based on amphetamine and derivatives;
- medicines used for asthma and other breathing problems such as ephedrine and pseudoephedrine ;
- memantine , used to treat Alzheimer's disease;
- mecamylamine , used to control high blood pressure.

Be careful if you are taking medicines that increase urine production (diuretics) such as bumetamide , ethacrynic acid , furosemide and thiazides , because they may lead to the elimination of potassium and cause an increase in blood pH (metabolic alkalosis).
Take this medicine with caution if you are taking corticosteroid anti-inflammatory medicines, as an increase in sodium levels in your body may occur.
Possible side effects
Like all medicines, SODIUM BICARBONATE SELLA can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
The following side effects may occur:
Not known (frequency cannot be estimated from the available data):
- allergic and anaphylactic reactions such as hives and obstruction of the airways (bronchospasm);
- stomach ache, vomiting, flatulence, and stomach lesions;
- 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);
- loss of blood 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 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 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.