Sodium Bicarbonate for Heartburn & Indigestion

If you’re a baker, you’re probably reading this page and wondering if sodium bicarbonate, bicarbonate of soda, and baking soda are all the same thing.

Yes, they are all names for the same ingredient, so the baking soda you use to bake bread is the same as the antacid that helps to control your heartburn.

On the other hand, bicarbonate of soda is not quite the same as baking powder.

Baking powder does contain sodium bicarbonate but it also contains cream of tartar and a filler ingredient for absorbing moisture, so you can’t quite substitute the two in this case.

Sodium bicarbonate isn’t suitable for everyone, so you may have to speak to your doctor before taking it for the first time.

This especially applies to those who:

• Have kidney problems
• Have liver problems
• Have reduced stomach acid
• Suffer from high blood pressure
• Suffer from heart failure
• Are Elderly
• Are on a low sodium diet
• Are allergic to sodium bicarbonate

You can take some medicines that contain sodium hydrogen carbonate when you’re pregnant, and many women find that they struggle with constipation during pregnancy.

However, you should speak to your doctor or pharmacist before taking any medications while you’re pregnant, so you can be sure that the product is safe for you and your baby.

The amount of sodium bicarbonate you take will often differ depending on which medicine you’re using, so you should always check the patient information leaflet that comes with your medication to be sure you’re taking the right amount.

Adults over the age of 12 can usually take 1 – 5g of sodium bicarbonate as needed, but this can change if your medication has other ingredients in it.

If you’re ever unsure about how much of your medicine you should take at any time, speak to your doctor or pharmacist for advice.