How Do Alkalinizing Agents Work?

Alkalinizing agents are a class of drugs that work by raising the pH in the blood or urine. To understand the drug action in detail, it is essential to know about acidosis. The kidney is an organ that maintains the acid-base balance in the body by removing and filtering acid from the blood and through the urine. When the kidney fails to remove the circulating acids from the blood, it causes a buildup of acid. As a result, there is an imbalance between acid and base in the blood leading to a condition known as metabolic acidosis.

Alkalinizing agents after absorption into the blood break down to produce bicarbonate, which is used to alkalinize or buffer excess acid in the blood by raising its pH. The higher the pH, the more alkaline is the blood. Some alkalinizing agents may also alkalinize urine by promoting excretion of free base and acid from the urine.

Alkalinizing agents are either administered intravenously or taken orally. They are mainly used to treat metabolic acidosis. Other uses include:

• Cardiac arrest (sudden unexpected loss of heart function, breathing, and consciousness)
• Hyperkalemia (increased potassium level in the blood)
• Kidney stones
• Certain drug poisoning

Some of the side effects of alkalinizing agents include:

• Electrolyte imbalance
• Dizziness
• Muscle aches or spasms
• Mood changes
• Confusion
• Irritability
• Memory problems
• Vomiting
• Weakness
• Little or no urination
• Diarrhea
• Stomach pain
• Edema

Some of the common side effects of all alkalinizing agents include:

• Fever
• Infection at the site of injection
• Phlebitis (blood clot at the site of injection)
• Fluid leakage from the injection site
• Hypervolemia (fluid overload)

The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible side effects, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. Check with your doctor or pharmacist to make sure these drugs do not cause any harm when you take them along with other medicines. Never stop taking your medication and never change your dose or frequency without consulting your doctor.

Drug names include:

• Sodium bicarbonate
• Sodium citrate/citric acid (Albright's Solution, Bicitra, Cytra 2, Oracit, Shohl's Solution)
• Sodium lactate