Sodium Alginate/ Potassium Bicarbonate

South African indications:

• Hiatus hernia
• Reflux oesophagitis
• Symptoms associated with reflux

Contraindications

• Hypersensitivity to the active ingredient or any of the excipients in this combination product

Cautions

• Pregnancy
• Renal impairment
• Hepatic impairment
• Sodium restricted diet
• Nephrocalcinosis 
• Hypercalcaemia
• Recurrent calcium containing renal calculi

Forms avail. in SA and covered in this monograph: liq

Hiatus hernia
Reflux oesophagitis
Symptoms associated with reflux
- Hoarseness
- Voice disorders
- Sore throat
- Cough

Sodium alginate/ Potassium bicarbonate
1000/200 (mg/10ml)

• Oral (liq): 5-10ml, after meals and at bedtime

Not established for use in children below 12 years

Pregnancy

• Safe; no evidence of risk in studies
• Clinical studies in more than 500 pregnant women, as well as a large amount of data from post-marketing experience, indicate no malformative nor foetal/neonatal toxicity of the active substances. Sodium alginate/ potassium bicarbonate can be used during pregnancy if clinically needed

Breastfeeding

• Compatible
• No known effect on breastfed infants. Sodium alginate/ potassium bicarbonate can be used during breastfeeding

Renal Impairment

• Caution; no dose adjustment recommended

Hepatic Impairment

• Caution; no information available

Elderly

• No dose adjustment recommended

Porphyria Information

• Probably not porphyrinogenic (PNP)

Drugs in Sport

• Permitted - No warnings

Respiratory Disorders

• Bronchospasm

Immune, Blood and Lymphatic System Disorders

• Anaphylactic reactions
• Hypersensitivity reactions

Agents which can increase plasma potassium levels

None routine

Sodium Alginate
Sodium alginate is a salt of alginic acid.  It combines with gastric acid to form a viscous gel, which acts as a physical barrier to the reflux of gastric contents.

Potassium Bicarbonate
Potassium bicarbonate therapy increases plasma bicarbonate.

COMBINATION PREPARATIONS

Sodium alginate/ Potassium bicarbonate

Liquid (per 10ml) 1000mg/200mg

• Gaviscon Advance Liquid (Reckitt Benckiser)

Sachet (per sachet) 10ml

• Gaviscon Advance Liquid sachet (Reckitt Benckiser)