What are sodium bicarbonate’s main drawbacks?

    Last Updated: May 16, 2025

    Sodium bicarbonate can cause gastrointestinal side effects such as bloating, nausea, and vomiting when taken orally in doses higher than 0.3 grams per kilogram of body weight. Although rare adverse effects have been reported in individual cases, sodium bicarbonate is generally considered safe for oral consumption.

    When taken orally, doses of sodium bicarbonate higher than 0.3 grams per kilogram of body weight can increase the risk of gastrointestinal side effects, including bloating, nausea, and vomiting.[1][2]

    Although some case studies of individual patients have found adverse effects of sodium bicarbonate, these are rare,[3][4][5] and, in general, sodium bicarbonate is considered safe for consumption when taken orally.[2][6]