Severe metabolic alkalosis due to baking soda ingestion: Case reports of two patients with unsuspected antacid overdose

Oral ingestion of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) has been used for decade s as a home remedy for acid indigestion. Excessive bicarbonate ingestion pl aces patients at risk for a variety of metabolic derangements including met abolic alkalosis, hypokalemia, hypernatremia, and even hypoxia. The clinica l presentation is highly variable but can include seizures, dysrhythmias, a nd cardiopulmonary arrest. We present two cases of severe metabolic alkalos is in patients with unsuspected antacid overdose. The presentation and path ophysiology of antacid-related metabolic alkalosis is reviewed. (C) 1999 El sevier Science Inc.