Drug & supplement interaction

Aletris + Sodium Bicarbonate (OTC Drug)

Sodium Bicarbonate (OTC Drug) brand name: Sodium Bicarbonate.

Minor Interaction
The bottom line Minor

Aletris has a minor interaction with Sodium Bicarbonate (OTC Drug). Theoretically, due to reports that aletris increases stomach acid, aletris might decrease the effectiveness of antacids.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityMinor
LikelihoodPossible
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Aletris and Sodium Bicarbonate (OTC Drug)

Here is the interaction we found between these two, with the evidence behind it.

Minor

ANTACIDS

Why this applies to Sodium Bicarbonate (OTC Drug)

Sodium Bicarbonate (OTC Drug) falls under ANTACIDS — the group Aletris interacts with.

Theoretically, due to reports that aletris increases stomach acid, aletris might decrease the effectiveness of antacids.
Severity Minor Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Interaction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here is the simple version. Sodium bicarbonate works as an antacid by neutralizing acid in your stomach, which is what calms that burning, sour heartburn feeling. There are old reports suggesting Aletris may actually increase stomach acid. If that is true, the herb could partly work against your antacid, so you might not get as much relief and could still feel some indigestion.

I want to be honest about how shaky this is. It is based on anecdotal reports and theory, not solid studies, and it is rated a minor interaction. Sodium bicarbonate is sold over the counter and generally forgiving. Still, if you notice your heartburn isn't easing up while using Aletris, mention it to your pharmacist or doctor.

References
  1. Brinker F. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions. 2nd ed. Sandy, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications, 1998.

What These Ratings Mean

Every interaction above is graded three ways — here’s the key to each label.

Severity how clinically significant the interaction is
Major

Clinically significant. Avoid the combination, or use only under close professional supervision.

Moderate

Usually worth avoiding or managing — may need monitoring, a dose change, or timing apart.

Minor

Generally not serious. Be aware of it and mention it to your pharmacist.

Likelihood how strong the evidence is that the interaction actually happens in people
  • LikelyWell-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction.
  • ProbableInteraction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
  • PossibleInteraction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.
  • UnlikelyInteraction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.
Evidence the quality of the studies behind the rating (graded A–D)
  • AHigh-quality meta-analysis (quantitative systematic review).
  • BCase-control study.
  • CConsensus.
  • DAnecdotal evidence.

These ratings are for information only. Never start, stop, or otherwise change your therapy before speaking with your provider.

Keep it in perspective

Aletris Also Interacts With Other Medications

Aletris has 41 moderate, 35 minor known drug interactions in our database — the Sodium Bicarbonate (OTC Drug) one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Aletris

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Aletris. Pick one to open its full report.

From our Q&A

Questions About Aletris or Sodium Bicarbonate (OTC Drug)

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Aletris or Sodium Bicarbonate (OTC Drug), not necessarily both, but if one is close to what you were about to ask it will usually go further than a database entry can:

Not quite your question? Ask our pharmacists directly — it is free, there is no account required, and answers usually come back within 24 hours.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Sodium Bicarbonate (OTC Drug)

This page covers Aletris only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Sodium Bicarbonate (OTC Drug) page lists 30 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Cinchona (moderate), Coffee Charcoal (moderate), European Mandrake (moderate) and Glucomannan (moderate).

By severity: 1 major · 10 moderate · 19 minor.

Open the Sodium Bicarbonate (OTC Drug) interaction page

One more smart check

Taking Aletris as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions

We hold 2 real supplement products containing Aletris, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Aletris. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Sodium Bicarbonate (OTC Drug) too, on top of Aletris — and those would not show on this page. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where Aletris and Sodium Bicarbonate (OTC Drug) Sit Against Everything Else

Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.

Supplement Aletris
Steady interest

#887 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Sodium Bicarbonate (OTC Drug)
Top 5%

#116 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.

Supplement

About Aletris

What is Aletris?

Aletris
  • Menstrual complaints
  • Digestive upset and colic
  • Loss of appetite
  • Female reproductive tonic
  • Rheumatic discomfort

Aletris (true unicorn root or colic root) is a North American herb traditionally used for menstrual problems and digestive complaints, but there is little to no modern human research to show it works. Because safety is poorly studied, it should be avoided during pregnancy and breastfeeding, and anyone considering it should first talk with a pharmacist or doctor.

Read the full Aletris monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Sodium Bicarbonate

What Is Sodium Bicarbonate Used For?

Brand name: Sodium Bicarbonate

Sodium bicarbonate is sold in several forms, and each product has its own use.

By mouth, powders, tablets and liquids such as Anti-Empacho and De La Cruz Desempacho relieve heartburn, sour stomach, acid indigestion and upset stomach from these symptoms. Topical products such as AHHH Bite Relief, After Bite and Itch Eraser Sensitive help relieve minor skin irritation and itching from insect bites and poison ivy, oak or sumac. EcoDent Ultimate Essential Mouthcare is a liquid for cleansing minor wounds or minor gum inflammation in the mouth. The injection treats metabolic acidosis in children and is used to alkalinize the urine in certain drug poisonings.

See full Sodium Bicarbonate drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Aletris

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Aletris — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

0Major
41Moderate
35Minor
2,753No known interaction
Moderate

41 interactions

Minor

35 interactions

No interaction 2,753 drugs checked — show the list
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Interaction details are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database. The medication overview comes from MedlinePlus.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

Keep exploring
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Aletris and Sodium Bicarbonate (OTC Drug) Together: Common Questions

Can you take Aletris with Sodium Bicarbonate (OTC Drug)?
There is only a minor interaction, which is usually not serious. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
How serious is the Aletris and Sodium Bicarbonate (OTC Drug) interaction?
We rate it Minor. This interaction is generally not clinically significant, but it remains worth noting and discussing with your pharmacist.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Still Have a Question About Sodium Bicarbonate (OTC Drug) and Aletris?

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This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.