Drug & supplement interaction

Camphor + Sodium Bicarbonate (OTC Drug)

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

No Known Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated July 2026 · Pair last verified Sep 27, 2026
The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Camphor and Sodium Bicarbonate (OTC Drug) in our sources. Absence of a documented interaction is not the same as proven safety, and does not guarantee one does not exist. Do not start, stop, or change a medication or supplement based on this page; confirm with your pharmacist or doctor first. Additionally, although there is no interaction, the two are separately associated with some of the same side effects, which would make a new symptom harder to attribute to one or the other.

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Interaction report

Camphor and Sodium Bicarbonate (OTC Drug)

We checked these two against our interaction database. Here is what we found.

No Known Interaction Found

We did not find a documented interaction between Sodium Bicarbonate (OTC Drug) and Camphor in our sources. This does not guarantee that the combination is completely free of risk — there is often limited research on supplements and herbal products, especially around drug interactions.

If you decide to take both, the practical routine is simple: add one new thing at a time and note the date you started it. If the combination is going to disagree with you, it usually shows in the first days to a couple of weeks — and a start date turns “I’ve been feeling off” into something a pharmacist can actually work with. Do not stop a prescribed medicine on your own.

Always talk with your pharmacist or doctor before making changes to your medications or supplements, particularly if you take several medications or have an ongoing health condition.

Camphor safety at a glance

Camphor overall Use caution Generally tolerated for short-term topical use in regulated amounts, but toxic and dangerous if swallowed or overused.
Pregnancy Unsafe When used orally. Ingestion of camphor can cause serious toxicity including death. There is insufficient reliable information available about the safety of usin... Read the full pregnancy detail
Breastfeeding Unsafe When used orally. Ingestion of camphor can cause serious toxicity including death. There is insufficient reliable information available about the safety of usin... Read the full breastfeeding detail

Pregnancy & breastfeeding ratings are from Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center) — the full detail is in the Special populations card below. Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.

Still wondering about combining Sodium Bicarbonate (OTC Drug) and Camphor? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›
How we checked

Why No Interaction Is Listed for Sodium Bicarbonate (OTC Drug)

Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes, not just single drug names. Sodium Bicarbonate (OTC Drug) is filed under 2 classifications — antacids, oral drugs. Camphor has documented interactions with 1 drug class — the most serious being hepatotoxic drugs (moderate) — and none of Sodium Bicarbonate (OTC Drug)’s classifications are among them.

Classification data comes from our licensed Natural Medicines dataset. A medication can belong to classes beyond those recorded there, so this describes how the check was run — it is not a safety guarantee.

Keep it in perspective

Camphor Does Interact With Other Medications

Camphor has 370 moderate known drug interactions in our database — Sodium Bicarbonate (OTC Drug) isn’t one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 370 No known interaction 2,460 (incl. Sodium Bicarbonate (OTC Drug))
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Camphor

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

What to actually watch for

No Interaction Found — But Data Suggests Camphor and Sodium Bicarbonate (OTC Drug) May Share a Side Effect

This is not an interaction. Neither one changes how your body handles the other, and nothing here says they react together. What our sources do show is that each has separately been linked to the effects below — so taking both can make those effects more likely to turn up, and harder to pin on one or the other if they do.

  • Mood changes or irritability Additional detail

    Camphor

    “Orally, camphor can cause significant toxicity. Neurological symptoms occur with ingestion of greater than 50 mg/kg. These symptoms include irritability, exaggerated tendon reflexes, tonic muscular contraction, myoclonic jerks, seizures, confusion, coma, and apnea. Seizures are sometimes the first manifestation of serious toxicity.”

    Camphor · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in common cold.

    6 sources cited
    1. 13442. Love JN, Sammon M, Smereck J. Are one or two dangerous? Camphor exposure in toddlers. J Emerg Med 2004;27:49-54.. PubMed
    2. 13444. Gouin S, Patel H. Unusual cause of seizure. Pediatr Emerg Care 1996;12:298-300. DOI
    3. 39560. Emery, D. P. and Corban, J. G. Camphor toxicity. J.Paediatr.Child Health 1999;35(1):105-106.
    4. 39589. SMITH, A. G. and MARGOLIS, G. Camphor poisoning; anatomical and pharmacologic study; report of a fatal case; experimental investigation of protective action of barbiturate. Am.J.Pathol. 1954;30(5):857-869.
    5. 39629. Agarwal, A. and Malhotra, H. S. Camphor ingestion: an unusual cause of seizure. J.Assoc.Physicians India 2008;56:123-124.
    6. 39646. Weiss, J. and Catalano, P. Camphorated oil intoxication during pregnancy. Pediatrics 1973;52(5):713-714. DOI

    Sodium Bicarbonate (OTC Drug)

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Sodium Bicarbonate (OTC Drug). Read the label on DailyMed ›

Reported for Camphor but not commonly for Sodium Bicarbonate (OTC Drug): an irregular heartbeat, liver problems, confusion and shortness of breath.

Effects for Sodium Bicarbonate (OTC Drug) come from the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of its FDA label; effects for Camphor come from the Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, quoted above. Wording is matched across sources by our own clinical vocabulary, so treat this as a prompt to pay attention, not a diagnosis.

Special populations

Camphor in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Pregnancy And Lactation Unsafe

When used orally. Ingestion of camphor can cause serious toxicity including death. There is insufficient reliable information available about the safety of using camphor topically during pregnancy and lactation.

DISCLAIMER: This tool is intended for informational purposes only, and should not be interpreted as specific medical advice. Patients should consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about therapies and/or health conditions.© 2026 Therapeutic Research Center

Overlapping uses

What Sodium Bicarbonate (OTC Drug) Is Prescribed For, and What Camphor Has Been Studied For

These two come up together because they touch the same health topic — not because they do the same job. Sodium Bicarbonate (OTC Drug) is a prescription medicine with approved uses on its FDA label. Camphor is a supplement: what follows is what researchers have looked at it for, and how strong that evidence is.

Sodium Bicarbonate (OTC Drug) is prescribed for: Sodium bicarbonate treats several different types of discomfort depending on the product and how it is used. Taken by mouth, it relieves heartburn, sour stomach, acid indigestion, and upset stomach. EcoDent Ultimate Essential Mouthcare oral solution is used to temporarily clean minor mouth wounds and soothe minor gum inflammation from dental procedures, dentures, orthodontic appliances, or accidental injury. Used on the skin, sodium bicarbonate products — including After Bite Kids cream, After Bite Advanced and After Bite X Tech liquids, Itch Eraser Sensitive cream, AHHH Bite Relief gel, Insect sting relief latex lotion, Insect sting relief pad, and Dermfree Insect Bite Relief liquid — temporarily relieve minor skin irritation and itching from insect bites, stings, and contact with poison ivy, oak, or sumac.

Read the rest of what Sodium Bicarbonate (OTC Drug) is prescribed for

AHHH Bite Relief also provides rapid relief from specific biting insects including deer flies, horse flies, black flies, mosquitoes, bees, wasps, and chiggers, and from rashes and eczema.

Camphor has been studied for:

  • Insect bite studied, not established Camphor has been studied for this. Natural Medicines rates the evidence: Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Read what the research shows

    Camphor for insect bite

    Topical camphor has only been evaluated in combination with other ingredients; its effect when used alone is unclear.

Effectiveness ratings and the research summaries above are the verbatim record from the Natural Medicines database, which grades evidence from “Effective” down to “Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate”. A rating below the top of that scale means researchers have looked at it — not that it works, and never that it can stand in for a prescribed medicine. Do not stop or replace Sodium Bicarbonate (OTC Drug) on your own; if you are taking Camphor for the same health topic, tell your prescriber, especially if the medicine is being adjusted to a target.

From our Q&A

Questions About Camphor 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 Camphor 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 Camphor 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 Camphor as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions

We hold 51 real supplement products containing Camphor, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Camphor. Even though Camphor itself has no known interaction with Sodium Bicarbonate (OTC Drug), another ingredient on your label might. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where Camphor 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 Camphor
Top half

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

29 days ago today
Medication Sodium Bicarbonate (OTC Drug)
Top 10%

#144 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.

Where does our data come from?
  • Source: the Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) clinical database — the evidence-graded professional reference for herb & supplement interactions.
  • Citation library: 103,510 references behind our interaction content, 65,311 of them resolved to verified PubMed/DOI sources. See every Camphor reference on this page ↓
  • Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 27, 2026. The Camphor and Sodium Bicarbonate (OTC Drug) records this page draws on were last updated July 10, 2026.
  • What “no known interaction” means: no documented interaction in the sources above — not a guarantee of safety. Supplements are studied far less than prescription drugs, so we say exactly what the evidence supports, and nothing more.
Data structure & sourcing designed and verified by .
Supplement

About Camphor

What is Camphor?

  • Muscle and joint aches
  • Cough and chest congestion
  • Itching and skin irritation
  • Cold sores or minor wounds
  • Counterirritant for pain

Camphor is a strong-smelling compound from the camphor tree (or made synthetically) that is used in many topical rub-on products for muscle aches, itching, and chest congestion. It can be helpful for these uses when applied to the skin in small, regulated amounts, but it is toxic and potentially deadly if swallowed, so it should never be taken by mouth. Keep camphor products away from children and check with a pharmacist before use.

Cinnamomum camphora · Lauraceae · Wood, bark, and essential oil (camphor is also made synthetically) · Topical creams, ointments, balms, salves, vapor rubs, oils, inhalants, and liniments

An interaction check asks whether these two react with each other — it does not ask whether Camphor is a good idea for someone in your situation. Here is what our Camphor record says about it on its own.

Camphor: dosing

There is no established 'supplement' dose for camphor because it should not be taken by mouth. For skin products, the amount of camphor is regulated and listed on the label. Over-the-counter topical products typically contain camphor at low percentages.Always follow the directions on the product label, and do not apply more often or in larger amounts than directed. Use only finished products meant for skin use — never raw or homemade camphor preparations.

From our Camphor monograph — the full record covers uses, side effects and every documented interaction.

Read the full Camphor monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Sodium Bicarbonate

What Is Sodium Bicarbonate Used For?

Brand name: Sodium Bicarbonate

Sodium bicarbonate treats several different types of discomfort depending on the product and how it is used. Taken by mouth, it relieves heartburn, sour stomach, acid indigestion, and upset stomach. EcoDent Ultimate Essential Mouthcare oral solution is used to temporarily clean minor mouth wounds and soothe minor gum inflammation from dental procedures, dentures, orthodontic appliances, or accidental injury.

Used on the skin, sodium bicarbonate products — including After Bite Kids cream, After Bite Advanced and After Bite X Tech liquids, Itch Eraser Sensitive cream, AHHH Bite Relief gel, Insect sting relief latex lotion, Insect sting relief pad, and Dermfree Insect Bite Relief liquid — temporarily relieve minor skin irritation and itching from insect bites, stings, and contact with poison ivy, oak, or sumac. AHHH Bite Relief also provides rapid relief from specific biting insects including deer flies, horse flies, black flies, mosquitoes, bees, wasps, and chiggers, and from rashes and eczema.

See full Sodium Bicarbonate drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Camphor

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

0Major
370Moderate
0Minor
2,459No known interaction
370 Moderate 2,459 No interaction
Moderate

370 interactions

Showing 60 of 370 moderate interactions — see all 370 on the Camphor page.

No interaction 2,459 drugs checked — show the list

We also checked Camphor against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,459 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Camphor list.

See the full Camphor interactions page
See every supplement checked against Sodium Bicarbonate (OTC Drug), ranked by severity
Evidence & sources

Camphor References

The 20 references that drive our Camphor monograph and interaction data, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Citations with a link open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

  1. Uc A, Bishop WP, Sanders KD. Camphor hepatotoxicity. South Med J 2000;93:596-8. DOI
  2. Love JN, Sammon M, Smereck J. Are one or two dangerous? Camphor exposure in toddlers. J Emerg Med 2004;27:49-54.. PubMed
  3. Ruha AM, Graeme KA, Field A. Late seizure following ingestion of Vicks VapoRub. Acad Emerg Med 2003;10:691. . PubMed
  4. Gouin S, Patel H. Unusual cause of seizure. Pediatr Emerg Care 1996;12:298-300. DOI
  5. Ernst E. Adverse effects of herbal drugs in dermatology. Br J Dermatol 2000;143:923-9. PubMed
  6. Fung AE, Oxford KW. Microwave-superheated Vics Vapo Rub: an ocular public health danger. Am J Ophthalmol 2004;137:379-80. PubMed
  7. Emery, D. P. and Corban, J. G. Camphor toxicity. J.Paediatr.Child Health 1999;35(1):105-106.
  8. Rampini, S. K., Schneemann, M., Rentsch, K., and Bachli, E. B. Camphor intoxication after cao gio (coin rubbing). JAMA 7-3-2002;288(1):45.
  9. SMITH, A. G. and MARGOLIS, G. Camphor poisoning; anatomical and pharmacologic study; report of a fatal case; experimental investigation of protective action of barbiturate. Am.J.Pathol. 1954;30(5):857-869.
  10. Ragucci, K. R., Trangmar, P. R., Bigby, J. G., and Detar, T. D. Camphor ingestion in a 10-year-old male. South.Med.J. 2007;100(2):204-207. PubMed
  11. Agarwal, A. and Malhotra, H. S. Camphor ingestion: an unusual cause of seizure. J.Assoc.Physicians India 2008;56:123-124.
  12. Weiss, J. and Catalano, P. Camphorated oil intoxication during pregnancy. Pediatrics 1973;52(5):713-714. DOI
  13. Vasey, R. H. and Karayannopoulos, S. J. Camphorated oil. Br.Med.J. 1-8-1972;1(5792):112.
  14. Mascie-Taylor, B. H., Widdop, B., and Davison, A. M. Camphor intoxication treated by charcoal haemoperfusion. Postgrad.Med.J. 1981;57(673):725-726. PubMed
  15. Theis, J. G. and Koren, G. Camphorated oil: still endangering the lives of Canadian children. CMAJ. 6-1-1995;152(11):1821-1824.

Medication overviews come from MedlinePlus (NIH); supplement label data from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists — see our data sources and editorial standards.

Pharmacist Counseling Corner

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

Is it safe to take Camphor with Sodium Bicarbonate (OTC Drug)?
We do not list a known interaction between Camphor and Sodium Bicarbonate (OTC Drug). That does not guarantee the combination is risk-free, so confirm with your pharmacist or doctor — especially if you take other medications or have a health condition.
Do Camphor and Sodium Bicarbonate (OTC Drug) have any of the same side effects?
Yes — our sources link each of them separately to one of the same effects. That is not an interaction: neither changes how your body handles the other. It does mean that if one of those effects turns up, it can be harder to tell which one is behind it. They are listed on this page with the source behind each.
Are Camphor and Sodium Bicarbonate (OTC Drug) used for the same thing?
They overlap in purpose, which usually means the real question is whether you need both rather than whether they are safe together. This page lists the shared uses and how strong the evidence is for Camphor in each. That is a conversation for your prescriber, especially if Sodium Bicarbonate (OTC Drug) is being adjusted to a target.
How was the Camphor and Sodium Bicarbonate (OTC Drug) combination checked?
Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes. Sodium Bicarbonate (OTC Drug) is filed under 2 classifications, and Camphor has documented interactions with 1 drug class — none of Sodium Bicarbonate (OTC Drug)'s classifications are among them. A medication can belong to classes beyond those recorded in our dataset, so this describes how the check was run rather than guaranteeing safety.
Does Camphor interact with any other medications?
Yes. Camphor has 370 documented drug interactions in our database — Sodium Bicarbonate (OTC Drug) is simply not one of them. If you take anything else, it is worth checking each one; they are all listed on this page.
Does Sodium Bicarbonate (OTC Drug) interact with any supplements?
Yes. Sodium Bicarbonate (OTC Drug) has documented interactions with 30 supplements in our database — Camphor is not one of them. The Sodium Bicarbonate (OTC Drug) interaction page linked on this page lists every one, ranked by severity.

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

Where next

Keep Exploring

Camphor monograph Uses, safety profile, and every drug interaction in one place Sodium Bicarbonate drug information The full plain-English guide to this medication Sodium Bicarbonate (OTC Drug) supplement interactions Every supplement checked against Sodium Bicarbonate (OTC Drug), ranked by severity Supplement interaction checker Check any supplement or product against your medications Browse medications A–Z Every drug we’ve checked against herbs & supplements References The 20 citations behind this page Ask a pharmacist Free, personal answer from our licensed team

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

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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.