Drug & supplement interaction

Sodium Bicarbonate + Theophylline

Theophylline brand names: T-Phyl, Duraphyl, Aerolate JR, Aerolate SR, Theo-Dur, and others.

Moderate Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated September 2026
The bottom line Moderate

Sodium Bicarbonate has a moderate interaction with Theophylline. Theoretically, sodium bicarbonate may increase the risk of hypokalemia in patients taking methylxanthines.

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

Sodium Bicarbonate and Theophylline

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

Moderate

METHYLXANTHINES

Why this applies to Theophylline

Theophylline falls under METHYLXANTHINES — the group Sodium Bicarbonate interacts with.

Theoretically, sodium bicarbonate may increase the risk of hypokalemia in patients taking methylxanthines.
Orally, use of excessive sodium bicarbonate (such as the intake of "tablespoons" of sodium bicarbonate daily or up to one box of baking soda weekly) has been associated with cases of hypokalemia. Furthermore, the most common complication of intravenous sodium bicarbonate is hypokalemia. Theophylline and related drugs can reduce serum potassium levels, possibly by increasing intracellular uptake of potassium. Hypokalemia is most likely to occur after acute overdose of these drugs. However, reduced potassium levels can occur with therapeutic doses, and the incidence and degree of hypokalemia increases with increasing serum theophylline levels.
Severity Moderate 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's the gist with these two. Theophylline can quietly nudge your potassium level down by pushing potassium into your cells, and large amounts of baking soda can do something similar. Stack the two and, in theory, your potassium could dip a little lower than either would cause alone. Low potassium (hypokalemia) can show up as muscle weakness, cramps, fatigue, or an irregular heartbeat.

I want to be honest about how strong this concern is: it's theoretical, based on how each works rather than real-world reports. The risk really only matters if you're using big doses of baking soda (think tablespoons a day or close to a box a week), not an occasional pinch for heartburn. Since theophylline already needs careful monitoring, check with your pharmacist or doctor before using baking soda regularly.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Ellenhorn MJ, et al. Ellenhorn's Medical Toxicology: Diagnoses and Treatment of Human Poisoning. 2nd ed. Baltimore, MD: Williams & Wilkins, 1997.
  2. Crane J, Burgess CD, Graham AN, Maling TJB. Hypokalemic and electrocardiographic effects of aminophylline and salbutamol in obstructive airways disease. NZ Med J 1987;100:309-11. DOI
  3. Zantvoort FA, Derkx FHM, Boomsma F, et al. Theophylline and serum electrolytes (letter). Ann Int Med 1986;104:134-5. PubMed
  4. Braat MCP, Jonkers RE, Bel EH, Van Boxtel CJ. Quantification of theophylline-induced eosinopenia and hypokalamia in healthy volunteers. Clin Pharmacokinet 1992;22:231-7..
  5. Flack JM, Ryder KW, Strickland D, Whang R. Metabolic correlates of theophylline therapy: a concentration-related phenomenon. Ann Pharmacother 1994;28:175-9.. PubMed
  6. Proudfoot, A. T., Krenzelok, E. P., and Vale, J. A. Position Paper on urine alkalinization. J Toxicol Clin Toxicol 2004;42(1):1-26. PubMed
  7. Fitzgibbons, L. J. and Snoey, E. R. Severe metabolic alkalosis due to baking soda ingestion: case reports of two patients with unsuspected antacid overdose. J Emerg Med 1999;17(1):57-61. PubMed

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

Sodium Bicarbonate Also Interacts With Other Medications

Sodium Bicarbonate has 256 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Theophylline one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 256 No known interaction 2,574 (incl. Theophylline)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Sodium Bicarbonate

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

From our Q&A

Questions About Sodium Bicarbonate or Theophylline

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Sodium Bicarbonate or Theophylline, 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 Theophylline

This page covers Sodium Bicarbonate only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Theophylline page lists 126 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Ephedra (major), Sida Cordifolia (major), Adrafinil (moderate) and African Wild Potato (moderate).

By severity: 3 major · 89 moderate · 34 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Theophylline page

“Stop ephedra before anything else if you take theophylline (Theo-Dur, Slo-Bid, and others) for asthma or COPD. Both are stimulants, and together they raise the risk of serious heart and nervous system effects; Sida cordifolia, an herb that contains ephedrine, carries the same major rating.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Theophylline interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 176 real supplement products containing Sodium Bicarbonate, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Sodium Bicarbonate. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Theophylline too, on top of Sodium Bicarbonate — 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 Sodium Bicarbonate and Theophylline 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 Sodium Bicarbonate
Top 25%

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

29 days ago today
Medication Theophylline
Steady interest

#1,864 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 Sodium Bicarbonate

What is Sodium Bicarbonate?

  • Heartburn and indigestion (antacid)
  • Athletic performance (exercise buffer)
  • Urine alkalinization
  • Soothing skin irritation or itching (topical baths)
  • Mouth rinse and oral care

Sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) is a simple compound most often used as a fast-acting antacid and, in sports, as a buffer that may help with short, high-intensity exercise. It is generally safe in small, occasional doses, but it is high in sodium and can cause serious problems if overused, so people with heart, kidney, or blood pressure issues should be careful and check with a pharmacist or doctor.

Read the full Sodium Bicarbonate monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Theophylline

What Is Theophylline Used For?

Brand names: T-Phyl, Duraphyl, Aerolate JR, Aerolate SR, Theo-Dur, Slo-Bid, Theo-24, Uniphyl, Slo-phyllin Gyrocaps, Theolair, Theolair SR, Quibron-T/SR, Quibron-T, Aerolate III, Theo-X, Bronkodyl, Theoclear LA-130, Constant-T, Theoclear LA-260, Elixophyllin, Theovent, Theobid Jr Duracap, Respbid, Theobid Duracap

Theophylline — available as extended-release capsules (Theo-24), extended-release tablets, and oral solution (Elixophyllin) — is used to treat symptoms and reversible airflow obstruction caused by chronic asthma, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis.

All supported formulations share these indications. Theophylline is intended for patients with ongoing or recurring symptoms, not for sudden (acute) breathing attacks, which need faster-acting treatments.

See full Theophylline drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Sodium Bicarbonate

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

0Major
256Moderate
0Minor
2,573No known interaction
256 Moderate 2,573 No interaction
Moderate

256 interactions

Showing 60 of 256 moderate interactions — see all 256 on the Sodium Bicarbonate page.

No interaction 2,573 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,573 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Sodium Bicarbonate list.

See the full Sodium Bicarbonate interactions page
See every supplement checked against Theophylline, ranked by severity
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
Sodium Bicarbonate monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Theophylline supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Theophylline, ranked by severity Theophylline drug information › The full plain-English guide to this medication Supplement interaction checker › Check any supplement or product against your medications Browse medications A–Z › Every drug we've checked against herbs & supplements Ask a pharmacist › Free, personal answer from our licensed team
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Sodium Bicarbonate and Theophylline Together: Common Questions

Can you take Sodium Bicarbonate with Theophylline?
There is a moderate interaction, so it may be acceptable with monitoring or timing changes — but check with your pharmacist first. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
How serious is the Sodium Bicarbonate and Theophylline interaction?
We rate it Moderate. This combination may require monitoring, a dose adjustment, or separating the times you take each one. Consult your pharmacist before using them together.

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

Still Have a Question About Theophylline and Sodium Bicarbonate?

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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.