side-effects
Last reviewed 01/2018
The side-effects of antacid use include:
- alkalosis:
- sodium bicarbonate is well absorbed and may cause alkalosis in high doses
- aluminium and magnesium are not absorbed and are safer
- this is a rare problem today
- historically this was called the milk-alkali syndrome
- gastrointestinal effects:
- constipation (aluminium salts) or diarrhoea (magnesium salts)
- aluminium has been implicate in dialysis dementia and Alzheimer's disease
- interactions:
- tetracyclines precipitate out in alkaline solutions
- L-DOPA absorption is altered by some antacids