Alka-Seltzer Tablet: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Alka-Seltzer Tablet contains aspirin, sodium bicarbonate, and citric acid, and belongs to the salicylates drug class. It is an over-the-counter effervescent tablet dissolved in water, used for quick relief of heartburn, acid indigestion, sour stomach, and headaches or body aches that come with an upset stomach. It combines two antacids with a pain reliever to ease both stomach discomfort and associated aches.

What is Alka-Seltzer Tablet

Alka-Seltzer is an over-the-counter combination medicine made of two antacids (citric acid and sodium bicarbonate) and an analgesic (aspirin). It comes as effervescent tablets that you dissolve in water. It is used for quick relief of heartburn, acid indigestion, sour stomach, and headaches or body aches that come with an upset stomach.

Alka-Seltzer Tablet uses

• Temporary relief of heartburn, acid indigestion, and sour stomach when accompanied with headache or body aches and pains
• Upset stomach with headache from overindulgence in food or drink
• Headache, body aches, and pain alone
• Some Alka-Seltzer products relieve gas and bloating
• A hangover-relief version contains aspirin and caffeine for headaches and body aches

Benefits of Alka-Seltzer Tablet

• Works quickly to neutralize stomach acid and relieve heartburn, acid indigestion, upset stomach, and sour stomach
• Combines an antacid with a pain reliever for upset stomach with headache or body aches

How Alka-Seltzer Tablet works

The sodium bicarbonate acts as an antacid that neutralizes acid in the stomach, while the aspirin works as a pain reliever. Sodium bicarbonate reacts with stomach acid to form a new substance that is no longer acidic, and this can relieve heartburn within about 15 minutes.

Alka-Seltzer Tablet dosage

Fully dissolve the tablets in water before taking — do not swallow the tablets whole or in pieces. Place the tablets in a glass, add cool water, and wait until they completely disappear before drinking. You can drink the liquid while it's still fizzing or after the fizzing stops. Add a little more water to the glass afterward and drink that too, to make sure you get the full dose. Do not take this medicine if it has a strong vinegar-like smell, since this means the aspirin is breaking down.

Space doses apart as directed on the label and do not take more often than directed. If you take other oral medicines, space them apart from this product since the antacid can affect how well other drugs work. Older adults should generally not use this medicine for more than a few days in a row unless a doctor says otherwise. Children should only use this medicine under a doctor's guidance depending on their age.

Available forms and strengths

• Effervescent tablets
• Chewable tablets
• Tablet

Side effects of Alka-Seltzer Tablet

Common

• Heartburn or indigestion
• Increased thirst
• Nausea or vomiting
• Mild stomach pain
• Belching
• Flatulence (gas)

Serious

• Severe allergic reaction to aspirin (hives, facial swelling, wheezing, shock)
• Stomach bleeding (vomiting blood, bloody or black stools, severe or continuing stomach pain)
• Signs of Reye's syndrome in children (changes in behavior with nausea and vomiting)
• Ringing in the ears or hearing loss
• Dizziness, lightheadedness, or feeling faint
• Unusual tiredness or weakness
• Swelling of face, fingers, ankles, feet, or lower legs
• Fast or deep breathing, confusion, convulsions (signs of overdose)

Warnings and precautions

• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant before using this medicine. It is especially important not to use aspirin during the last three months of pregnancy unless a doctor specifically tells you to, because it may cause problems for the baby or complications during delivery.
• Ask a health professional before using this medicine if you are breastfeeding. The sodium bicarbonate in it passes into breast milk, and other antacids are generally preferred while breastfeeding.
• Check with a doctor before use if you have kidney disease, since this medicine may not be safe for you. Check with a doctor before use if you have liver disease, including cirrhosis.
• If you will be taking more than an occasional dose, avoid drinking alcohol, since combining alcohol with aspirin may increase the risk of stomach problems and bleeding.
• Children and teenagers who have or are recovering from chicken pox or flu-like symptoms should not use this product, because of the risk of Reye's syndrome, a rare but serious illness.
• This medicine contains an NSAID (aspirin), which can cause severe stomach bleeding. The risk is higher in people age 60 or older, those with a history of stomach ulcers or bleeding, those taking blood thinners or steroids, those taking other NSAIDs, those who drink three or more alcoholic drinks a day, and those who take more than directed or for longer than directed.
• Do not use this product if you are allergic to aspirin or other pain relievers/fever reducers, or if you've had an allergic reaction to this product or its ingredients before.
• Ask a doctor before use if you have a history of stomach problems, high blood pressure, heart disease, liver cirrhosis, kidney disease, are on a sodium-restricted diet, have asthma, or take a diuretic.
• Ask a doctor or pharmacist before use if you are taking a prescription drug, especially one for diabetes, gout, or arthritis, since antacids may interact with certain prescription medicines.
• This medicine contains a large amount of sodium (more than 500 mg per tablet), so people on low-sodium diets should talk to a doctor before use, and should limit high-sodium foods while using it.
• Do not take more than the recommended dose, and do not take this medicine for more than a few days in a row without talking to a doctor, since this raises the risk of side effects.
• If you are taking this medicine to reduce the chance of heart attack or stroke, do not stop taking it or change the dose without checking with the doctor who prescribed it.

Storage

• Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light
• Keep from freezing
• Keep out of the reach of children
• Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed
• Store at room temperature; avoid excessive heat

When to see a doctor

• Stop use and ask a doctor right away if you have an allergic reaction, such as hives, facial swelling, wheezing, or shock.
• Stop use and get medical help if you feel faint, vomit blood, have bloody or black stools, or have stomach pain that doesn't improve.
• Stop use and ask a doctor if your symptoms get worse, last more than 10 days, or if you notice redness or swelling.
• Stop use and ask a doctor if you notice ringing in the ears, hearing loss, or any new symptoms.
• Get emergency medical help right away if you think you or someone else may have taken too much of this medicine, since overdose can cause seizures, confusion, severe drowsiness, fast or deep breathing, or even death, especially in young children.
• Keep this medicine out of reach of children, and get medical help or contact a poison control center right away in case of overdose.

Alternatives

• Rolaids
• Gaviscon
• Mylanta