Sodium acetate
Consumer Medicine Information
What is in this leaflet
This leaflet answers some common questions about DBL Sodium Acetate Concentrated Injection.
It does not contain all the available information.
It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.
All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor or pharmacist has weighed the
risks of you being given sodium acetate against the benefits they expect it will have
for you.
If you have any concerns about using this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Keep this leaflet in a safe place.
You may need to read it again.
What DBL Sodium Acetate Concentrated Injection is used for
Sodium acetate can be added to total parenteral nutrition (TPN) solutions as a source
of sodium and acetate ions, or to increase the pH of the solution.
Sodium acetate can also be used to treat low blood sodium (hyponatraemia).
Your doctor may have prescribed sodium acetate for another reason. Ask your doctor
if you have any questions about why sodium acetate has been prescribed for you.
DBL Sodium Acetate Concentrated Injection is not addictive.
Before you are given DBL Sodium Acetate Concentrated Injection
When you must not be given it
You should not be given DBL Sodium Acetate Concentrated Injection if you have an allergy
to sodium acetate.
Symptoms of an allergic reaction to sodium acetate may include:
shortness of breath, wheezing or difficulty breathing
swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body
rash, itching or hives on the skin
You should not be given DBL Sodium Acetate Concentrated Injection if you have any
of the following conditions:
high blood sodium
fluid retention
severe kidney disease
severe burns
severe or prolonged diarrhoea or vomiting
uncontrolled diabetes mellitus
high blood pH
low blood calcium
low blood chloride
low blood potassium.
If you are not sure whether you should be given DBL Sodium Acetate Concentrated Injection,
talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
Before you are given it
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have allergies to:
any other medicines
any other substances, such as foods, preservatives or dyes.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant.
Your doctor or pharmacist will discuss the possible risks and benefits of being given
sodium acetate during pregnancy.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are breast-feeding or plan to breast-feed.
Your doctor or pharmacist will discuss the possible risks and benefits of being given
sodium acetate during breast-feeding.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have or have had any medical conditions, especially
the following:
heart failure
fluid retention or oedema
kidney disease
liver disease
high blood pressure
low or no urine production.
If you have not told your doctor or pharmacist about any of the above, tell them before
you are given sodium acetate.
Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including any
that you get without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food
shop.
Some medicines and sodium acetate may interfere with each other. These include:
corticosteroids or corticotrophin
pain killers such as aspirin
barbiturates, medicines used to treat epilepsy
antibiotics, medicines used to treat infections, particularly doxycycline
quinidine, a medicine used to control heart rhythm
ephedrine or pseudoephedrine
lithium, a medicine used to treat some psychiatric disorders
diuretics (fluid tablets), such as bumetanide, ethacrynic acid, frusemide or thiazide
diuretics
potassium supplements.
These medicines may be affected by sodium acetate, or may affect how well it works.
You may need different amounts of your medicine, or you may need to take different
medicines. Your doctor or pharmacist will advise you.
Your doctor and pharmacist may have more information on medicines to be careful with
or avoid while being given sodium acetate.
How DBL Sodium Acetate Concentrated Injection is given
How it is given
Sodium acetate should only be used under the supervision of your doctor. It is usually
given as an intravenous injection or an infusion (ie. a slow injection through a ‘drip’
into the vein).
How much is given
Your doctor will decide what dose will receive. This depends on your condition and
other factors, such as your weight
If you take too much (overdose)
As sodium acetate is given to you under the supervision of your doctor, it is very
unlikely that you will receive too much.
If you think that you or anyone else may have been given too much DBL Sodium Acetate
Concentrated Injection tell your doctor immediately or go to the Accident and Emergency
department of your nearest hospital or immediately contact the Poisons Information
Centre for advice on management. (In Australia, all 13 11 26; in New Zealand call
0800 764 766). Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
You may need urgent medical attention.
Symptoms of a sodium acetate overdose include the side effects listed in the ‘Side
effects’ section, but are usually of a more severe nature.
While you are being given DBL Sodium Acetate Concentrated Injection
Things you must do
Tell your doctor, nurse or pharmacist if you have any concerns before, during or after
administration of sodium acetate.
Tell any other doctors, dentists, and pharmacists who are treating you that you are
being given sodium acetate.
If you are about to be started on any new medicine, tell your doctor or pharmacist
that you are being given sodium acetate.
If you plan to have surgery that needs a general anaesthetic, tell your doctor that
you are being given sodium acetate.
If you become pregnant after being given sodium acetate, tell your doctor or pharmacist.
If you are about to have any blood tests, tell your doctor that you are taking this
medicine.
It may interfere with the results of some tests.
Things to be careful of
Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how DBL Sodium Acetate Concentrated
Injection affects you.
If you feel light-headed, dizzy or faint when getting out of bed or standing up, get
up slowly.
Side effects
Sodium acetate helps most people with low blood sodium levels, but it may have unwanted
side effects in a few people. All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they
are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical treatment if you
get some of the side effects.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice any of the following and they worry you:
thirst
dry mouth or eyes
fever
fast or irregular heart rate
headache
dizziness
restlessness
weakness
mood changes
muscle weakness or twitching
pain at the infusion site
These are the more common side effects of sodium acetate
Tell your doctor or pharmacist immediately if you notice the following:
sleepiness or confusion
convulsions
difficulty breathing
These may be serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention. Serious
side effects are rare.
Other side effects not listed above may occur in some patients. Tell your doctor
or pharmacist if you notice anything that is making you feel unwell.
Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects.
You may not experience any of them.
After using DBL Sodium Acetate Concentrated Injection
Storage
DBL Sodium Acetate Concentrated Injection will be stored in the pharmacy or on the
ward. The injection is kept in a cool dry place, protected from light, where the
temperature stays below 30C.
Product description
What it looks like
Include colour, markings, any tablet scoring, colour and consistency of liquids, pack
sizes, etc.
Ingredients
Active ingredients:
sodium acetate
Other ingredients
water for injections
DBL Sodium Acetate Concentrated Injection does not contain lactose, sucrose, gluten,
tartrazine or any other azo dyes.
Supplier
Australian Sponsor:
Pfizer Australia Pty Ltd
Sydney NSW
Toll Free Number: 1800 675 229
DBL Sodium Acetate Concentrated Injection is available in the following strength and
pack size:
1.64 grams in 10mL ampoule (20mmol/10mL)
AUST R 16262
This leaflet was updated in April 2019