A child ingests a parent's aspirin tablets, and the prescriber orders sodium bicarbonate to block the toxic effects of the aspirin. The nurse caring for this patient knows that sodium bicarbonate is effective against the aspirin because it:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Sodium bicarbonate increases the pH of interstitial fluid and plasma, allowing the acidic aspirin ions to move outside the cells and thus removing them from the site where they have toxic effects. It does not have laxative effects and does not alter the rate of passage through the gut. It is not a CYP isoenzyme inducer and therefore has no effect on drug metabolism. It does not alter renal excretion of aspirin.

A Child Ingests a Parent's Aspirin Tablets, and the Prescriber