Alkalinizing and acidifying drugs

Alkalinizing and acidifying drugs

Alkalinizing and acidifying drugs act to correct acid-base imbal-ances in the blood. These acid-base imbalances include:

·                 metabolic acidosis, a decreased serum pH caused by excess hy-drogen ions in the ECF, which is treated with alkalinizing drugs

·                 metabolic alkalosis, an increased serum pH caused by excessbicarbonate in the ECF, which is treated with acidifying drugs.

Odd couple

Alkalinizing and acidifying drugs have opposite effects:

§    An alkalinizing drug will increase the pH of the blood and de-crease the concentration of hydrogen ions.

§    An acidifying drug will decrease the pH of the blood and in-crease the concentration of hydrogen ions.

Rx for o.d.

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Some of these drugs also alter urine pH, making them useful in treating some urinary tract infections and drug overdoses.