Don’t take effervescent antacids like Alka-Seltzer, Bromo Seltzer, or their generics more than occasionally. Many people don’t realize that these products (and many others) contain aspirin, which can cause potentially dangerous stomach bleeding—even though they have been required to carry a warning label since 2009.
The FDA has cautioned about their risks in the past, noting that despite the warning label, the drugs have been linked to at least eight cases of serious bleeding events requiring hospitalization (a likely underestimate). The risk of gastric bleeding is greatest if you are over 60; have had a stomach ulcer or bleeding problems; take other pain relievers (NSAIDs), anticoagulants, or steroids; or have three or more alcoholic drinks a day.
What’s more, these drugs contain sodium bicarbonate, so they are very high in sodium. For example, one tablet of Alka-Seltzer Original contains 567 milligrams of sodium, and the directions say to take two tablets every four hours, up to four or eight tablets a day, depending on your age. That means you could be ingesting as much as 2,268 or 4,536 milligrams of sodium a day from the drug, which is close to or nearly double the daily recommended sodium limit.
If you have heartburn, you’re better off with a simple antacid—certainly not aspirin. If you have an occasional headache, try an OTC pain reliever. If these occur frequently, consult your doctor.
