Alkalinizers Gather to Alkalinize the Urine

“Your weak acids’ ’bout to get eliminated! Its time for you to get ionized!”

Alkalinization of urine increases ionization of weak acids in turn increases renal elimination. This must be a picture of NaHCO3 or acetazolamide. Like what is done in the treatment of aspirin overdose, these angry people are about to alkalinize the urine.

*Note:

• After filtration, Ionization forms of drugs are “trapped” in the renal filtrate (cannot be reabsorbed).
• The opposite also goes for weak bases. Acidify the urine (vit. c, cranberry juice) to ionize weak bases, facilitating their elimination.