Sodium bicarbonate deficit
Estimated bicarbonate needed to raise serum HCO₃ to a target.
Inputs
1 of 4Actual (total) body weight
mEq/L
mEq/L
Distribution space
Patient values are shared with every calculator.
When to use
- Severe metabolic acidosis where bicarbonate therapy is chosen.
Pearls and pitfalls
- Give about half the deficit, then reassess blood gas and potassium.
- Benefit is uncertain outside specific settings (for example, severe AKI with pH below 7.2, TCA toxicity, hyperkalemia).
- 8.4% solution is 1 mEq/mL.
Why use
Sizes the dose and shows the half-dose approach.
Deficit (mEq) = Vd × weight × (target − measured HCO₃); Vd 0.4–0.5 L/kg (rises in severe acidosis)