Answer the side-effect intent for citro soda without diagnosing; distinguish common from serious reactions and give safe next-step/reporting guidance.
Part of otc pharmacy medicine side effects side effects.
Source
Clinical statements on this page are taken from the SAHPRA-approved patient information leaflet (approved 26/02/2025) and professional information (approved 26/02/2025) for this product: patient information leaflet, professional information. Retrieved 2026-09-03. Where this page and the approved leaflet differ, the leaflet is correct.
What is Citro Soda?
Citro-Soda contains the active ingredient Sodium bicarbonate, Tartaric acid, Citric acid.
- Active ingredient — Sodium bicarbonate, Tartaric acid, Citric acid
- Registration number — 28/18.3/0372
- Registration holder — Adcock Ingram Limited
It is approved for:
- CITRO-SODA CRANBERRY is a gastric antacid (neutralises excess acid in the stomach) and urinary alkalinising agent
- CITRO-SODA CRANBERRY can be used to alleviate symptoms of inflammatory conditions of the bladder
- It can also be used to prevent crystalluria (formation of crystals in urine) during sulphonamide (antibiotic) treatment
Common side effects of Citro Soda
Not everyone gets side effects. The effects below are those listed in the South African approved leaflet, grouped using the leaflet’s own frequency wording.
About these frequency terms
This leaflet groups effects as “Frequent” and “Less frequent” rather than the very common/common/uncommon scale used in some other markets.
Less frequent side effects
- Stomach cramps
- laxative effect (diarrhoea or loose bowel movements)
- Increased thirst
- Hypernatraemia (too much sodium in the blood): dizziness; fast heartbeat; high blood pressure; irritability; muscle twitching; restlessness; seizures (a sudden attack, usually referring to contractions of muscles); swelling of feet or lower legs; weakness may occur. Side effects with unknown frequency:
- Muscle hypertonicity, twitching and tetany may develop, especially in hypocalcaemic (the blood has too little calcium) patients
- Metabolic alkalosis (rise in alkali level in blood): shortness of breath, muscle weakness and mental disturbances such as restlessness, convulsions and coma may occur especially in patients with renal dysfunction
- Excessive doses may lead to sodium overloading (High sodium intake) and hyperosmolality (high sodium levels in the blood)
- Abdominal distension, flatulence (large amount of gas in stomach or intestine), belching (burping), and nausea may occur if the product is taken before effervescence is complete
- Excessive doses may lead to hypokalaemia (electrolyte abnormality) causing systoms that include mood changes, tiredness, slow breathing, muscle weakness, and irregular heartbeat
- Citro-Soda Cranberry granules are mildly irritant and if taken undiluted may cause violent vomiting and diarrhoea, abdominal pain, and thirst. Cardiovascular collapse or acute renal failure may follow
Serious side effects and warning signs
This leaflet does not set out a separate list of serious side effects. The general warning signs below apply to any medicine.
General warning signs that apply to any medicine
Call for emergency help now if any of these happen
- Difficulty breathing, wheezing, or tightness in the throat or chest
- Swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat
- A widespread rash with blistering or peeling skin, or sores in the mouth, eyes or genitals
- Fainting, collapse, or a sudden severe drop in alertness
- Chest pain, or sudden weakness or numbness on one side of the body
- A fit (seizure), or confusion that comes on suddenly
In South Africa call 10177 for an ambulance, or 112 from a mobile phone. Go to your nearest emergency department if it is faster. Do not wait to see whether the symptom settles.
How long can side effects last?
How long a side effect lasts depends on the effect, the product, how long it has been used, and the person. Some effects ease within days as the body adjusts. Others continue for as long as the product is used. A few can persist after stopping, and some need review rather than waiting.
- Settling effects — mild effects that ease over the first days or weeks of use
- Ongoing effects — effects that continue while the product is being used and improve after stopping
- Persistent effects — effects that continue after stopping and need medical review
- Delayed effects — effects that appear after weeks or months rather than immediately
Which of these applies to a particular effect is a clinical question. If a side effect is not settling, is getting worse, or is affecting your daily life, that is worth a conversation with a pharmacist or doctor regardless of how long it has been going on.
Evidence required before publish — source the following for Citro Soda from the SAHPRA-approved patient information leaflet or professional information, and cite what you actually used.
- Anything the approved information for Citro Soda says about how long specific effects last
- Whether the source describes any effect as usually temporary, or as needing review if it persists
- Whether any effect is described as continuing after the product is stopped
Factors that may affect side effects
The approved leaflet identifies the following cautions and factors.
Do not use it at all if
- If you are hypersensitive (allergic) to sodium bicarbonate, tartaric acid, citric acid, Sodium citrate or any of the other ingredients of CITRO-SODA CRANBERRY
- If you suffer from severe renal (kidney) disease
- If you suffer from metabolic disturbances like alkalosis blood. (rise in alkali level in the blood), hypocalcaemia (low calcium levels) or hypochlorhydria (low chloride levels)
- If you are taking urinary antiseptics which require an acidic urine, such as methenamine mandelate and methenamine hippurate
- If you are on a special diet ( if you have to limit the amount of sodium that you eat)
Use with care, and tell your doctor, if
- Respiratory alkalosis (rapidly increased breathing that changes the pH in the blood)
- Hypocalcaemia (low level of calcium in the blood)
- Hypochlorhydria (absent or low production of hydrochloric acid in the stomach). CITRO-SODA CRANBERRY should be taken with care if you have any of the following:
- Renal insufficiency and renal abnormalities (kidney problems)
- Congestive cardiac (heart) failure
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Peptic ulcers (stomach ulcers)
- Liver cirrhosis (liver damage)
- Oedema (fluid accumulation) in the lungs or limbs
- Pre-eclampsia (a type of pregnancy complication)
- Aldosteronism (a condition in which there is excessive secretion of a hormone aldosterone, which disturbs the balance of sodium, potassium, and water in the blood and so leads to high blood pressure.)
- If you are on a special diet (if you have to limit the amount of sodium that you eat). Children and adolescents CITRO-SODA CRANBERRY is for use in children between the ages of 6 to 12 years old. Other medicines with CITRO-SODA CRANBERRY: Always tell your health care professional if you are taking any other medicine. (This includes all complementary or traditional medicines.) Please consult your doctor, pharmacist or other health care professional if you want to use CITRO-SODA CRANBERRY but are taking the following medicines:
- Antacids (medicines that neutralize stomach acid)
- Quinolones (a type of antibiotic)
- Salicylates (medicines class use for relief of pain, fever and inflammation)
- Barbiturates (acts as a central nervous system depressant)
- Lithium (a type of medicine known as a mood stabiliser). Do not take CITRO-SODA CRANBERRY if you are using a medicine containing methenamine (a medicine used to treat infection of the urinary tract). If you are taking any of the following medicines, CITRO-SODA CRANBERRY must only be taken at least 2 hours after these medicines:
- Tetracyclines (a type of antibiotic)
- Ketoconazole (an anti-fungal agent). CITRO-SODA CRANBERRY with food and drinks Should not be taken by patients on a sodium-restricted diet
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- The safety of this formulation during pregnancy and breastfeeding has not been established
- Caution should be exercised when administered during breastfeeding
- If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, please consult your doctor, pharmacist or other health care provider for advice before taking CITRO-SODA CRANBERRY
- Driving and using machinery None known
- It is not always possible to predict to what extent CITRO-SODA CRANBERRY may interfere with the daily activities of a patient
- Patients should ensure that that they do engage in tasks or activities requiring mental alertness ,judgement or sound coordination until they are aware of the measure to which CITRO-SODA CRANBERRY affects them
What to do if you experience side effects
If you think you are having a side effect, the response depends on how severe it is. Use the warning signs above first — if any of those apply, treat it as urgent.
If the symptom is severe or frightening
Get medical help immediately. Call 10177 for an ambulance, or 112 from a mobile phone, or go to the nearest emergency department. Take the product and its packaging with you if you can.
If the symptom is mild but bothering you
- Write down what the symptom is, when it started, and how it relates to when you take the product
- Check the leaflet that came with the product to see whether the symptom is listed
- Speak to your pharmacist — for many questions this is the fastest route to a useful answer
- Contact the prescriber if the symptom is affecting your daily life or is not settling
Do not stop a prescribed treatment on your own
Stopping some treatments suddenly causes its own problems, and the condition being treated may get worse. If you want to stop, ask a pharmacist or doctor how to do it safely — they can usually offer an alternative.
You can also report a suspected side effect in South Africa. Reporting does not replace getting medical advice, and you do not need to be certain the product was the cause.
When to seek urgent medical help
Some symptoms need medical attention straight away rather than an appointment in a few days. Do not wait to see whether they settle.
Call for emergency help now if any of these happen
- Difficulty breathing, wheezing, or tightness in the throat or chest
- Swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat
- A widespread rash with blistering or peeling skin, or sores in the mouth, eyes or genitals
- Fainting, collapse, or a sudden severe drop in alertness
- Chest pain, or sudden weakness or numbness on one side of the body
- A fit (seizure), or confusion that comes on suddenly
In South Africa call 10177 for an ambulance, or 112 from a mobile phone. Go to your nearest emergency department if it is faster. Do not wait to see whether the symptom settles.
Get same-day medical advice if you have
- A high fever, or a rash together with feeling generally unwell
- Yellowing of the eyes or skin, or unusually dark urine
- Unusual bruising or bleeding that you cannot explain
- Severe or persistent vomiting or diarrhoea, especially if you cannot keep fluids down
- A sudden change in mood, or thoughts of harming yourself
- Any symptom that is rapidly getting worse
If you are having thoughts of harming yourself
Help is available in South Africa. The SADAG helpline is 0800 567 567, or you can go to your nearest emergency department. You do not have to wait until it feels like an emergency.
How to report a suspected side effect in South Africa
South Africa has an official system for reporting suspected side effects, run by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA). Reports from the public and from healthcare professionals are how safety signals get detected after a product is already in use.
Who can report
Anyone can report — you do not have to be a healthcare professional, and you do not need to prove that the product caused the problem. A suspicion is enough. Patients, caregivers and family members can all submit a report.
What to have ready
- The name of the product, its strength and form, and the batch number if you have it
- Why it was being used, and when it was started and stopped
- What the suspected reaction was, when it began, and how long it lasted
- Any other medicines, supplements or remedies being used at the same time
- Basic details about the person affected — age and sex are usually enough
How to report
SAHPRA accepts adverse reaction reports through its e-Services reporting system and through the Med Safety mobile app. Healthcare professionals can also report through the same routes. Current forms and access points are published on the SAHPRA site.
- SAHPRA Health Products Vigilance — the main vigilance and reporting hub
- SAHPRA e-Services — current adverse reaction reporting access
Reporting is not a substitute for medical care
If someone is unwell now, get medical help first and report afterwards. Urgent symptoms always take precedence over paperwork.
For a fuller walkthrough see how to report an adverse drug reaction.
Related pages
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Report a side effect
If you think you have had a side effect, you can report a suspected side effect in South Africa. Report a suspected side effect through the appropriate SAHPRA pathway where relevant.
Information only
This page gives general medicine-safety information for people in South Africa. It is not a diagnosis and not personalised medical advice. It cannot tell you whether a symptom you are having is caused by a particular product. Speak to a pharmacist or doctor about your own situation, and do not stop or change a prescribed treatment on the basis of a web page.
Editorial status: draft — not for publication
Brief SE-00102 · build rank 102 · Phase 1 · Tier 1. Every evidence slot on this page must be completed from the SAHPRA-approved source and the page signed off by a qualified clinical or pharmacy reviewer before it is published. Target length 1,500–2,200 words.