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Sodium Benzoate Side Effects

The most commonly reported side effects of sodium benzoate include orthostatic hypotension, constipation, and cognitive disorder, based on 515 FDA adverse event reports from 2004 to 2025. 6.0% of reports found the drug to be ineffective.

Sodium Benzoate side effects

Percentages show how often each reaction appears relative to total reports for sodium benzoate.

1
Orthostatic Hypotension14.4%74
2
Constipation13.2%68
3
Cognitive Disorder12.6%65
4
Balance Disorder12.4%64
5
Blood Calcium Decreased12.4%64
6
Hypotension12.2%63
7
Creatinine Renal Clearance Decreased12.2%63
8
Toxicity To Various Agents11.8%61
9
Depressed Level Of Consciousness11.7%60
10
Sedation Complication11.3%58
11
Fall11.3%58
12
Sedation11.3%58
13
Mobility Decreased11.1%57
14
Off Label Use10.7%55
15
Pain10.7%55

These are voluntary reports and do not establish that sodium benzoate caused these reactions.

Report severity

90.9%Serious468 reports
55.1%Hospitalizations284 reports
20.8%Fatal107 reports

Seriousness is determined by the reporter, not by OpenClaim.

Sodium Benzoate drug interactions

Other drugs that appear in adverse event reports alongside sodium benzoate. Drugs flagged as a suspected cause appear in the first column. Drugs taken at the same time but not suspected appear in the second.

Also suspected

1
Carbamazepine15.3%79
2
Amlodipine15.0%77
3
Cyclobenzaprine-hydrochloride14.8%76
4
Furosemide14.8%76
5
Diltiazem14.8%76
6
Nitroglycerin14.6%75
7
Oxazepam14.6%75
8
Glycerol-phenylbutyrate14.4%74
9
Acebutolol-hydrochloride14.0%72
10
Quinapril-hydrochloride14.0%72
11
Amitriptyline-hydrochloride14.0%72
12
Lactulose14.0%72
13
Sodium-phenylacetate13.8%71
14
Morphine-sulfate13.6%70
15
Rosuvastatin12.0%62

Taken alongside

1
Acetaminophen16.3%84
2
Calcium14.8%76
3
Aspirin14.8%76
4
Phosphoric-acid14.6%75
5
Arginine-hydrochloride13.6%70
6
Lactulose11.5%59
7
Levocarnitine10.7%55
8
Ascorbic-acid10.5%54
9
Glycerin9.9%51
10
Omeprazole9.5%49
11
Sodium-phenylacetate7.8%40
12
Albuterol7.8%40
13
Tiotropium-bromide7.4%38
14
Pantoprazole-sodium7.0%36
15
Furosemide6.6%34

Co-occurrence in adverse event reports does not establish a drug interaction. Patients often take multiple medications, and these lists reflect prescribing patterns rather than causal relationships. Consult a healthcare provider about potential drug interactions.

Who reports sodium benzoate side effects

48.7% of sodium benzoate adverse event reports involve female patients and 37.1% involve male patients. The largest age group is elderly at 27%. These figures reflect who reports side effects, not underlying risk.

Sex

Female48.7%
Male37.1%
Unknown14.2%

Age group

< 221.4%
2–1118.9%
12–178.7%
18–6423.8%
65+27.2%

What is sodium benzoate used for

Conditions and purposes for which patients were taking sodium benzoate when the adverse event was reported.

Accidental Exposure To ProductAcidosisAmino Acid Metabolism DisorderAmmonia IncreasedArginase IncreasedArgininosuccinate Synthetase DeficiencyAcidosisAcute Hepatic FailureAmmonia IncreasedArgininosuccinate Synthetase DeficiencyAsterixisCarbamoyl Phosphate Synthetase DeficiencyCervix DisorderComaConstipation

Showing 15 of 66 indications

Sodium Benzoate brand names and reporting trend

Sodium Benzoate is sold under the brand name Sodium Phenylacetate And Sodium Benzoate.

Brand names

Sodium Phenylacetate And Sodium Benzoate457

Quarterly reports (20042025)

2005201520202025

An upward trend reflects increased FAERS reporting overall, not necessarily increased risk.

Taking sodium benzoate with another medication?

Ask OpenClaim about your specific drug combination. Get a sourced report using FDA data, drug labels, and medical literature.