Treatment of lactic acidosis includes appropriate supportive care (usually on an intensive care unit), treatment of any concomitant condition and elimination of any offending drug by renal excretion or dialysis. Bicarbonate therapy is still one of the principal management modalities for lactic acidosis70 76 despite conflicting reports as to its efficacy and even reports of potential adverse consequences77 including the lowering of mixed venous pH and intracellular pH when it is used to treat metabolic acidosis associated with concurrent tissue hypoxia.48 49 78 Metformin is a dialysable drug and the use of bicarbonate in combination with haemodialysis has been successful in the management of metformin associated lactic acidosis.70 73 77 Other experimental approaches include the use of dichloroacetate, which activates pyruvate dehydrogenase, reducing intracellular lactate formation and increasing lactate disposal. Unfortunately, despite initially promising results,79 controlled trials have shown no improvements in haemodynamics or survival in acidotic patients treated with this drug.80 The use of Carbicarb (sodium bicarbonate and sodium carbonate in equimolar mixture) and THAM (an amino alcohol) is similarly experimental.77 Despite these management measures the prognosis in lactic acidosis of all