OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to examine the frequency and severity of hyponatraemia in a psychogeriatric inpatient population taking selective @entity750 re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs). METHOD: Casenotes for 1 year were reviewed and 53 @entity1 with 55 admissions were identified. Eighteen were treated with @entity905 and 37 with @entity903 . Five (28%) of the @entity1 on @entity905 and eight (22%) on @entity903 were, or became, hyponatraemic. RESULTS: The SSRI was discontinued in two symptomatic patients. Serum @entity1372 returned to normal in nine @entity1 maintained on the SSRI. Two @entity1 maintained on an SSRI remained hyponatraemic but asymptomatic. CONCLUSIONS: Hyponatraemia may be a relatively common early asymptomatic side effect of SSRIs, especially in older women. Serum @entity1372 should be measured before commencing an SSRI and monitored during the first month. Any @entity1 who exhibits symptoms of hyponatraemia, or whose @entity308 apparently worsens, while on an SSRI must have their serum @entity1372 measured. Discontinuation of the SSRI may be avoidable if serum @entity1372 levels can be closely monitored.

Hyponatraemia associated with the use of selective XXXX re-uptake inhibitors.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients', 'patient'] @entity308 :: ('MESH:D003866', 'Disease') :: ['depression'] @entity905 :: ('MESH:D005473', 'Chemical') :: ['fluoxetine'] @entity1372 :: ('MESH:D012964', 'Chemical') :: ['sodium'] @entity903 :: ('MESH:D017374', 'Chemical') :: ['paroxetine'] @entity750 :: ('MESH:D012701', 'Chemical') :: ['serotonin']
@entity750 :: (MESH:D012701,Chemical) :: ['serotonin']
