Hyponatraemia and selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors in elderly patients

Abstract

Hyponatraemia (serum sodium arbitrarily defined as less than 135 mmol/L) is an increasingly recognised adverse effect of selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Its precise prevalence and incidence in the elderly are hard to determine because of confounding factors including other prescribed medications and medical conditions. Although hyponatraemia has been reported with all SSRIs and venlafaxine, most studies are small, restrospective, limited by confounding variables or are individual case reports. The risk of developing hyponatraemia while on an SSRI seems to increase with age, female, sex, previous history of hyponatraemia and the concomitant use of other medications known to ..