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Review
. 1994 Mar 9;107(973):85-6.

Fluoxetine and hyponatraemia--a potential hazard in the elderly

P I Pillans  1 , D M Coulter
Affiliations
  • PMID: 8202292
Review

Fluoxetine and hyponatraemia--a potential hazard in the elderly

P I Pillans et al. N Z Med J. .

Abstract

Aims: To review reports of the association between fluoxetine and hyponatraemia.

Methods: Reports of hyponatraemia associated with fluoxetine received over a four-year period in the New Zealand Intensive Medicines Monitoring Programme have been examined and these and other case reports in the literature, discussed.

Results: Seven patients, all women aged 68-88 years on fluoxetine 20 mg daily, developed hyponatraemia (serum sodium 114-128 mmol/L, five within 19 days of commencement of fluoxetine. The reported rate for women over 65 years was 8.5 per thousand. Withdrawal of fluoxetine was associated with recovery in all cases.

Conclusions: Fluoxetine is associated with a significant incidence of hyponatraemia in the elderly, especially during the first weeks of therapy. It is advisable to monitor electrolytes in older patients during this period.

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