[SheilaKathy]

LOW SODIUM BLOOD LEVEL due to Psych Meds

Have any of you experienced this? I have ended up in the Emergency room twice now because of it, just about passing out.

Finally, my MD put me on salt tablets, so that I would not gain further weight because of all the salty foods I have been eating.

I have to drink Sports Drinks, but I have been drinking ZERO, because it has no calories. Then I found out that the artificial sweetener in it can cause Dementia, which my father was diagnosed with. So this is a pretty serious matter!

I love salty foods and crave them. Even when I am drinking the ZERO, I still crave them. I love black olives, chips, tomatoes with salt on them, etc. However, my ankles are swollen. So this is not a good sign either.

However, if I don't replenish the salt that the meds flush out of my body, I will end up in the ER again. So I have to be really careful!

Do any of you have to deal with something like this?

[~Christina]

My mom had a heart issue that she needed sodium tablets for, she got use to not " eating" the salty stuff overtime.

[WildcatVet]

What meds are you taking?

[Shazerac]

Diuretic meds for blood pressure flush out sodium and causes low blood levels. My MIL in passed out and ended up the hospital from it. Being dehydrated can also cause it. It's an increased risk in older folks. Also low sodium levels can damage the kidneys.

I've always thought the no salt thing was just another fad! Now people have to take salt pills. Sheesh.

[SheilaKathy]

Gabapentin 300 mg 5 x day
Clonazepam 1 mg at bedtime, .O5 mg as needed, (.05 rarely needed)
Ziprasidone HCL 20 mg (2 caps, so actually 40 mg.) at bedtime
(spelling may be off, but it is Geodon)
Ranitadine 150 mg. 2 times day (and sometimes extra that I buy OTC)
Omeprazole 40 mg. 1 time at breakfast
Risedronate Sodium 35 mg. once weekly
Metoprolol Tartrate 25 mg. at bedtime
Etodalac 400 mg. 3 times per day

Then there are a bunch of things like vitamins, minerals, herbs (not many, being careful there, as I have been told that they can interact poorly with the above, so like Olive Leaf is one, and it is for boosting my immune system, which because of my Lyme Disease is so so vital). I also take Tylenol and a baby aspirin and ginger too. Also garlic.

[Mountaindewed]

I'm just wondering, do you have to restrict your water intake while on the salt pills?

I knew someone who had low sodium and she could only drink 32oz of water a day.

I got thirsty just being around her. I had very bad water cravings while on Lithium.

[SheilaKathy]

No, Dr. has not restricted water or liquids, she just said to take the salt/ potassium tabs and there is a bit of magnesium in the tab also. So this is basically like I have been doing, with the sports drinks, just minus the artificial sweetener. I am happy to be without it too. This is starting to be a better experience. I still do take the sports drinks with me when I go out, though. I maybe drank a quarter of a 32 fl. oz. bottle today. I used to drink 2 or more of those a day!