Chan Y Cheah1, Bronwyn Ladhams, P Gerry Fegan. 1. Department of General Medicine, Fremantle Hospital and Health Service, Fremantle, Western Australia. ccheah@iinet.net.au
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Depression is a common problem in the elderly, and the recognition and appropriate management of this illness are important aspects of geriatric medicine. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors have been associated with hyponatremia, but the association of mirtazapine with hyponatremia is less well documented. OBJECTIVE: The goal of this research was to highlight and characterize the association between mirtazapine and hyponatremia. We present here 2 case reports as well as the results of a literature review. CASE SUMMARIES: Two patients, a 61-year-old man and a 79-year-old woman, developed profound hyponatremia (sodium levels, 112 and 113 mEq/L, respectively) 7 and 10 days after commencement of mirtazapine for symptoms of depression. Investigations excluded other causes, and cessation of mirtazapine was associated with recovery of sodium levels to > or =132 mEq/L after 7 and 10 days, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The likelihood of mirtazapine use causing hyponatremia in these 2 cases was "probable" according to criteria of the Naranjo Adverse Drug Reaction Probability Scale (score, 6). A review of published cases found that mirtazapine-associated hyponatremia occurred in patients aged >60 years, after a mean of 6.5 days and with doses as low as 7.5 mg daily. The mean sodium nadir was 117.2 mEq/L, but after stopping mirtazapine, the mean time to recovery was 11 days. Clinicians should be aware of the possibility of this reaction in elderly patients and should monitor sodium levels in high-risk patients if symptoms suggestive of hyponatremia develop.
BACKGROUND:Depression is a common problem in the elderly, and the recognition and appropriate management of this illness are important aspects of geriatric medicine. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors have been associated with hyponatremia, but the association of mirtazapine with hyponatremia is less well documented. OBJECTIVE: The goal of this research was to highlight and characterize the association between mirtazapine and hyponatremia. We present here 2 case reports as well as the results of a literature review. CASE SUMMARIES: Two patients, a 61-year-old man and a 79-year-old woman, developed profound hyponatremia (sodium levels, 112 and 113 mEq/L, respectively) 7 and 10 days after commencement of mirtazapine for symptoms of depression. Investigations excluded other causes, and cessation of mirtazapine was associated with recovery of sodium levels to > or =132 mEq/L after 7 and 10 days, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The likelihood of mirtazapine use causing hyponatremia in these 2 cases was "probable" according to criteria of the Naranjo Adverse Drug Reaction Probability Scale (score, 6). A review of published cases found that mirtazapine-associated hyponatremia occurred in patients aged >60 years, after a mean of 6.5 days and with doses as low as 7.5 mg daily. The mean sodium nadir was 117.2 mEq/L, but after stopping mirtazapine, the mean time to recovery was 11 days. Clinicians should be aware of the possibility of this reaction in elderly patients and should monitor sodium levels in high-risk patients if symptoms suggestive of hyponatremia develop.