Hyponatraemia and confusion in a 70-year-old female when bupropion was added to dothiepin and escitalopram.

CONCLUSIONS: Our case and review of the available literature highlights the dangers of polypharmacy in the management of treatment-resistant depression. Our findings suggest that the association of hyponatraemia with bupropion in our and subsequent cases was likely the result of medication interaction and not a direct side effect of bupropion. Where bupropion is being used as an augmenting agent in the treatment of depression we would suggest checking of serum sodium prior to commencement of bupropion, and monitoring thereafter. This is especially important in elderly patients where other risk factors for hyponatraemia are likely to be present. PMID: 26405241 [PubMed - in process]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26405241?dopt=Abstract

Source: Australasian Psychiatry - September 28, 2015 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Wiggins A, Balasubramanian T, Ferraro A Tags: Australas Psychiatry Source Type: research