Serum sodium changes in fluoxetine users at different age groups.

Area of Science:

• Clinical Pharmacology
• Psychiatry
• Geriatrics

Background:

• Fluoxetine is a common antidepressant affecting serum sodium.
• Age may influence fluoxetine's impact on electrolytes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate and compare serum sodium level changes in depressed patients on fluoxetine, stratified by age.
• To assess the incidence of hyponatremia and adverse effects in different age groups.

Main Methods:

• Quasi-experimental study of 126 depressed patients, divided into two age groups: 15-35 years and over 55 years.
• Serum sodium levels measured pre-treatment, and at 1 and 3 weeks post-treatment.
• Comparison of serum sodium, hyponatremia, and adverse effects between age groups.

Main Results:

• Older patients showed significant serum sodium decrease at 1 and 3 weeks; younger patients showed decrease only after 3 weeks.
• Serum sodium levels were significantly lower in older patients at 3 weeks (135.2±2.06 vs. 140.8±2.26).
• Hyponatremia occurred only in older patients (4.7% at 1 week, 15.8% at 3 weeks).

Conclusions:

• Fluoxetine use decreases serum sodium, with greater frequency and severity in older patients (>55 years).
• Hyponatremia is a clinically relevant adverse effect of fluoxetine in the elderly.
• Monitoring serum sodium levels is recommended during early fluoxetine therapy, particularly for older adults.