Confusion after starting citalopram in a renal transplant patient

The UK NICE (National Institute for Clinical Excellence) guidelines on management of depression in adults recommends use of selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor (SSRI) as a first choice agent. Citalopram, an SSRI antidepressant, is a preferred antidepressant in those patients with concomitant chronic physical health problems. Hyponatraemia because of syndrome of inappropriate antiduretic hormone secrection has been reported with SSRI antidepressants but is usually mild and responds to fluid restriction and cessation of the drug. We report a case of severe hyponatraemia because of citalopram in a renal transplant patient who required treatment with hypertonic (3%) saline, with a good outcome avoiding any neurological complications.