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Low Sodium Levels (Hyponatremia)

Low Sodium level in the blood can be seen in a variety of conditions. Most common ones seen in cancer patients are:

Medicines

• Lasix , that can cause increase in urine flow, such as

• Primaxin , which is an antibiotic

Certain cancers:

• Small cell lung cancer

• Some brain tumors

Signs:

Patients may feel weakness and fatigue, which may progressively get worse, as s the Sodium level declines. In severe cases, patients may experience seizures, and loss of consciousness.

Diagnosis:

measuring Sodium level in blood is the only method of making the diagnosis, and treating physicians have to be aware of this possibility in patients who are on certain medicines or have certain cancers.

Treatment:

This condition is treated by reversal of the cause of low sodium. This is achieved by discontinuing the drugs as well as treating the cancers. In severe cases where the Sodium levels are critically low, patients should be treated in the hospital with intravenous (hyper-tonic) Sodium.