A clinical study to compare hyponatremia induced by the use of two different tricyclic antidepressants – Amitriptyline and imipramine

ABSTRACT

Aims & Objectives: To compare the occurrence of hyponatremia in the patients receiving two different Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs)–Amitriptyline and Imipramine Methodology: Fifty OPD patients attendingthe Psychiatry outpatient clinic of Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Sewagram having diagnosis of Depressive episode as per DSM-IV-TR criteria were included in the study. Patients with normalserum sodium levels before treatment with antidepressant were included in the study. Repeat serum Sodium levels were done after one month of being on treatment. EPI Info-6 software was used to analyze the data. Results: Average serum sodium concentrations of the patients receiving different TCAs before treatment were 139.4+2.45 (Mean+SD). Out of the 44% patients who developed hyponatremia, 45.45% were amongst the Imipramine group and 54.54% were amongst the Amitriptyline group. Although of mild severity only, hyponatremia was more in patients receiving Amitriptyline compared to those receiving Imipramine. Conclusion: Patients receiving Amitriptyline have fairly more chance of developing hyponatremiathan Imipramine receiving patients. Hence precaution should be observed while using TCA group of antidepressants.