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What Are The Symptoms Of Low Sodium Levels In The Body?

Posted on Thu, 13 Apr 2017

Question: What are the symptoms of low sodium? I checked into the E.R. and was told this was my diagnosis. After 3 to 4 bags of I.V. solution, which I assume is sodium and ? After this was added I felt so much better and was told that I had low sodium. Should I have been admitted to the hospital instead of being sent home? What do I need to look for before this happens again?

Answered by Dr. Rudina Balliu (4 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Need to find the cause

Detailed Answer:
Hello There ! Thank you for asking HealthCareMagic.

I have gone through your question and understand
The symptoms depends if low sodium (hyponatremia ) is associated or not with water overload or water depletion but here are some general symptoms that you have to be aware of possible low potasium:nause ,vomiting headache, confusion, dizziness, loss of energy (lethargic ), fatigue,muscles weakness /pain..

-If you felt better it's not anymore an emergency but you need a follow up by your treating doctor to find out the cause .
If you take any medication (diuretics , anti depressant. .)or you have any disease/complains you did not write these could be the reason of your low sodium .

I would advice you to avoid dehydration ,if you are thirsty you need to drink water but not more than enough ( to prevent water overflow ), use liquids with electrolytes (that contain salt/sodium),before and after sweating drink liquids ( salty).

Hope i have answered your question.
Let me know if you have any further clarifications, I will be happy to help.
Take Care !
Dr Balliu.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj

Follow up: Dr. Rudina Balliu (2 hours later)

Hello,
These are my current medication list:
Alprazolam 0.50 mg.twice daily
Buspirone 15 mg twice a day
Folgard oral tablet once a day
Gabapentin 300mg. oral twice a day
Lamotrigine 100mg. twice a day
Methocarbamol 500mg twice a day
Oxcabazepine 300mg two times twice a day
Protonix 40mg twice a day
simvastatin 40mg once a day
Valacyclovir 500mg once a day
Warfarin 3mg once a day at bedtime
Fentanyl 12 mg patch every 72 hours

I have bi-polar that is the reason for some medicine.
I also have degenerative bone disease.

I have recently started chicken broth to my diet with sodium. Should that be enough to help my sodium problem? Should I start drinking sport drink's as well? If so how often?

I cannot drink caffeine, I have severe panic attack's which prevent me from drinking caffeine, for this makes my symptom's worse.

Thank you
I also the same day/evening went to the emergency room for Gastrointestinal Bleeding. I do not know if these are related.
Thank you

Answered by Dr. Rudina Balliu (26 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Could be related

Detailed Answer:
Hello again ! Thank you for follow up. Sorry for my late reply.
I can see that you take medication for pain , muscles relaxant,stomach issue, vitamins /folic acid ,and for your bipolar disdorder .

I'm concern that your gastrointestinal bleeding could be the reason for the low salt but also some medication you take may be the cause .

The only way to rule out any medication side effect is to monitor again your potassium level after 2 weeks or more.Did the doctor take you the reason of the gastrointestinal bleeding ?it's important to find out the cause of the bleeding to preventit from happening again.

You can take sport drink and broth.The neccesary amount of potassium you need is 2800 mg/day .Every drink has the information of the amount of potasium that contains.You can easly calculate .
You can take potassium by eating :vegetables (tomatoes, potatoes, ..)fruits ,milk youghurt.

About the coffe it's ok not to drink .

I would still reccomend a follow up by your treating doctor to do some blood test.

Take Care!

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad