Department of Pharmacy, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; Department of Neurology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
Abstract:A variety of antiepileptic drugs are associated with hyponatremia, among which carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, and eslicarbazepine are the most common, and other antiepileptic drugs involved include valproic acid, levetiracetam, lamotrigine, and lacosamide. Most patients with antiepileptic drug- related hyponatremia have mild symptoms, but severe acute or chronic persistent hyponatremia can lead to epilepsy, coma, and even death. The mechanism of hyponatremia induced by antiepileptic drugs is not fully clear and is currently thought to be likely related to abnormal antidiuretic hormone secretion. The risk factors of antiepileptic drug-related hyponatremia are older age, lower baseline serum sodium level, high drug exposure, and combination of multiple drugs. Attention should be paid to this kind of patients in clinic, and appropriate monitoring, prevention, and treatment should be carried out.