Sodium Level Coming Down

My mother is 79yrs old. She has had an Electrolyte problem for the last 2 yrs. Sodium levels are coming down. This is the 3rd year. Even in May of 2010, she began having the same problem. From May 2010 to till Dec 2010 she used Covance 50mg for BP and Wysolone 5mg. She did not have any problem. Soduim levels are 138.4 out of 145 and hemoglobin is 10.4, this result is from mid December.

In mid Dec 2010, she got a cold and cough, so we went to the doctor and she normally checked the BP and she found a little bit of high BP, i think 152 (I don't remember exactly) and the Doctor prescribed Losar - H (LOSARTAN POTASSIUM AND HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE) twice a daily instead of Covance 50 mg. We went to my native place and i did the electrolytes test on Jan'6th, i found the difference to be 3 points. Now 135. I have taken her to my family doctor he said Losar - H have side effects, that will reduce the sodium level so use Losar - H is in morning and Plane Losar is at bed time. So we started like that and one month completed. Last 4 days she is sleeping (Drowsiness) and i got the doubt and Today(11-Feb-11) i have taken electrolytes test and got the result its value is 133.4 and hemoglobin is 8.3. I don't understand why she is getting every year like that. Is there any permanent solution for maintaining proper sodium levels?

Can you suggest which med i can use (Covance 50mg or Losar-H) and also what foods (diet) i need to give to my mother because she is unable to have proper lunch and dinner?

Eagerly waiting for your reply on this. Thanks in advance.

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How much fluid is your mother taking in, each day?

They Hydrochlorothiazide, in the Losartan-H is a diuretic that is meant to reduce the amount of water and sodium in the body, by making her urinate more frequently. Thus, if she is not taking in enough liquids and sodium in her diet to balance it out, it will cause this.

I had the same problem with diuretics, even with increasing my fluid intake, they still just sapped to many electrolytes out of my body and I had to stop taking them.

If she is unable to eat properly, then that is more than likely having an effect on this, as well. She is probably not taking in enough sodium to balance what the medication is removing from her body. The maintain the proper level, we need to take in and retain a minimum of 500mgs of sodium a day.

I am not a doctor, but if I were you, I would talk to her doctor about dropping the Hydrochlorothiazide altogether, just going back to the regular Covance (Losartan) and see if that helps.

On top of removing the sodium, the fluid removal from it could also be contributing to the problem, if she's staying dehydrated, then that will make things even worse for her sodium levels and for her eating problem.

https:/­/­rxchat.com/­wiki/­Losartan/­

https:/­/­rxchat.com/­wiki/­Hydrochlorothiazide/­

Are there any questions or comments?

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I am getting an insight into this problem, thanks to the query of Verwon. I ( 66 yrs now) have been on Losartan -H for last two years and my wife (58) who is also an osteopaenia subject has been on Losartan 25 bd. I confess that we do not drink a lot of water. My wife dozes off most of the day and complain of pain in many joints while I find that my cystolic/diastolic are usually +160/80. Cystolic happens to be the problem in my case. I have not done any electrolyte testing and I did not know that such test existed where I live - Sri Lanka. Moreover doctors here tend to get nervous when patients talk in common medical terms. Eventhough I have medical doctors in our family they are of no help because they think (?) it is unethical to treat parents!

Please advise me.

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What you said is correct. that is what happening she is loosing sodium with urine.

She is having total 5 to 6 glass of water in a day. I completely stopped Covance and Losar-H tablets. Now i am giving other tablets. i asked the doctor she told me about the tablets it will reduce the sodium levels in body. as i discussed already with you. last 2 days she is fine now after changing the tablets for both sugar and BP.

i will come back to you after 1 week and let you know the status.
Thanks
Sairam

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