HYPONATRIMIA AND HYPOKALEMIA: A COMPARIVE STUDY ON ESCITALOPRAM AND SERTRALINE IN DEPRESSIVE PATIENTS

Background: Depressive illness is assumed the third major cause of disability around the globe. There many groups of drugs for the treatment but SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) are the most commonly used class of drugs in this disorder.Like other categories of drugs SSRIs also has some adverse effects, aim of this study was to focus on comparing the electrolyte related side effects of escitalopram and sertraline. Hyponatremia (Na < 135mmol/l) and hypokalemia (K<3.5mmol/l). STUDY DESIGN AND SETTINGS: This comparative cross-sectional study was conducted at Pharmacology department of Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) Karachi, Pakistan over in one year. METHODOLOGY: Samples of blood were collected from128 patients were categorized in four groups with each group consisting of 32 patients on the basis of duration of taking the antidepressants. Group-A patients were on SSRIs from 1-3 month, Group-B patient were taking SSRIs from6-9 months, Group-C patients were taking SSRIs from 1-2 years while Group-D patients were taking SSRIs from 2-5 years. Each group was further divided into two sub groups consisting 16 patients on Escitalopram 10-20mg therapy while other 16 patients on Sertraline 50mg therapy. The male female ratio is this study was 1:1 in all groups. RESULTS: Escitalopram users samples mean and Standard deviation for Na was 128.23±1.62, for K 2.89±0.19, whereas in treatment group Sertraline mean and Standard deviation for Na was 133.02±1.71 for K 3.30±0.25, there was significant mean difference observed for Na and K between two treatment groups with significant p-value less than 0.01.CONCLUSION: Escitalopram and Sertraline cause hyponatremia and hypokalemia when used for longer period. These effects are comparatively lesser in Sertraline than Escitalopram.