Sodium is an electrolyte that helps the body control levels of water in the body. Low levels of sodium, also called hyponatremia, may occur because of medications, such as diuretics, severe burns, diarrhea, vomiting, and medical conditions such as Addison's disease and cirrhosis of the liver. Symptoms of hyponatremia include confusion, fatigue, headache, nausea and vomiting, restlessness and muscle weakness. As the condition worsens, seizures and a coma may occur, according to MayoClinic.com. To prevent serious complications, you need to treat the condition to help increase the levels of sodium in the body.
Step 1
Stop drinking excessive amounts of fluids. Restricting fluids causes the sodium levels in the blood to increase. Restricting water to less than a quart per day may help treat mild cases of hyponatremia, according to Merck Manuals Online Medical Library.
Step 2
Speak with your physician about adjusting medication dosages if you are on a diuretic to help treat high blood pressure or kidney problems. Diuretics may cause the body to remove too much sodium from the body in the urine. Changing the dose of the diuretic may increase sodium levels in the body.
Step 3
Get intravenous fluids administered to help increase sodium levels in the blood. This is especially important for extremely low sodium levels. Getting IV fluids usually requires admission to the hospital for close monitoring.
Step 4
Take a prescription medication to help increase sodium levels. Tolvaptan is a medication approved by the US Food and Drug Administration to treat hyponatremia caused by the use of diuretics, cirrhosis and congestive heart failure. The oral medication works to increase the amount of water released from the body through urine. Removing excess fluid helps increase sodium levels in the blood. Taking tolvaptan may cause sodium levels to increase rapidly and cause a serious condition called osmotic demyelination syndrome, or ODS. Symptoms of this condition include confusion, difficulty speaking, difficulty swallowing and drowsiness, according to MedlinePlus. Medical staff closely monitors individuals taking tolvaptan to watch for signs of ODS, especially when first starting the medication. Drinking adequate amounts of water when feeling thirsty will help a person prevent developing ODS during tolvaptan treatment.
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