Anyone else with the low sodium deal..?

[jemsister]

I'm having a hard time lately. Every day about the same time--around dinner time--I start to feel really queasy and gross. I try to make myself eat anyway, because I'm too thin already, plus eating less only worsens the low sodium. I take 2 1-gram sodium chloride tablets a day, one in the AM, and one at bedtime.

I feel like my sodium must be dipping mid day. I mean it's happening about 6-7 hours after my morning tablet. Then I just feel kinda blah and gross for the rest of the evening, then I take my pills and go to bed, and in the morning I feel not *great*, but not bad either. I'm also really tired all the time.

Would it be reasonable to take another sodium tablet at dinner time, or is that just too much sodium? I know a high-sodium diet is supposed to be 4 grams a day, but I honestly don't eat a high-sodium diet, so I seriously doubt I'm getting that much. So if I'm theoretically getting 3 grams of sodium a day between diet and supplements, could Trileptal still be draining it enough for me to be symptomatic?

 

[Nakamova]

I think it's worth trying a 1 gram tablet when you start to feel the midday dip. Make sure to take it with a snack. If you're not eating enough, that could also be a reason for your fatigue and the blahs. I remember I felt pretty lousy when I was on Zonegran and unable to eat properly.

Trileptal affects sodium levels, not because it drains the sodium out of your system, but because it makes you retain water, diluting the amount of sodium in the blood. (Trileptal increases the production of a neurotransmitter that then tells your adrenals to produce an anti-diuretic hormone). So another approach (which might be difficult) is to limit how much fluid you drink, and increase your sugar intake. (The sugar more or less tells the liver to tell the kidneys to do their thing).

Everyone's metabolism is different, so with any dietary changes go slowly, and pay attention to how you feel after any modification.

 

[jemsister]

Thanks, Nak, those are some good strategies! I'm trying to limit my fluids, but I know I don't eat enough because I just don't have an appetite. And when the low sodium kicks in, I get major strong food aversion. It's like having morning sickness, only without the baby. XP

 

[Nakamova]

Good luck! I hope you start to feel better soon. If it gets to be problematic, the Trileptal may not be the right med for you.

 

[jemsister]

Yeah, they're pulling Trileptal in a week when I do the VEEG, and they won't put me back on it. I've been having this issue for over a year. I'm so glad I only have a week left! It's a bummer, though, because it really worked great at controlling my seizures. =/

I felt awful when I got up this morning. I had to take a Zofran just to quell the nausea enough to take my pills. Now that I've taken the sodium, I'm starting to feel better. I think it must really be the sodium. Gonna take an extra today and see if I can prevent the evening nausea I've been getting.

 

[cazzy]

do this drug cause sodium problems.....me and my son both suffere low blood pressure,my son marathon runer to,he takes sodium if when needs it..i wonder if i should cos i get light headed feel like want to faint

 

[jemsister]

Trileptal and Tegretol both can cause low sodium. I'm told Trileptal is more notorious for it than Tegretol though. I also have low blood pressure and the symptoms that go along with that.