Effects of Olanzapine on Polydipsia and Intermittent Hyponatremia

Letter to the Editor

Sir: The syndrome of polydipsia and intermittent hyponatremia
is a well-documented problem affecting psychotic patients.
Recent studies, however, indicate the treatment with atypical
antipsychotic agents is associated with decreased water consumption
and normalization of serum sodium levels. Olanzapine
recently became available in the United States and is
characterized as a selective monoaminergic antagonist with
high affinity binding to serotonin, dopamine, muscarinic, histamine,
and adrenergic receptors (package insert, 1996).