The American journal of the medical sciences
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Thiazide diuretics and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are among the most commonly prescribed medications. Each medication has been associated with the development of severe hyponatremia. The mechanisms involved in the development of hyponatremia differ for each medication. ⋯ SSRIs cause hyponatremia through the syndrome of inappropriate ADH release. Two cases of severe hyponatremia in patients taking both a thiazide diuretic and an SSRI highlight the possibility of a synergistic effect in impairment of renal free water clearance when both medications are given. These two cases serve as a cautionary example and should prompt careful monitoring of patients prescribed both an SSRI and a thiazide diuretic (especially in elderly women, who seem to be at increased risk for this complication).
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A 49-year-old man presented with a 3-week history of vomiting and diarrhea. He reported foamy stools but no blood or melena and had crampy epigastric pain. He denied usage of antibiotics. ⋯ This patient developed concomitant infection with C difficile and G lamblia while he used ranitidine. He had no other risk factors for these infections. Hence, we propose that ranitidine-induced hypochlorhydria predisposed this patient to the enteric infections.