Antidepressant medication can disrupt the body’s important sodium balance

Although health authorities advise against consuming too much salt (sodium), it is still an essential mineral that is crucial for electrolyte and fluid balance. Minor deficiencies can cause symptoms such as fatigue, muscle weakness, dizziness, and headaches. More severe deficiencies can lead to exhaustion, fainting, or other neurological conditions, which in the worst case can be life-threatening. Evidence also suggests that commonly used antidepressant drugs, such as SSRIs and SNRIs, increase the risk of the body lacking this vital mineral. This was shown in a meta-analysis published in BMC Pharmacology and Toxicology. Attention should also be paid to other side effects of antidepressant medication.

Common table salt is called sodium chloride, and sodium is one of the minerals we need the most. Sodium is primarily found in blood plasma, and it is important for the body’s electrolyte balance together with potassium, which is found outside the cells. The ratio between sodium and potassium is crucial for the cells’ ability to absorb nutrients, eliminate waste products, and maintain fluid balance. Sodium is also important for muscle function, nerve function, as well as the production of stomach acid, pancreatic secretions, and other glandular functions.
In clinical practice, sodium deficiency (hyponatremia) is one of the most common electrolyte disturbances. Mild sodium deficiency (130-135 mmol/L) can cause non-specific symptoms such as malaise, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and headaches. Moderate and severe deficiencies can lead to various neurological complications, including exhaustion, confusion, fainting, coma, and in the worst case, life-threatening conditions.
Sodium deficiency can result from a lack of salt in the diet, excessive sweating (sports, fever, heatstroke), prolonged diarrhea, and reduced kidney function. In recent years, attention has also been focused on diuretic medications and other types of drugs.
An increased occurrence of sodium deficiency has been observed among patients being treated for depression and anxiety, which naturally can worsen the patients’ already serious condition. Therefore, a research team has now investigated the issue more closely.
The researchers collected 38 relevant published studies from databases such as Cochrane Library, PubMed, and Web of Science and found, overall, that antidepressant medication increased the occurrence of sodium deficiency by 6.03%. Of these, patients taking antidepressant medication in the form of SSRIs had an increased occurrence of 5.98%, and patients taking SNRIs had an increased occurrence of 6.13%. This shows that drug types such as SNRIs generally entail a higher risk of sodium deficiency. Furthermore, the researchers found that different types such as fluoxetine (SSRI) and venlafaxine (SNRI) carried the greatest risk of sodium deficiency, while sertraline (SSRI) and duloxetine (SNRI) were associated with a lower risk.
The researchers therefore conclude that antidepressant medication such as SSRIs and SNRIs significantly increases the risk of sodium deficiency (hyponatremia), and that the risk is slightly higher with the use of SNRIs. Healthcare professionals should therefore be more focused on diagnosing sodium deficiencies in the various risk groups and prioritizing medications associated with fewer side effects.
One should also be aware that antidepressant medication affects a number of metabolic processes that can also deplete the body of other nutrients.

Other advice for the prevention and treatment of depression

There can be many causes of depression. In any case, a healthy diet is very important for mood. Stable blood sugar ensures that the brain and nervous system receive a constant supply of energy and nutrients so that nerve cells can perform their functions. There is strong evidence that chronic inflammation in the brain, particularly due to a lack of omega-3 and vitamin D, increases the risk of depression. You can read more about this in the following article.
The connection between depression and inflammation in the brain

References:

Yumeng LI et al. The risk of hyponatremia induced by SSRIs and SNRIs antidepressant: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Pharmacology and Toxicology. 2025