Ever heard of waterintoxication?

[swedishnurse]

This week a man was admitted to the ward where I work with waterintoxication. When I heard of this I was like what? Apparently he suffered from some kind of psychiatric disorder and he wouldn´t stop drinking water. His electrolytes were waay low.. Ever heard of this?

[Jo Dirt]

We have a patient at the nursinng home in her 60's who was an alcoholic when she lived on the outside. In the facility the only thing she could get her fill on was water so she would literally become drunk from water. Drank so much it nearly killed her. Now she is on water restrictions and they still catch her drinking from other patients' water pitchers, even the toilet.

Pitiful.

[teeituptom, BSN, RN]

Used to see water Intox alot in the old days, at psych hospitals in peculiar. See it with pts coming in to ER who are athletic and drink too much water.

[Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN]

Water intoxication = dilutional hyponatremia.

Not likely to occur from excessive admin of NS, but 1/2 NS will do it. Also, excessive po fluid intake and SIADH (Syndrome of Inappropriate Anti-diuretic Hormone) can cause it.