What is the recommended treatment for severe hyponatremia?

The recommended treatment for severe hyponatremia is the administration of 3% saline, which is a hypertonic solution. In cases of severe hyponatremia, particularly when the sodium level is less than 120 mEq/L or when the patient is experiencing symptoms such as confusion, seizures, or respiratory distress, it is crucial to correct the sodium levels carefully and effectively.

Administering hypertonic saline (3% saline) helps to increase the serum sodium concentration safely and promptly. However, it is essential to administer this solution at a careful rate, typically not exceeding 1 mEq/L per hour, to avoid complications such as osmotic demyelination syndrome that can occur with overly rapid correction of sodium levels. This specific rate of administration is vital to ensuring patient safety while effectively treating the severe condition.

Other treatment options, such as 1% saline, oral sodium tablets, or water supplements, are not suitable for managing severe hyponatremia. For instance, 1% saline is not hypertonic enough to effectively raise sodium levels, while oral tablets would not provide a rapid enough response in an acute setting. Water supplements would further exacerbate hyponatremia and are contraindicated in this condition