Beer potomania: Atypical cause of severe hyponatremia in older alcoholics

Abstract

The aim of this retrospective study was to describe the epidemiology and clinical features of beer potomania in older alcoholics presenting to the emergency department (ED) of two university-affiliated hospitals. Clinical features associated with potomania included weakness (11 patients), altered mental status (8), gait disturbance (7), headache (6), peripheral edema (6), and seizures (3). A consistent finding was a recent personal history of binge drinking and/or history of illness (vomiting, diarrhea) that predisposed the patient to a rapid drop in serum sodium levels.