Does minimizing neuroleptic dosage influence hyponatremia?

Neuroleptic dosage was reduced by 10% every 2 weeks in five male hyponatremic polydipsic patients with schizophrenia. Mean dose fell from 1980 +/- 1289 to 631 +/- 135 chlorpromazine equivalents/day over a mean of 12.2 weeks until behavioral relapse occurred. During this time, serum sodium did not vary from baseline levels (132.9 +/- 4.9 mEq/1), suggesting that minimizing neuroleptic dose does not alter the severity of hyponatremia in these patients.