What is "potomania"

n. An intense and persistent desire to drink excessive amounts of alcoholic beverages.

n. an intense persistent desire to drink alcoholic beverages to excess [syn: dipsomania, alcoholism]

Potomania, also known as beer potomania and beer drinkers hyponatremia, is a specific hypo-osmolality syndrome related to massive consumption of beer, which is poor in solutes and electrolytes. With little food or other sources of electrolytes, consumption of large amounts of beer or other dilute alcoholic drinks leads to electrolyte disturbances. The symptoms of potomania are similar to other causes of hyponatremia and include dizziness, muscular weakness, neurological impairment and seizures, all related to hyponatraemia and hypokalaemia. While the symptoms of potamania are similar to other causes of hyponatremia and acute water intoxication, it should be considered an independent clinical entity due to the often chronic nature of onset, pathophysiology, and presentation of symptoms.