OBJECTIVE: To provide an outline of the drugs and nutritional therapy that could 
contribute to the development of hypophosphatemia in the critically ill patient.
DATA SOURCES: Computerized abstracting services, references to primary 
literature articles, and review publications were screened for references to 
drug- or nutrition-related hypophosphatemia.
STUDY SELECTION: Studies primarily describing responses in adults were selected. 
Animal research is described that illustrates findings in humans.
DATA EXTRACTION: Information was abstracted from the findings of individual case 
reports and clinical trials.
DATA SYNTHESIS: Data are organized by mechanism of possible effect on serum 
phosphate concentration. No reference is made to drugs that do not have an 
effect on phosphate metabolism.
CONCLUSIONS: Hypophosphatemia can have significant effects that would hinder 
recovery of the critically ill patient. Antacids, catecholamines, 
beta-adrenergic agonists, sodium bicarbonate, and acetazolamide are commonly 
used therapeutic agents that could contribute significantly to the development 
of hypophosphatemia. Provision of nutrition to the chronically malnourished 
individual or chronic administration of phosphate-depleted parenteral nutrition 
could produce symptoms associated with hypophosphatemia. Other drugs could have 
a mild effect on lowering serum phosphate concentrations, but would be unlikely 
to produce symptoms unless combined with other etiologies of hypophosphatemia.