Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentWhen to See Your Healthcare Provider
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
When to See Your Healthcare Provider
Polyuriaoccurs when your body produces too much urine, which is more than 3 liters of urine a day for adults.It refers specifically to the amount of urine excreted daily, not the frequency of bathroom trips.
This article explains polyuria symptoms and causes. It also discusses how polyuria is diagnosed and treated.
Related TermsPolyuria: Excessive output of urineNocturia: Waking up more than once a night to urinatePolydipsia: Excessive thirst
Related Terms
Polyuria: Excessive output of urineNocturia: Waking up more than once a night to urinatePolydipsia: Excessive thirst
Polyuria: Excessive output of urine
Nocturia: Waking up more than once a night to urinate
Polydipsia: Excessive thirst
SimpleImages/Getty Images
Polyuria Symptoms
Polyuria means “urinating too much.” In general, an adult voids up to 2.5 liters of urine daily. If the amount excreted is more than 3 liters, it’s considered abnormal.
Depending on the cause, there are other symptoms that can accompany polyuria. When the cause is either diabetes insipidus or diabetes mellitus, polyuria is usually coupled with excessive thirst (polydipsia).
Frequent urination, especially at night (nocturia), is often associated with polyuria, but it doesn’t have to be.
Polyuria is not usually described as being painful.Dysuriais painful urination, and it can be a sign of an underlying health issue.
Polyuria Causes
There are myriad causes of polyuria, ranging from drinking too much water to serious health complications likekidney failure. The following causes of polyuria are the most common.
Diabetes Mellitus
Diabetes mellitus leads to higher concentrations of salt, glucose, and other substances in the bloodstream. To compensate for the high concentration of these components, your body draws water out of other organs, including the brain.
Diabetes Insipidus
Diabetes insipidusis completely different from diabetes mellitus and doesn’t have anything to do with blood glucose levels. Instead, diabetes insipidus and polyuria have to do with arginine vasopressin (AVP), an antidiuretic hormone.
Diuretic Medications
Certain medications are designed to increase urination to treat conditions like congestive heart failure and high blood pressure. Those medications can lead to polyuria if the dosages are not correct.
Tell your healthcare provider if you’re experiencing frequent urination. Your provider will adjust the dosing of your medications as necessary to avoid unnecessary urination.
Lithium
Lithiumis a medication used to control mood disorders. It is almost entirely excreted from the body in urine and can have a profound effect on the kidneys in patients who take it regularly. Lithium can cause polyuria and polydipsia as a result of lithium-induced nephrogenic diabetes insipidus.
If lithium is discontinued early enough once the polyuria is noticed, the symptoms can be reversed without any long-term damage.
However, if polyuria is present and lithium is not discontinued, irreversible damage to the kidneys can cause permanent polyuria.
Other Medications
Diuretics and lithium are not the only medications that can cause polyuria. Others include:
Alcohol or Caffeine Intake
Both alcohol and caffeine have knowndiureticeffects. Drinking either one to excess is capable of triggering polyuria to the point of developing dehydration.Alcohol is a diuretic, even for people who drink it regularly. The diuretic effects of caffeine can decrease over time in people who regularly drink it.
Pregnancy
Polyuria in the second trimester can be a sign ofgestational diabetes. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are concerned about excessive urination during pregnancy.
Sickle Cell Anemia
Sickle cell anemiais an inherited blood disorder affecting hemoglobin in red blood cells. Hemoglobin is a protein that carries oxygen though your body. In sickle cell anemia, the red blood cells are deformed and take on a crescent or “sickle” shape and can block blood flow.
People with this inherited disorder can develop an overactive bladder. Symptoms of overactive bladder include not only frequent urination, but also nocturia, urgency, andurinary incontinence.
Kidney Failure
The kidneys are central to a healthy urinary system. They are responsible for filtering waste and extra water out of the blood to make urine.Kidney failurecan cause a range of symptoms, including changes in urine and urination.
Feeling that you have to pee more often, including at night, may indicate your kidneys are no longer working properly. You may also notice blood in your urine or foamy urine. Physical signs ofkidney diseasemay include puffiness around the eyes and swollen ankles and feet. You may also feel tired and have trouble sleeping.
High or Low Calcium Levels
High or low levels of calcium in urine may cause you to have to pee more often. Abnormal calcium levels may be a sign of kidney disease,kidney stones, bone disease,parathyroiddisorder, or other conditions.
Drinking Excessive Water
You may have to pee a lot simply because you’re drinking a lot of water.Your kidneys can detect this and will filter more water out of the blood as a result, creating more urine. Theurinary bladderwill fill up more quickly and will need to be emptied more often.
Polyuria Diagnosis
Polyuria is a symptom rather than a medical condition in its own right. There is no actual diagnosis of polyuria. However, the underlying cause of polyuria can be diagnosed once the symptom appears. The process of diagnosis for each cause is different. In every case, the physician will begin with determining the onset of polyuria and whether it came on suddenly or gradually over time.
Diabetes Mellitus vs. Diabetes Insipidus
If the onset of polyuria follows a significant neurological issue, such as traumatic brain injury or stroke, it could be a symptom of central diabetes insipidus.
Polyuria and polydipsia are both signs of diabetes mellitus as well as diabetes insipidus. Both conditions are significant and require further tests. The physician will measure the patient’s hemoglobin A1C, ablood testthat retroactively measures the average blood glucose levels over the previous two to three months.
The physician most likely will also order a urine glucose test to see if the body is excreting sugar in the urine, a sign of diabetes mellitus.
Diagnostic Tests
To figure out what’s causing polyuria, healthcare providers may order a range of tests. These tests can help rule out or confirm a suspected diagnosis underlying polyuria:
Polyuria Treatment
Some treatments for polyuria include giving a type of diuretic, which usually increases urine output because it improves the way urine is processed in the kidneys.
Also, talk to your healthcare provider if you’re concerned about how medications you’re taking may be affecting urination. Your provider may be able to adjust the dose or switch to a different medication.
Causes of Frequent Urination at Night
Summary
If you suspect that you are urinating too much (or too often), it’s time to contact a healthcare provider, especially if you are also always thirsty. The treatment for polyuria involves addressing the underlying cause. Early intervention with polyuria, as with any health condition, is key to managing and treating your health effectively.
Symptoms of Overactive Bladder
14 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Bhasin B, Velez JC.Evaluation of Polyuria: The Roles of Solute Loading and Water Diuresis.Am J Kidney Dis. 2016;67(3):507-11. doi:10.1053/j.ajkd.2015.10.021Oelke M, De wachter S, Drake MJ, et al.A practical approach to the management of nocturia.Int J Clin Pract. 2017;71(11). doi:10.1111/ijcp.13027MedlinePlus.Urination - painful.MedlinePlus.Diabetic hyperglycemic hyperosmolar syndrome.Christ-crain M.EJE Prize 2019 - New diagnostic approaches for patients with polyuria-polydipsia syndrome.Eur J Endocrinol. 2019; doi:10.1530/EJE-19-0163Merck Manual Professional Version.Polyuria.National Kidney Foundation.Lithium and chronic kidney disease.MedlinePlus.Urination - excessive amount.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.What is sickle cell disease?Anele UA, Morrison BF, Reid ME, Madden W, Foster S, Burnett AL.Overactive bladder in adults with sickle cell disease.Neurourol Urodyn. 2016;35(5):642-646. doi:10.1002/nau.22777National Kidney Foundation.10 signs you may have kidney disease.MedlinePlus.Calcium in urine test.MedlinePlus.Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) test.Azab AN, Shnaider A, Osher Y, Wang D, Bersudsky Y, Belmaker RH.Lithium nephrotoxicity.Int J Bipolar Disord. 2015;3(1):28. doi:10.1186/s40345-015-0028-yAdditional ReadingAfra K, James MT. Hyponatremia and polyuria in an older woman.CMAJ. 2013;185(12):1055–1058. doi:10.1503/cmaj.121757Bedford JJ, Weggery S, Ellis G, et al. Lithium-induced nephrogenic diabetes insipidus: renal effects of amiloride.Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2008;3(5):1324–1331. doi:10.2215/CJN.01640408Brown RJ, Epling BP, Staff I, Fortunato G, Grady JJ, McCullough LD. Polyuria and cerebral vasospasm after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.BMC Neurol. 2015;15:201. doi:10.1186/s12883-015-0446-6Kalra S, Zargar AH, Jain SM, et al. Diabetes insipidus: The other diabetes.Indian J Endocrinol Metab. 2016;20(1):9–21. doi:10.4103/2230-8210.172273Oelke M, De Wachter S, Drake MJ, et al. A practical approach to the management of nocturia.Int J Clin Pract. 2017;71(11):e13027. doi:10.1111/ijcp.13027
14 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Bhasin B, Velez JC.Evaluation of Polyuria: The Roles of Solute Loading and Water Diuresis.Am J Kidney Dis. 2016;67(3):507-11. doi:10.1053/j.ajkd.2015.10.021Oelke M, De wachter S, Drake MJ, et al.A practical approach to the management of nocturia.Int J Clin Pract. 2017;71(11). doi:10.1111/ijcp.13027MedlinePlus.Urination - painful.MedlinePlus.Diabetic hyperglycemic hyperosmolar syndrome.Christ-crain M.EJE Prize 2019 - New diagnostic approaches for patients with polyuria-polydipsia syndrome.Eur J Endocrinol. 2019; doi:10.1530/EJE-19-0163Merck Manual Professional Version.Polyuria.National Kidney Foundation.Lithium and chronic kidney disease.MedlinePlus.Urination - excessive amount.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.What is sickle cell disease?Anele UA, Morrison BF, Reid ME, Madden W, Foster S, Burnett AL.Overactive bladder in adults with sickle cell disease.Neurourol Urodyn. 2016;35(5):642-646. doi:10.1002/nau.22777National Kidney Foundation.10 signs you may have kidney disease.MedlinePlus.Calcium in urine test.MedlinePlus.Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) test.Azab AN, Shnaider A, Osher Y, Wang D, Bersudsky Y, Belmaker RH.Lithium nephrotoxicity.Int J Bipolar Disord. 2015;3(1):28. doi:10.1186/s40345-015-0028-yAdditional ReadingAfra K, James MT. Hyponatremia and polyuria in an older woman.CMAJ. 2013;185(12):1055–1058. doi:10.1503/cmaj.121757Bedford JJ, Weggery S, Ellis G, et al. Lithium-induced nephrogenic diabetes insipidus: renal effects of amiloride.Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2008;3(5):1324–1331. doi:10.2215/CJN.01640408Brown RJ, Epling BP, Staff I, Fortunato G, Grady JJ, McCullough LD. Polyuria and cerebral vasospasm after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.BMC Neurol. 2015;15:201. doi:10.1186/s12883-015-0446-6Kalra S, Zargar AH, Jain SM, et al. Diabetes insipidus: The other diabetes.Indian J Endocrinol Metab. 2016;20(1):9–21. doi:10.4103/2230-8210.172273Oelke M, De Wachter S, Drake MJ, et al. A practical approach to the management of nocturia.Int J Clin Pract. 2017;71(11):e13027. doi:10.1111/ijcp.13027
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Bhasin B, Velez JC.Evaluation of Polyuria: The Roles of Solute Loading and Water Diuresis.Am J Kidney Dis. 2016;67(3):507-11. doi:10.1053/j.ajkd.2015.10.021Oelke M, De wachter S, Drake MJ, et al.A practical approach to the management of nocturia.Int J Clin Pract. 2017;71(11). doi:10.1111/ijcp.13027MedlinePlus.Urination - painful.MedlinePlus.Diabetic hyperglycemic hyperosmolar syndrome.Christ-crain M.EJE Prize 2019 - New diagnostic approaches for patients with polyuria-polydipsia syndrome.Eur J Endocrinol. 2019; doi:10.1530/EJE-19-0163Merck Manual Professional Version.Polyuria.National Kidney Foundation.Lithium and chronic kidney disease.MedlinePlus.Urination - excessive amount.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.What is sickle cell disease?Anele UA, Morrison BF, Reid ME, Madden W, Foster S, Burnett AL.Overactive bladder in adults with sickle cell disease.Neurourol Urodyn. 2016;35(5):642-646. doi:10.1002/nau.22777National Kidney Foundation.10 signs you may have kidney disease.MedlinePlus.Calcium in urine test.MedlinePlus.Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) test.Azab AN, Shnaider A, Osher Y, Wang D, Bersudsky Y, Belmaker RH.Lithium nephrotoxicity.Int J Bipolar Disord. 2015;3(1):28. doi:10.1186/s40345-015-0028-y
Bhasin B, Velez JC.Evaluation of Polyuria: The Roles of Solute Loading and Water Diuresis.Am J Kidney Dis. 2016;67(3):507-11. doi:10.1053/j.ajkd.2015.10.021
Oelke M, De wachter S, Drake MJ, et al.A practical approach to the management of nocturia.Int J Clin Pract. 2017;71(11). doi:10.1111/ijcp.13027
MedlinePlus.Urination - painful.
MedlinePlus.Diabetic hyperglycemic hyperosmolar syndrome.
Christ-crain M.EJE Prize 2019 - New diagnostic approaches for patients with polyuria-polydipsia syndrome.Eur J Endocrinol. 2019; doi:10.1530/EJE-19-0163
Merck Manual Professional Version.Polyuria.
National Kidney Foundation.Lithium and chronic kidney disease.
MedlinePlus.Urination - excessive amount.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.What is sickle cell disease?
Anele UA, Morrison BF, Reid ME, Madden W, Foster S, Burnett AL.Overactive bladder in adults with sickle cell disease.Neurourol Urodyn. 2016;35(5):642-646. doi:10.1002/nau.22777
National Kidney Foundation.10 signs you may have kidney disease.
MedlinePlus.Calcium in urine test.
MedlinePlus.Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) test.
Azab AN, Shnaider A, Osher Y, Wang D, Bersudsky Y, Belmaker RH.Lithium nephrotoxicity.Int J Bipolar Disord. 2015;3(1):28. doi:10.1186/s40345-015-0028-y
Afra K, James MT. Hyponatremia and polyuria in an older woman.CMAJ. 2013;185(12):1055–1058. doi:10.1503/cmaj.121757Bedford JJ, Weggery S, Ellis G, et al. Lithium-induced nephrogenic diabetes insipidus: renal effects of amiloride.Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2008;3(5):1324–1331. doi:10.2215/CJN.01640408Brown RJ, Epling BP, Staff I, Fortunato G, Grady JJ, McCullough LD. Polyuria and cerebral vasospasm after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.BMC Neurol. 2015;15:201. doi:10.1186/s12883-015-0446-6Kalra S, Zargar AH, Jain SM, et al. Diabetes insipidus: The other diabetes.Indian J Endocrinol Metab. 2016;20(1):9–21. doi:10.4103/2230-8210.172273Oelke M, De Wachter S, Drake MJ, et al. A practical approach to the management of nocturia.Int J Clin Pract. 2017;71(11):e13027. doi:10.1111/ijcp.13027
Afra K, James MT. Hyponatremia and polyuria in an older woman.CMAJ. 2013;185(12):1055–1058. doi:10.1503/cmaj.121757
Bedford JJ, Weggery S, Ellis G, et al. Lithium-induced nephrogenic diabetes insipidus: renal effects of amiloride.Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2008;3(5):1324–1331. doi:10.2215/CJN.01640408
Brown RJ, Epling BP, Staff I, Fortunato G, Grady JJ, McCullough LD. Polyuria and cerebral vasospasm after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.BMC Neurol. 2015;15:201. doi:10.1186/s12883-015-0446-6
Kalra S, Zargar AH, Jain SM, et al. Diabetes insipidus: The other diabetes.Indian J Endocrinol Metab. 2016;20(1):9–21. doi:10.4103/2230-8210.172273
Oelke M, De Wachter S, Drake MJ, et al. A practical approach to the management of nocturia.Int J Clin Pract. 2017;71(11):e13027. doi:10.1111/ijcp.13027
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