Urination - excessive volume

Definition

Excessive volume of urination means that you release abnormally large amounts of urine each day. The medical term for this condition is polyuria. 

Alternative Names

Polyuria

Considerations

An excessive volume of urination for an adult would be at least 2.5 liters of urine per day.

Polyuria is a fairly common symptom, which is often noticed when you have to get up to use the bathroom at night.

Causes

  • Drinking a large amount of fluids, particularly those containing caffeine or alcohol
  • Too much salt or glucose (if you have diabetes)
  • Certain medications, especially diuretics
  • Diabetes (including diabetes insipidus)
  • Psychogenic polydipsia, most common in women over age 30
  • Kidney failure
  • Sickle cell anemia
  • Imaging tests that involve injecting a special dye (contrast media) into your vein -- the amount of urine you produce will increase for up to 24 hours afterwards

Home Care

You should keep track of the folllowing every day:

  • How much you drink
  • How often you urinate and how much urine you produce each time
  • How much you weigh (use the same scale every day)

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Call your doctor if you have excessive urination over several days, and it is not explained by medications or increase in fluids.

What to Expect at Your Office Visit

Your health care provider will perform a physical exam and ask you questions about your medical history and symptoms, including:

  • Time pattern
    • How long has you noticed this problem?
    • Do you produce the same amount of urine every day?
    • What time of day does the problem seem worse?
  • Quality
    • What color is the urine?
    • Do you have blood in your urine?
    • How many times each day do you urinate? What about at night?
    • Any problems controlling urine?
  • Aggravating factors
    • What makes the problem worse?
    • Does drinking large volumes of fluid make you produce more urine?
  • Relieving factors
    • Does anything help relieve the problem?
    • Does restricting fluid intake reduce the urine volume?
  • Other
    • What other symptoms do you have?
      • Do you have any pain or burning when urinating?
      • Do you have back or abdominal pain?
      • Have you had a fever?
      • Is bed wetting a problem?
    • What medications do you take?
    • Do you have a family history of diabetes or kidney problems?
    • Have you had a previous urinary tract infection?
  • Dietary factors
    • How much do you drink every day?
    • How much caffeine do you have each day?
    • How much alcohol do you drink?
    • How much salt do you use each day?

Tests that may be done include:


Review Date: 1/24/2008
Reviewed By: Marc A. Greenstein, D.O., F.A.C.O.S. Urologist, Somerset Medical Center in Somerville, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997- A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.
adam.com

Disclaimer: The information contained in this website, and its associated websites, is provided as a benefit to the local community, and the Internet community in general; it does not constitute medical advice. We try to provide quality information, but we make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to this website and its associated sites. As medical advice must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each patient and healthcare is constantly changing, nothing provided herein should be used as a substitute for the advice of a competent physician. Furthermore, in providing this service, Adventist HealthCare does not condone or support all of the content covered in this site. As an Adventist health care organization, Adventist HealthCare acts in accordance with the ethical and religious directives for Adventist health care services.

Adventist HealthCare · 301-315-3030 · 1801 Research BLVD, Suite 400, Rockville, MD 20850

Submit an Online Information Request