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Urination - excessive at night

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Definition:

Excessive urination at night is a condition in which you wake up several times during the night to urinate. Waking up several times a night to urinate is called nocturia.

Alternative Names:

Nocturia

Considerations:

Normally, urine decreases in amount and become more concentrated at night. That means, most people can sleep 6 to 8 hours without having to urinate.

But, persons with nocturia get up more than once during the night to urinate. Because of this, those who have excessive urination at night often have disrupted sleep cycles.

Common Causes:

• Benign prostatic hyperplasia
• Certain drugs including diuretics, cardiac glycosides, demeclocycline, lithium, methoxyflurane, phenytoin, propoxyphene, and excessive vitamin D
• Chronic or recurrent urinary tract infection
• Chronic renal failure
• Congestive heart failure
• Cystitis
• Diabetes
• Drinking too much fluid before bedtime, particularly coffee, caffeinated beverages, or alcohol
• Obstructive sleep apnea and other sleeping disorders

References:

Asplund R. Nocturia, nocturnal polyuria, and sleep quality in the elderly. J Psychosom Res . 2004 May;56(5):517-25.

• Review Date: 6/5/2007
• Reviewed By: Marc Greenstein, DO, Urologist, North Jersey Center for Urologic Care, Denville, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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