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Urination - excessive volume

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• Treatment

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.

Common Causes:

• Too much fluid intake, particularly fluids containing caffeine or alcohol
• Too much salt or glucose (if diabetic)
• Drug use, especially diuretics
• Diabetes (including diabetes insipidus )
• Psychogenic polydipsia , most common in women over age 30
• Renal failure
• Sickle cell anemia
• Radiographic tests that use a contrast media
  • Urine volume will increase for up to 24 hours following the dose

• Review Date: 6/13/2006
• Reviewed By: Neil D. Sherman, MD, Urologist, Essex County, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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