Urination, excessive at night

Alternative names:

nocturia; nycturia

Definition:

A frequent need to urinate at night.

Considerations:

It is normal for urine to decrease in amount and become more concentrated at night. Most people can sleep 6 to 8 hours without having to urinate.

Middle aged or older men may normally have to urinate once in the early morning hours.

With nocturia, it is common to awaken one or more times during the night to urinate.

Common causes:

• too much fluid intake, particularly coffee, caffeinated beverages or alcohol, before bedtime
• benign prostatic hyperplasia
• diabetes mellitus
• chronic or recurrent urinary tract infection
• chronic renal failure
• congestive heart failure
• cystitis, acute (uncomplicated UTI)
• drugs such as diuretics, cardiac glycosides, demeclocycline, lithium, methoxyflurane, phenytoin, propoxyphene, and excessive vitamin D

Note: There may be other causes of nocturia. This list is not all inclusive, and the causes are not presented in order of likelihood. The causes of this symptom can include unlikely diseases and medications. Furthermore, the causes may vary based on age and gender of the affected person, as well as on the specific characteristics of the symptom such as time course, aggravating factors, relieving factors, and associated complaints. Use the Symptom Analysis option to explore the possible explanations for nocturia, occurring alone or in combination with other problems.