Are You Urinating a Lot at Night? Here’s Why—and What You Can Do
Waking up more than once a night to urinate is called nocturia. It’s common as people get older, but frequent nighttime urination isn’t something you should automatically dismiss as “just aging.”
Common reasons
1. Drinking too much close to bedtime
Large amounts of fluid in the evening can increase nighttime trips to the bathroom. Caffeine and alcohol can also increase urination.
2. An enlarged prostate
In men, benign prostate enlargement can cause frequent urination, a weak stream, difficulty starting, or a feeling that the bladder hasn’t emptied completely.
3. Overactive bladder
An overactive bladder can cause sudden urges and frequent urination during both the day and night.
4. Diabetes or other conditions that increase urine production
Diabetes, kidney disease, heart failure and other conditions can contribute to nocturia.
5. Medications
Some medicines—including diuretics (“water pills”)—can increase urine production. Don’t change the timing or stop a prescribed medication without discussing it with your doctor or pharmacist.
What you can try
- Get most of your fluids earlier in the day rather than drinking large amounts shortly before bed.
- Limit coffee, tea, cola and alcohol in the evening.
- Empty your bladder immediately before going to sleep.
- If your ankles swell during the day, ask your clinician whether strategies such as elevating your legs earlier in the evening are appropriate.
- Keep a 2–3 day bladder diary recording what and when you drink, when you urinate, and how much you pass. This can help your healthcare professional identify the pattern.
Don’t deliberately restrict fluids enough to become dehydrated. The appropriate amount depends on your health and medical conditions
