Definition

This symptom is afrequent need to urinate at night.

Alternative Names

Nocturia; Nycturia

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.

Causes

• Drinking too much fluid before bedtime -- particularly coffee, caffeinated beverages, or alcohol
• Benign prostatic hyperplasia
• Diabetes
• Chronic or recurrent urinary tract infection
• Chronic renal failure
• Congestive heart failure
• Cystitis (acute urinary tract infection)
• Drugs such as diuretics, cardiac glycosides, demeclocycline, lithium, methoxyflurane, phenytoin, propoxyphene, and excessive vitamin D

Review Date: 2/14/2004
Reviewed By: Scott M. Gilbert, M.D., Department of Urology, Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.