People who have nocturia that is caused by lifestyle choices may find that the symptoms go away as they change their habits. If the symptoms persist, however, it may be time to see a doctor to make sure it is not caused by an underlying medical condition.
Medicine for nocturia
A low-dose version of a medicine called desmopressin may be used to treat nocturia, which is the frequent need to get up during the night to urinate, by helping to reduce the amount of urine produced by the kidneys.
Caffeine and alcohol after dinner can also lead to this problem. Other common causes of urination at night include: Infection of the bladder or urinary tract. Drinking a lot of alcohol, caffeine, or other fluids before bedtime.
Nocturia is significantly associated with testosterone deficiency, lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), and sleep disorders. The development of LUTS is commonly associated with testosterone deficiency in elderly men, and recent studies have suggested that testosterone has an ameliorative effect on nocturia.
When should I see my healthcare provider? Nocturia is treatable — it's not a condition you need to live with. Contact your healthcare provider if you find yourself waking up to pee more than once or twice per night. It may be a sign of something else going on and the frequent wake-ups may leave you feeling exhausted.
There are three main types of nocturia: 1) nocturnal polyuria (or overproduction); 2) bladder storage problems; and 3) mixed nocturia. People with nocturnal overproduction (polyuria) make excessive urine during sleep and less during the day.
Left untreated, nocturia significantly reduces daytime functioning, mood, and quality of life, and increases the risk of falls, injuries, and mortality. Multiple studies indicate that waking just twice at night to void is bothersome and has clinically significant effects.
Nocturia can arise early in chronic kidney disease (CKD). Evidence-based recommendations can facilitate management outside nephrology clinics.
Nocturia is one of the many symptoms of an overactive bladder (OAB). In women who have overactive bladder, two-thirds nocturia is the worst part of the problem. This condition occurs more frequently with age. While we all continue to make urine at night, but women with OAB make more urine at night.
Red Flag/Urgently refer patients if:
chronic retention which may present as night time enuresis / over flow incontinence and/ or painless palpable bladder needs renal function checking and refer urgently.
The aging process, behavioural habits and a multitude of pathological conditions are the main contributors to the development of nocturia in the elderly. Age-related physiological changes can alter the regular pattern of urine excretion and lead to increased nocturnal frequency of voiding.
Women can start to experience nocturia as early as age 30. Beginning in their 50s and 60s, men and women experience nocturia at the same rate, regardless of their sex. About 1 in 3 people experience nocturia in their lifetime, and it is normal to wake up at some point during the night to urinate.
Sleep interruption has numerous negative consequences for those with nocturia, including daytime fatigue, difficulty concentrating, mood alterations, and decreased workplace productivity 11.
What's normal and how many times is too frequent to urinate? Most people pee about seven to eight times per day, on average. If you feel the need to pee much more than that, or if you're getting up every hour or 30 minutes to go, you might be frequently urinating.
Sudden stress (pressure) on your bladder causes stress incontinence. Common causes include coughing, sneezing, laughing, lifting and physical activity. Younger and middle-aged women and people assigned female at birth (AFAB) near or experiencing menopause are most likely to have stress incontinence.
Nonpharmacologic measures can help, but by themselves usually do not solve the problem. Drug therapies for nocturia include desmopressin (DDAVP), antimuscarinic agents, alpha-blockers, and 5-alpha reductase inhibitors.
Nocturia refers to nighttime urination – people who have nocturia wake up frequently to use the bathroom. Though all incontinence is characterized by its disruption of daily life, nocturia is particularly impactful because it interrupts a key human function – sleep.