Drinking lots of water but not urinating much – Why?

When one drinks lots of water, they expect to see a lot of urine when they go to the bathroom to pee. Sometimes this is not the case. You might drink lots of water but your urine output is low. So, you start to wonder if there is something wrong.

You begin to ask yourself whether you drank enough water, or maybe you might be sick or suffering from some kind of infection. There are many reasons as to why you are not urinating much even though you drink lots of water. 

Drinking lots of water but not urinating much does happen more often than you think. The medical term used to describe low urine output is Oliguria. 

The amount of urine passed is not proportional to the water consumed, obstruction in your urinary tract, dehydration, illness, burns or injuries, kidney disease, etc are some of the reasons why you do not urinate much after drinking lots of water. 

This article will go further to explain why you do not urinate much after drinking lots of water, diagnosis, and the treatment options that can be used to rectify this issue. 

These are some of the things we will be discussing

• What is low urine output
• Causes of low urine output (not urinating much)
• Diagnosis 
• Treatment 
• Prevention

What is low urine output?

Also known as Oliguria, low urine output is when urine output is less than 13.5 fluid ounces (400ml) of urine each day. It can be an indicator of an underlying health condition in the body. Low urine output is a symptom usually experienced by people who are sick and have lost too many fluids. It also occurs in people who have urinary tract obstruction.

What causes low urine output (not urinating much)

When one takes in a lot of water, he or she expects to visit the washroom on several occasions. They are also expecting to urinate a lot. However, you can end up going to the bathroom and not urinating much. When this happens, it is difficult to determine the exact cause or reason as to why you are not producing a lot of urine. 

Here are some of the causes of not urinating much after drinking lots of water.

Urinary tract obstruction

A blockage of your urinary tract can be a reason why you do not urinate much after drinking lots of water. Obstruction of the urinary tract occurs when the urine cannot leave the kidney. This can end up negatively affecting one or both your kidneys leading to a decrease in urine output. A blockage can also cause the following symptoms (Body aches, vomiting, nausea, fever, and swelling) depending on how fast the blockage occurs.

Burns and serious injuries

Burns can lead to dehydration making you urinate less. An anaphylactic shock from a bad allergy and septic shock after an infection or surgery can result in you urinating less even after drinking lots of water.

Kidney disease 

Another reason why you drink lots of water and do not urinate much is kidney disease. Oliguria can cause your kidneys to fail. Your kidney produces more or less urine depending on what your body needs to keep things in check. If your kidneys are not able to produce more urine after you have taken in lots of water, then this can be an indicator that your kidneys are not working the way they should be. 

Infection 

Infections are also another cause of low urine output. It is a less common cause however, infections can cause your body to go into shock which reduces blood flow to your organs. 

Medications

Some medications you take can also result in you urinating less. Medications that are known to cause low urine output include; Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), Gentamicin (an antibiotic), ACE antagonists (drugs for blood pressure). Discuss with a doctor if you get to know that your medications are making you urinate less. Changes or adjustments to your current medication can be made by the doctor. 

Dehydration

The most common cause of low urine output is dehydration. Dehydration occurs when your body loses more fluid than you drink. When this happens, your kidneys try as much as possible to retain fluids. Symptoms of dehydration include; diarrhea, vomiting, and excessive sweating. 

If you are interested in knowing how soon after drinking water that you should be urinating, check this previous article out “How soon after drinking water should I be urinating“

Diagnosis of low urine output

There are ways to diagnose low urine output. Some of these diagnostic methods include;

Urinalysis

This is a test on urine carried out to detect a urinary tract infection or kidney malfunction. 

Blood test

To check your body’s blood count, kidney function, and electrolytes. 

Cystoscopy 

A procedure that involves the use of a small camera to have a look at the inside of your bladder. This procedure is done by a urologist

Ultrasound or computer tomography of the abdomen

This test is done to check for any obstruction or blockage such as a dilated kidney (hydronephrosis).

Treatment of low urine output 

The type of treatment for low urine is dependent on the cause. For example, if dehydration is the cause of you not urinating much after drinking lots of water, the treatment for that will be different from the cause of kidney failure or kidney problems, medications affecting low urine output, and so on.

In the case of dehydration, a recommendation will be given by your doctor. You will be expected to drink more fluids and electrolytes. Where there are serious cases of dehydration, intravenous fluids can be used to provide you with more fluids.

If the problem is caused by certain medications you take, your doctor can suggest a lower dose or a different medication entirely.

Where kidney problems or failure is the cause of you urinating less after drinking plenty of water, then you might need to see a specialist. If the kidney problem is severe, you might need a kidney transplant or dialysis (a process that extracts extra water and toxins from your blood since your kidney is unable to perform that task).

How to prevent low urine output

Low urine output can be avoided or prevented when you take in more water. Coconut water can also be used as a substitute for regular water.

Intake of fruits and fruit juices can also help you prevent low urine output. 

You can also check out a previous article we published that talks about possible reasons why you feel like urinating but are not able to urinate.