Medications That Cause Frequent Urination

Frequent urination means peeing more often than normal. If a person notices that their urine output or the urge to go has increased after beginning treatment on a new medication, the cause of the frequent urination could be that drug. Inform a doctor of any changes, and be aware of some of the drugs that cause this side effect, as well as the purpose of these drugs. There are several types of medications that can cause frequent urination.

Lyrica

Lyrica is a drug that may cause frequent urination. This is a common side effect of Lyrica, which is used to treat fibromyalgia pain, among other conditions.

Thiazides

Thiazides are also medications that can cause frequent urination. They are diuretics, or water pills, that are sometimes used to help treat high blood pressure. These drugs work by stopping water, sodium and potassium from reabsorbing into the body.

Potassium-Sparing Diuretics

Potassium-sparing diuretics also create more urine output. Sometimes used along with thiazides, potassium-sparing diuretics will not hamper the potassium level in the body. Potassium-sparing diuretics will, however, still prevent water and salt from reabsorbing into the body, and they are mild diuretics. Potassium-sparing diuretics may also be used along with loop diuretics.

Loop Diuretics

Loop diuretics are strong medications that can cause frequent urination. They work quickly and thus may be used in an emergency situation in order to release fluid, such as fluid that accumulates on the lungs. If a patient cannot use thiazides and does not have properly functioning kidneys, loop diuretics may be prescribed instead. Loop diuretics can also cause the body to be too low in potassium.

Osmotic Diuretics

Osmotic diuretics are not often used. When they are prescribed, however, osmotic diuretics help to stop the body from reabsorbing salt and water, and can cause frequent bathroom trips. Osmotic diuretics also help control how urine moves through the kidneys after an injury or surgery.

Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors

Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, such as acetazolamide, are medications that can cause frequent urination. Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors only work for a minimal time period. These medications stop the enzyme carbonic anhydrase from changing the bicarbonate ion level in the blood. They help treat fluid retention, congestive heart failure, epilepsy, premenstrual tension, pre-eclamptic toxemia, and some glaucoma.

Other Medications & Interactions

There are additional medications that cause frequent urination. Different drugs may cause different effects in different people, but frequent urination is a potential side effect to some drugs. Some other medications that cause frequent urination include metoclopramide, estazolam and baclofen.

Some drug interactions can cause frequent urination. A drug interaction occurs when two drugs, taken together, produce an effect that neither causes when taken alone.

References

• CureResearch
• eMedicineHealth
• Pfizer

Resources

• AARP Symptom Checker