Peeing More Often? These 11 Medications Can Cause Frequent Bathroom Trips

Urination is a natural function that plays an important role in cleaning the blood and removing toxins from the body. Your fluid intake largely influences how often you need to go. And while certain health conditions can also make you pee more often, medications can be an unsuspecting culprit, too.

Some medications, such as diuretics, are supposed to make you pee more. They’re designed to remove excess fluid from the body. But others may increase urination as an unexpected side effect. Below, we cover 11 medications that can make you pee, why it tends to happen, and more.

1. Diuretics

Diuretics, sometimes called “water pills”, are the most well-known type of medication to make you pee more. These medications work in the kidneys to remove excess fluids from the body by peeing it out.

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Since diuretics have this effect, they can treat certain medical conditions. Removing extra fluid from the body can help with conditions such as heart failure, high blood pressure, and fluid buildup (edema). Diuretics are often prescribed for these conditions. 

There are several types of diuretics. Some examples include:

• Loop diuretics, such as furosemide (Lasix)

• Thiazide and thiazide-like diuretics, such as hydrochlorothiazide and chlorthalidone

• Potassium-sparing diuretics, such as spironolactone (Aldactone) and triamterene (Dyrenium)

Frequent urination is expected from diuretics. But it can still interfere with your quality of life, especially if you have to wake up at night to pee. In this case, taking your dose earlier in the day can help you avoid this interruption to your sleep.

2. Lithium

Lithium (Lithobid) is an oral medication that treats bipolar disorder. It affects chemicals in the brain that regulate your mood. Lithium also causes your kidneys to get rid of more water, which is why frequent urination is one of its most common side effects.

While taking lithium, it’s important to drink plenty of water. Dehydration can cause higher lithium levels, which can be dangerous. If you have concerns about increased urination while taking lithium, check with your prescriber. They can help you safely address your symptoms.

3. SGLT2 inhibitors like Jardiance

Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors treat conditions such as Type 2 diabetes, heart failure, and chronic kidney disease. Examples include Jardiance (empagliflozin), Farxiga (dapagliflozin), and Invokana (canagliflozin).

SGLT2 inhibitors can cause increased urination. That’s because they work in your kidneys to remove glucose (sugar) and sodium in your urine. And as your kidneys get rid of sodium, water usually goes along with it.

Increased urination from SGLT2 inhibitors seems more prominent when first starting treatment. But as your body gets used to the medication, you may notice this side effect subside over time.

4. SSRIs like Lexapro

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are a type of antidepressant. They treat health conditions such as depression and anxiety. Common SSRIs include escitalopram (Lexapro), sertraline (Zoloft), and fluoxetine (Prozac). These medications sometimes make you pee more often.

While it appears to be a less common side effect, there are small studies of men and women experiencing overactive bladder symptoms such as more frequent urination while taking SSRIs. Experts don’t know for sure why this happens in some people.

If you develop overactive bladder symptoms while taking an SSRI, let your prescriber know. This is also the case if you already have an overactive bladder and your symptoms worsen after starting an SSRI. They may suggest trying a different antidepressant that’s less likely to cause or worsen these symptoms.

5. Tricyclic antidepressants

Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) are another type of antidepressant that can also make you need to pee more often. Examples of TCAs include amitriptyline and nortriptyline (Pamelor). They treat similar types of health conditions as SSRIs. 

TCAs can cause urine retention in the bladder. This means it can be harder to get all the urine out when you pee. In this case, you may feel like you need to pee more often. If you develop these symptoms, contact your care team. They might recommend a lower dose or switching to a different medication.

6. Antihistamines

Antihistamines are commonly used to treat allergies. They can also help with trouble sleeping and nausea. You’re probably familiar with over-the-counter (OTC) antihistamines like diphenhydramine (Benadryl), cetirizine (Zyrtec), and loratadine (Claritin). 

Similar to TCAs, antihistamines can cause urine retention. This might cause you to need to pee more often, or could even cause urine to leak unexpectedly (urinary incontinence). Your care team can help address these symptoms. They may have you switch to a different type of medication if they don't subside or go away.

7. Calcium channel blockers

Calcium channel blockers (CCBs) help treat high blood pressure and other heart-related conditions. Medications in this class include amlodipine (Norvasc), felodipine ER, and diltiazem (Cardizem). Making you pee more is a known potential side effect of CCBs.

CCBs can cause increased urination because of their effects on the bladder. They can interfere with how your bladder empties, fills, and contracts. If you have benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), you may be more sensitive to this effect. But keep in mind that anyone taking a CCB medication can experience increased urination.

If these symptoms become bothersome, talk with your prescriber. They might recommend an alternative medication or a lower dose to see if that helps.

8. Alpha blockers

Alpha blockers are used to treat high blood pressure and BPH. They generally lower blood pressure by relaxing blood vessels. And they increase urine flow by relaxing muscles in the bladder and prostate. Examples of alpha blockers include tamsulosin (Flomax), alfuzosin (Uroxatral), and doxazosin (Cardura). 

Alpha blockers can improve urine flow and lessen urinary symptoms of BPH. In this case, they can make it easier to urinate and help you empty your bladder more completely. So increased urination can be a sign that the medication is working, especially if you had difficulty peeing before.

But if you’re taking an alpha blocker for high blood pressure, you may not be expecting this side effect. Tell your care team if increased urination after starting an alpha blocker becomes bothersome.

9. Clonidine

Clonidine is a blood pressure medication. But it’s not a first-choice treatment option. It’s generally reserved for after you’ve tried other medications. Some people taking clonidine report urinary symptoms, such as urinary retention and frequent urination at night.

After starting clonidine, changes in how often or how much you pee may go back to normal over time. But you should talk to your care team if it becomes a problem or concerning to you.

10. Benzodiazepines

Benzodiazepines (BZDs) are medications that can treat health conditions such as anxiety and seizures. Examples of BZDs include alprazolam (Xanax), lorazepam (Ativan), and diazepam (Valium). BZDs can cause problems with peeing too often, especially in older adults. 

If you experience this side effect, talk to your prescriber or pharmacist.

11. OTC products containing caffeine and pamabrom

Some OTC products can make you pee more often. They typically contain either caffeine or pamabrom, which have diuretic effects.

In some cases, increased urination is the intended effect of the product. One example is the Diurex line of OTC diuretics for bloating and water retention from menstruation, which contain caffeine or pamabrom. Pamprin is a combination OTC product that contains pamabrom for menstrual symptoms as well.

Good to know: Be sure to carefully read the OTC label of products you’re thinking of purchasing. If you’re trying to avoid urinating more, it’s a good idea to stay away from products that contain caffeine or pamabrom.

When should you contact your prescriber about increased urination from medications?

As mentioned above, increased urination is an expected effect of several medications, including diuretics. In this case, your healthcare team likely gave you a heads up. But if this effect starts interfering with your daily life, such as waking you up at night, let them know.

In other cases, frequent bathroom trips may be a less common and potentially bothersome side effect. If this becomes an issue, contact your prescriber. They may be able to give you management tips, adjust your dose, or switch you to a different medication.

There are other medications that can cause increased urination besides those listed above. Reach out to your healthcare team if you have any questions or concerns about medication side effects. 

Keep in mind: Persistent increased urination can raise the risk of becoming dehydrated. Feeling thirsty, muscle cramps, and headache are all possible symptoms of dehydration. You may be severely dehydrated if you develop a fast heartbeat, heavy breathing, and confusion. This situation may require immediate medical care.

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Written by:

Austin Ulrich, PharmD, BCACP

Austin Ulrich, PharmD, BCACP, is a board-certified ambulatory care clinical pharmacist. In his early career, he provided direct patient care in a variety of settings, including hospital and community pharmacies, and in a primary care clinic as a clinical pharmacist.

Edited by:

Alyssa Billingsley, PharmD

Alyssa Billingsley, PharmD, is the director of pharmacy content for GoodRx. She has over a decade of experience as a pharmacist and has worked in clinical, academic, and administrative roles.

Reviewed by:

Joshua Murdock, PharmD, BCBBS

Joshua Murdock, PharmD, BCBBS, is a licensed pharmacist in Arizona, Colorado, and Rhode Island. He has worked in the pharmacy industry for more than 10 years and currently serves as a pharmacy editor for GoodRx.

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