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What medications cause you to urinate frequently?

Medically reviewed by Sally Chao, MD. Last updated on Feb 21, 2024.

Official answer

by Drugs.com

Below is a list of medications that can cause you to urinate more frequently than usual.

Diuretics are commonly prescribed to treat high blood pressure, heart failure and kidney problems. Diuretics increase excretion of salt and fluid from the body. This causes increased urination. Some diuretics, which may also be used in combination formulas, include:

Alpha blockers treat high blood pressure and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). They cause increased urination and include:

Selective alpha blockers for BPH (not commonly prescribed for high blood pressure) include:

Calcium channel blockers treat high blood pressure. They can decrease bladder contraction, which leads to increased urination. Examples, alone or in combination, include:

Clonidine is used to treat high blood pressure. It can cause urinary retention and increased need to urinate at nighttime.

Benzodiazepines are prescribed to treat anxiety and insomnia. Benzodiazepines affect gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) levels in the central nervous system. They can cause incontinence and urinary retention. Some benzodiazepines that can cause increased urination include:

Antidepressants treat depression and other conditions. Some that may cause increased urination include:

Lithium is a mood stabilizer. It can cause increased amounts of urine.

Sodium glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors treat type 2 diabetes. Some that may cause you to urinate more frequently include:

References
  1. U.S. National Library of Medicine DailyMed. Hydrochlorothiazide capsule, gelatin coated. October 18, 2021. Available at: https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/getFile.cfm?setid=a3eb7294-f913-434b-896c-da028bfebc73&type=pdf. [Accessed February 21, 2022].
  2. U.S. National Library of Medicine DailyMed. Aldactone-spironolactone, film coated. November 12, 2021. Available at: https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/getFile.cfm?setid=0fed2822-3a03-4b64-9857-c682fcd462bc&type=pdf. [Accessed February 21, 2022].
  3. U.S. National Library of Medicine DailyMed. Chlorthalidone tablets. December 21, 2021. Available at: https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/getFile.cfm?setid=36ef8d83-45f2-4873-b7cb-1be096d14d18&type=pdf. [Accessed February 21, 2022].
  4. U.S. National Library of Medicine DailyMed. Furosemide tablet. August 28, 2012. Available at: https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/getFile.cfm?setid=79d9aef8-cfb9-4f6e-ac15-f830d7ea2324&type=pdf. [Accessed February 21, 2022].
  5. U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Bumex brand of bumetanide tablets. August 2018. Available at: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2018/018225s028lbl.pdf. [Accessed February 21, 2022].
  6. U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Cardura (doxazosin) tablets, for oral use. 2021. Available at: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2021/019668Orig1s032lbl.pdf. [Accessed February 22, 2022].
  7. Salman M, Khan AH, Syed Sulaiman SA, Khan JH, Hussain K, Shehzadi N. Effect of Calcium Channel Blockers on Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms: A Systematic Review. Biomed Res Int. 2017;2017:4269875. https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/4269875.
  8. U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Catapres TTS. (clonidine). October 2011. Available at: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2012/018891s028lbl.pdf. [Accessed February 22, 2022].
  9. U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Valium brand of diazepam tablets. February 2021. Available at: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2021/013263s096lbl.pdf. [Accessed February 21, 2022].
  10. U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Klonopin tablets (clonazepam). February 2021. Available at: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2021/017533s061lbl.pdf. [Accessed February 21, 2022].
  11. Solmaz V, Albayrak S, Tekatas A, et al. Evaluation of Overactive Bladder in Male Antidepressant Users: A Prospective Study. Int Neurourol J. 2017;21(1):62-67. Published 2017 Mar 24. https://doi.org/10.5213/inj.1732652.326.
  12. U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Lithium oral solution, for oral use Lithium Carbonate tablets, for oral use Lithium carbonate capsules, for oral use. December 2018. Available at: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2018/017812s033,018421s032,018558s027lbl.pdf. [Accessed February 22, 2022].
  13. U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Invokana (canagliflozin) tablets, for oral use. March 2013. Available at: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2013/204042s000lbl.pdf. [Accessed February 22, 2022].
  14. Ruby CM, Hanlon JT, Boudreau RM, et al. The Effect of Medication Use on Urinary Incontinence in Community-Dwelling Elderly Women. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2010;58:1715–1720. https://dx.doi.org/10.1111%2Fj.1532-5415.2010.03006.x.

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