Why does your urine smell like ammonia and you feel have to pee all the time it hurts even though drink plenty of water still smells ammonia?
Possible causes of urine that smells like ammonia and frequent urination, despite drinking plenty of water:
Urinary tract infection (UTI): UTIs are bacterial infections that can affect any part of the urinary system, including the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. Symptoms of a UTI may include:
- Frequent urination
- Pain or burning during urination
- Cloudy or foul-smelling urine
- Fever and chills
- Lower back pain
Dehydration: Dehydration occurs when your body does not have enough water. It can cause your urine to become concentrated and smell stronger than usual. Other symptoms of dehydration include:
- Thirst
- Dry mouth
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Confusion
Diabetes: Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects the body's ability to produce or use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that helps glucose, or sugar, get from the blood into the cells. High blood sugar levels can damage the kidneys and lead to UTIs. Symptoms of diabetes include:
- Frequent urination
- Increased thirst
- Unexplained weight loss
- Increased hunger
- Blurred vision
- Fatigue
- Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet
Kidney disease: Kidney disease can cause the kidneys to function improperly, leading to a build-up of toxins in the blood. This can cause the urine to smell like ammonia. Other symptoms of kidney disease include:
- Frequent urination
- Foamy urine
- Swelling in the hands, feet, and ankles
- High blood pressure
- Nausea and vomiting
- Fatigue
- Weakness
- Confusion
Liver disease: Liver disease can cause the liver to not properly process toxins, leading to a build-up of ammonia in the blood. This can cause the urine to smell like ammonia. Other symptoms of liver disease include:
- Yellow eyes or skin
- Nausea and vomiting
- Fatigue
- Weakness
- Weight loss
- Abdominal pain
- Dark urine
- Light-colored stools
Hyperthyroidism: Hyperthyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland produces too much thyroid hormone. This can cause the body to burn through calories more quickly, leading to dehydration and concentrated urine. Other symptoms of hyperthyroidism include:
- Weight loss
- Increased heart rate
- Anxiety
- Nervousness
- Tremors
- Heat intolerance
- Difficulty sleeping
Certain medications: Some medications, such as antibiotics and diuretics, can cause the urine to smell like ammonia. If you are taking any medications, be sure to talk to your doctor about possible side effects.
If you are experiencing urine that smells like ammonia and you feel like you have to pee all the time, it is important to see a doctor to determine the cause and get appropriate treatment.