What Are the Treatments for Excessive Thirst?

Contrary to popular belief, a person may experience excessive thirst for reasons other than being stranded in a desert. People who suffer from diabetes, anticholinergic poisoning or schizophrenia may exhibit symptoms of polydipsia, which is a medical symptom characterized by excessive thirst. In many cases, effective patient treatment is dependent on an accurate diagnosis of the cause by a trained professional.

Addressing Root Causes

• Root causes of polydipsia vary, and each of these causes may require different treatments. Some causes can be easily diagnosed, such as diarrhea-induced dehydration. Others may be less difficult to diagnose, such as diabetes mellitus, diabetes insipidous, toxic shock syndrome, pulmonary disease, hyperparathyroidism, growth hormone deficiency or hyperaldosteronism.

Reducing Environmental Triggers

• Excessive thirst may be related to overexerting oneself in a hot, dry climate. This may cause a person to lose excessive amounts of water and salt through sweat and urine. By implementing behavioral modification strategies, a person can reduce environmental triggers of polydipsia.

Modifying Medications

• Medications that cause excessive thirst include amitriptyline, diuretics and steroids. Certain illegal drugs such as "ecstasy" and marijuana have also been proven to cause excessive thirst.

Psychological Conditions

• Some people are not able to effectively manage their water intake, whether due to delirium or developmental disorders. Psychological treatment may be useful when attempting to treat schizophrenic subjects. The American Psychological Association states that "the approach to psychosis-induced polydipsia is to control both the psychosis and water intake after excluding possible underlying medical causes of polydipsia."

Alternative Treatment

• Western medicine has not cornered the market on treating excessive thirst. Chinese medicine also suggests patient treatment cures for sufferers of postpartum polydipsia. "Nourish yin and engender fluids," suggests Bob Flaws, author of Chinese Medical Obstetrics, adding that one should "supplement the qi and clear heat as necessary."