What should I do if I drank too much water?
Mia Moss
Published May 22, 2026
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Then, how do I know if I drank too much water?
You have throbbing headaches throughout the day Headaches are both a sign of overhydration and dehydration, similar to nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. When you drink too much water, the salt concentration in your blood reduces, causing the cells in the organs throughout your body to swell.
Beside above, how much is too much water in a day? Your kidneys can eliminate about 5.3-7.4 gallons (20-28 liters) of water a day, but they can't get rid of more than 27-33 ounces (0.8-1.0 liters) per hour (14, 15). Therefore, in order to avoid hyponatremia symptoms, you should not drink more than 27-33 ounces (0.8-1.0 liters) of water per hour, on average (14).
In this regard, what do I do if I drank too much water?
Treatments may include:
- cutting back on your fluid intake.
- taking diuretics to increase the amount of urine you produce.
- treating the condition that caused the overhydration.
- stopping any medications causing the problem.
- replacing sodium in severe cases.
Is Drinking excess water harmful?
Although uncommon, it's possible to drink too much water. When your kidneys can't excrete the excess water, the sodium content of your blood is diluted (hyponatremia) — which can be life-threatening. In general, though, drinking too much water is rare in healthy adults who eat an average American diet.
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