Polydipsia is a medical condition in which the patient ingests
abnormally large amounts of fluids by mouth. The word is made
from the words poly meaning many and dipsia which means thirst.
The fluid is usually water, though some people may think of
alcohol because of the etymologically related term dipsomaniac,
meaning an alcoholic. Polydipsia is almost always associated
with dehydration due to polyuria (excessive urination), if the
condition is prolonged beyond a few hours in those with
functioning kidneys. It is often, and characteristically, found
in diabetics, often as one of the initial symptoms, and in those
who fail to take their anti-diabetic medications or whose
dosages have become inadequate. It is also caused by other
conditions featuring osmotic diuresis and by diabetes insipidus
("water diabetes"), and forms part of the differential
diagnostic tree for them, as well. Polydipsia is also a symptom
of atropine or belladonna poisoning. Another cause can be due to
medication (such as diuretics) or ina