Polydipsia
Polydipsia is a medical term meaning abnormally large (poly) intake of fluids by mouth. That is, drinking (-dipsia). The fluids need not be alcohol, but alcoholism may be termed a type of polydipsia, though that particular use of the term is uncommon. Also now uncommon is the related term dipsomaniac, meaning an alcoholic.
Polydipsia is almost always associated with polyuria, if the condition is prolonged beyond a few hours in those with functioning kidneys.
It is often, and characteristically, found in undiagnosed diabetics and in those who fail to take their medications or whose dosages have become inappropriate. It is also caused by other conditions featuring osmotic diuresis and by diabetes insipidus ("water diabetes"), and forms part of the differential diagnosic tree for them as well.
