Can You Drink Too Much Water? The Experts Weigh In

I'm sure you've been told many times how important it is to drink water. There are countless benefits to keeping hydrated and your body will thank you for staying on top of your water intake, but how much water is too much water?

Well, TikTok influencer Taylor Donaghue was faced with the surprising truth about drinking too much water, yes that's right, there's such a thing as too much water. She told her followers that she paid $500 for a doctor to tell her to drink less water after revealing that she drank around 3.4 litres of water a day.

While Donaghue's water intake is somewhat admirable — I struggle to drink just one litre a day — there can be serious negative effects to drinking too much water, such as water intoxication. This happens when there's too much water in your cells (including brain cells), and as a result, they start to swell.

But before you start frantically throwing away your huge water bottles, we asked the experts for some reassurance as to how much water we should be drinking, and the signs to look out for if we've taken it too far.

Dr Hana Patel is an NHS GP and a GP Medico-Legal Expert Witness.
Dr Vijay Nayar is an experienced GP and healthcare professional at Healthium Clinics.

Dr Hana Patel, a GP, tells PS UK that drinking too much water depends on your circumstances.

"It's normal to sometimes feel thirsty, in hot weather, if you're sweating and during or after exercise, but it's not normal to constantly feel thirsty even when you're drinking a lot. If you are concerned about the amount of water or fluid you are drinking, I would recommend speaking to your GP to find out what's causing your excessive thirst," she advises.

"Most of us need between 1.5 and 2.5 litres of fluid a day which is the same as six to eight cups a day."

Overhydration can happen, especially when exercising — this is known as hyponatremia and it's caused by low sodium (salt) levels in the blood. "It is rare to drink so much water that the body cannot get rid of the extra water from the body quickly enough, however if this happens, then our sodium levels in the blood may become dangerously low," Dr Patel explains.

"It can also occur if too much water is drunk over a short period of time. This can have serious health consequences and can happen when people drink excessive amounts of fluid during endurance exercise and those following extreme detoxing regimes."

Dr Vijay Nayar from Healthium Clinics adds that symptoms of drinking too much water can lead to "agitation, confusion, seizures and even coma" in severe cases.

According to Dr Patel and Dr Nayar, symptoms of overhydration and water intoxication include:

Dr Nayar recommends listening to your body, as it will let you know when you need more water. "If you are thirsty then your body is telling you that it needs more water. Pale yellow urine is a sign of being well hydrated whereas dark yellow urine suggests you need to drink more water.

"Remember, balance is the key and you should drink enough water to stay hydrated, but don't overdo it."

Lauren Gordon is the editorial coordinator at PS UK, where she creates lifestyle and identity content. Lauren has a degree in journalism from University of the Arts London and previously worked as a showbiz and TV reporter at The Mirror US. Lauren specialises in pop culture, hair and beauty, focusing on trends, sharing in-depth tutorials, and highlighting hidden gems in the beauty industry.