Home Symptoms Dehydration

Dehydration — what to take?

Dehydration = a water deficit with a loss of more than 2% of body weight. Causes: exertion + heat, diarrhea, vomiting, decompensated diabetes, diuretics, insufficient intake. Children and the elderly are at higher risk.

Also known as: fluid loss dehydrated extreme thirst
3 recommended OTC medicines
8,930 pharmacies available

In short: Dehydration occurs when the body loses more water and electrolytes than it takes in — over 2% of body weight — often due to exertion in heat, diarrhoea or vomiting, with children and the elderly being the most vulnerable. Mild rebalancing is usually done with oral rehydration salts, electrolyte drinks or diosmectite, whose prices you can compare on HartaFarmacii across Dr. Max, Tei, Catena and HelpNet, with values updated daily. This information is for guidance only and does not replace a medical consultation; see a doctor if confusion, low blood pressure or very infrequent urination appear.

Data verified on from public sources (OpenStreetMap, chain websites, ANM/MS) — updated daily.

OTC — no prescription

What can you take for dehydration?

Saruri de rehidratare orala

GES 45 · Humana Elektrolyt · Hidrasec

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Informational only — HartaFarmacii is not an approved medical site. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking any medicine. Don't self-medicate. Emergencies: 112.

When to see a doctor

If any of these signs appear, see a doctor — OTC treatment is not enough:

  • Severe dehydration (confusion, hypotension, oliguria)
  • Inability to rehydrate orally (continuous vomiting)
  • Children under 2 years with moderate-to-severe signs
  • Elderly people with cognitive changes
  • Diabetes with very high blood glucose

Degrees of dehydration

Mild (2-5%): thirst, dry mouth, dark yellow urine.

Moderate (5-10%): intense thirst, fatigue, headache, dizziness, scant and dark urine, skin with a slow skin fold, tachycardia.

Severe (over 10%): hypotension, thready pulse, confusion, oliguria/anuria, sunken eyes, mottled skin — a medical emergency.

OTC treatment

Oral rehydration salts (ORS):

  • GES 45, Humana Elektrolyt, Hidrasec.
  • Drink in small, frequent sips.
  • Adult: 200-400 ml after each stool/vomit.
  • Child: 10 ml/kg after each loose stool.

Water, clear soup, weak tea — for mild dehydration.

Isotonic drinks — for athletes; not ideal for diarrhea (osmolarity).

Natural coconut water — a natural alternative rich in potassium.

Signs that you are drinking enough

  • Light-colored urine (pale straw yellow).
  • 6-8 urinations/day with normal volume.
  • You do not feel frequent thirst.
  • Skin with normal turgor.

Special losses

With persistent diarrhea/vomiting, in young children, in the elderly, in endurance athletes — increased need. With intense exertion — weigh yourself before and after, and compensate for 1.5x the losses.

Medical disclaimer: the information in this guide is for informational purposes and does not replace the advice of a doctor or pharmacist. For diagnosis and treatment, consult a health professional.

Medicines compared

Medicines used for dehydration

This list is for guidance only, generated automatically from the DCI/category match. It is not a medical recommendation — consult your doctor before starting any treatment.

This list is not a medical recommendation. Consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Night-time, weekends, public holidays

24/7 pharmacies for dehydration

Dehydration doesn't keep office hours. If you need a medicine at 2 a.m. or at the weekend, open the map with the 24/7 filter switched on and look for the nearest on-duty pharmacy. Large cities have dozens of pharmacies open around the clock — below you have direct access to the list for each city, with address, phone number and verified opening hours.

Call before you set off, especially at night — on-duty rotas change and stock of some prescription medicines can be limited between deliveries.

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Medicine categories for dehydration

Step by step

How to find a pharmacy fast for dehydration

Open the interactive map and allow location access — you will immediately see pharmacies sorted by distance, each with its opening hours and a one-tap route in Google Maps. If it is night or the weekend, switch on the 24/7 filter to keep only the on-duty ones. For dehydration many medicines are available over the counter, so you can go straight to the pharmacy without a prescription, but check availability on the price comparator first to avoid wasted trips.

If you have a preferred active substance (for example paracetamol or ibuprofen), search for it in the comparator before you leave — you will see which chain has it cheapest near you and whether it is in stock. If you have a repeat prescription, save your preferred pharmacy as a favourite in the app and turn on opening-hours notifications — it saves unnecessary trips, especially if treatment for dehydration goes on for a while.

See also

Related symptoms and conditions

Symptom

Diarrhea

Diarrhea = 3+ loose/watery stools in 24h. Acute (under 14 days, usually viral) or chronic. The main risk is dehydration, especially in children and the elderly.

 Symptom

Vomiting

Vomiting is the forceful expulsion of gastric contents. The main risk is dehydration. In children and the elderly, it progresses more rapidly.

 Symptom

Heatstroke

Heatstroke is the overheating of the body above 40°C, with thermoregulation dysfunction. Medical emergency. Risk factors: exertion in the heat, young children, the elderly, diuretic/anticholinergic medications.

 Condition

Type 1 diabetes mellitus

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease involving the destruction of the pancreatic beta cells, requiring insulin therapy for survival. It typically begins before the age of 30, often in childhood.

 Condition

Type 2 diabetes mellitus

Type 2 diabetes accounts for 90% of cases. A combination of insulin resistance and relative deficiency. Associated with obesity, sedentary lifestyle, genetics. Onset usually after age 40, but increasing in young people.

Frequently asked questions

What else would you like to know?

How much water should I drink per day?
1.5-2 L under normal conditions. +500 ml/h during exertion. +500-1000 ml in hot weather. More while breastfeeding, with fever, or with diarrhea.
Plain water or electrolytes?
Under 1h of exertion — water. Over 1h or with diarrhea/vomiting — electrolytes (ORS). For severe dehydration — a medical emergency requiring an IV drip.
How do I check for dehydration in a child?
Urine (a dry diaper for over 6-8h = a warning sign), dry mouth, sunken eyes, crying without tears, a persistent skin fold, apathy. At any suspicion — see a pediatrician.
Do tea or coffee cause dehydration?
Coffee in moderate amounts does not cause significant dehydration (the diuretic effect is compensated for). Alcohol, on the other hand, clearly causes dehydration.

See also

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