# Why does drinking lots of water make you very awake and alert?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-drinking-lots-of-water-make-you-very-awake-and-alert/786220>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 9, 2017, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-drinking-lots-of-water-make-you-very-awake-and-alert/786220 "2017-05-09T21:00:44Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![dude\_robert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8e7dd6/32.png) [@dude\_robert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dude_robert)\
**Post date:** [May 9, 2017, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-drinking-lots-of-water-make-you-very-awake-and-alert/786220/1 "2017-05-09T21:00:44Z")

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So I’ve just noticed something, which is that when I drink lots of water in one sitting, I seem to become much more awake than I would normally be. For instance before I have any, I am usually very tired and sluggish feeling and somewhat apathetic and constantly fall asleep every few minutes, but after I have some, I am totally alert and clear minded.

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**Author:** ![Weisshund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ba8739/32.png) [@Weisshund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weisshund)\
**Post date:** [May 9, 2017, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-drinking-lots-of-water-make-you-very-awake-and-alert/786220/2 "2017-05-09T22:38:13Z")

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Are you dehydrated perhaps?  
It kind of sounds like it, the brain hates dehydration

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**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\
**Post date:** [May 9, 2017, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-drinking-lots-of-water-make-you-very-awake-and-alert/786220/3 "2017-05-09T22:40:48Z")

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Yeah, sounds like you need to drink more water more regularly.

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**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\
**Post date:** [May 10, 2017, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-drinking-lots-of-water-make-you-very-awake-and-alert/786220/4 "2017-05-10T00:35:10Z")

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Either you’re ordinarily dehydrated and that’s what’s causing the tiredness to begin with, or having to pee wakes you up.

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**Author:** ![anomalous1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e56c9b/32.png) [@anomalous1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anomalous1)\
**Post date:** [May 10, 2017, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-drinking-lots-of-water-make-you-very-awake-and-alert/786220/5 "2017-05-10T00:38:38Z")

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I think perhaps it has to do with the above mentioned (dehydration) or the fact that if you are drinking a large amount, you are not breathing normally. Try it some time, when you just wake up, hold your breath for a few seconds or until you can’t take it, then gasp for air. Wakes you up more than coffee. Not a neurologist here but I suspect it activates some form of adrenaline like panic does.

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**Author:** ![Weisshund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ba8739/32.png) [@Weisshund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weisshund)\
**Post date:** [May 10, 2017, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-drinking-lots-of-water-make-you-very-awake-and-alert/786220/6 "2017-05-10T00:41:48Z")

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> [@Chronos](#):
>
> r having to pee wakes you up.

Yes, usually when one wishes to not be awake too