Uses of Urine [This page represents my own beliefs, experiences, and practices. It is not medical advice. I did my research and each reader must do his own. I am not responsible for how a person uses this information. I AM NOT A DOCTOR. WARNING: I read that it is possible for people who are taking drugs to overdose if they consume their urine and continue to take their drugs (excess drug comes out in the urine). Also I have heard of a time when a person's wounds were treated with urine from a soldier who had a veneral disease and caught the disease. We need to know what we are dealing with. Some people may not know that they have a sexually transmitted disease--these diseases can lie latent for many years. I'd use my own own urine for my wounds.] Uses of Urine I knew someone who was a proponent of Urine Therapy. He said that it cured his cancer. He gave me books on the subject. He was a former pharmacist who had owned his own pharmacy for approximately 28 years but renounced pharmacy after discovering the practices of the pharmaceutical companies. Normal urine is clean. In urine, your body is flushing out the excess minerals, etc. that it did not need. It is used extensively in medicine and agriculture. It may be called urea [urea is found in urine but as I understand it, it may also be made synthetically today]. In an old college textbook I saw a picture of a cow raised only on urine protein and her calf. [Aside: Today, I read that they'll feed animals not only urine products but dung/manure and sawdust mixed in with grain. How can this be? Well, dung used to be used to fertilize crops, but now with these huge, monoculture farms farmers use synthetic fertilizers. This leaves monoculture cattle farmers with a lot of dung on their hands that they must dispose of--they have no pastures or fields to put it on. False science has developed a noxious mixture of dung, lumberyard scraps, and token grain that they make into pellets to feed the cattle that we buy--I don't know how widespread the use of these pellets is.] The Porta John company (the people who make portable toilets) website has a link for "pharmaceuticals" on the left-hand side menu of their homepage at toilets.com. It is said that they sell urine proteins. As I understand it, horse urine is used in Premarin (pregnant mare urine) for women going through menopause (see premarin.org). As in practically all modern agriculture, the horses that supply urine are not treated well. Urine is also believed to help combat allergies. I've had severe pollen allergies for over 30 years. Knowing that the time is coming when Christians will not be able to buy and sell caused me anxiety because I would not be able to purchase allergy medicine. I looked in one of those urine books and it said that urine relieves allergy symptoms. Unsavory as it was at first, I gave it a try. I did it for an entire year to prove that urine can be used to treat allergies. My allergies are so bad that they can bring on an asthma-like attack if they are not treated. I made it through that year dabbing a little in the inside of my nostrils with a q-tip. [Update: last year, after I had been treating myself for a while, I saw a little blood on the q-tip. With that in mind, I've recently started diluting the urine with water.] I've sometimes dabbed some in my ears too, because they can itch during allergy season. Each treatment lasted about four hours, but I often did it whenever I went to the bathroom. If the urine is strong it can sting, so I STOPPED putting it in the eyes. I got tired of using urine so I went back to over-the-counter medicine knowing that I could use urine at any time. [Update: I am back on urine and have developed various mixtures--nasal rinse, a greatly diluted eye wash to dab *over* my eyelids, one to dab in my nostrils, and one for ear drops taking care to make sure excess water drains out from the drops.] [4/16/11 Update: This allergy season took half of an allergy pill once or twice a day and that was enough for a while. Then I had to take one whole pill at a time. I was taking maybe 1 or 2 pills a day which was a great find. An even greater find was that I could "mechanically" remove the pollen by submerging my face in a sink of warm water, flush my ears with a bulb syringe, and wash my face. I took no allergy medicine today (or urine) and have been doing well. I did this protocol this morning, then maybe again around noon, and then after I sneezed in the late afternoon as I worked outside. When I sneezed, I came in and mechanically removed the pollen and the attack did not continue.] I read that putting a few drops of urine under the tongue increases the potency, but that is an unsavory proposition. I did it a few times and, as I recall, I could go a LONG time (maybe 12 hours) without another treatment--but I didn't like the idea. [Update: my allergies can get so bad that I must take an oral dose and it has to increase when the pollen gets worse. I swab the nostrils and at the worst times, I squirt 15 half dropperfuls down the back of my throat. When I was taking a dose down my throat, it actually instantly relieved my throat which was irritated and sore from allergies (I have a way of grating my throat when it itches to "scratch" the itch which leaves it raw feeling). About the same time I heard from an acquaintance that he used urine for a sore throat too. We live in the end times and I want to know how to help myself and not have to rely on man. Some use urine for sore throats (gargle) and toothache (swish in mouth)] Some people make a tincture of urine where it is diluted by many times in drinking alcohol--NOT rubbing alcohol like what is in your medicine cabinet. The man who introduced me to urine therapy drank about 8 ounces of urine a day. This is not unknown in other countries. Some people still drink urine--from cattle owners who drink cow's urine, to a former prime minister of India, Morarji Desai, who drank his own urine and testified of its health benefits. My father said as he was growing up he heard that you could swish it around in your mouth when you had a toothache and then spit it out. I've heard that military men have stood in it to get rid of athlete's foot fungus. Dilute it with water and it can be used to fertilize your plants--store bought fertilizers often have "urea" as a chief nitrogen source ingredient (as I understand it, urea can also go under other names). One man recommended urine for a baby with skin problems--he said wipe a wet diaper on the affected area. I read about an Eskimo tribe that used urine as the treatment of choice for washing wounds. I dipped a wound in it and there was no stinging, but the wound had clotted over by that time, as I recall. Some women use urine to beautify skin and hair, and on and on... They say that it is good to collect urine when your allergies symptoms first come on because it contains lots of antibodies that your body produced to combat the pollen. Years ago, I was given "Your Body's Own Perfect Medicine" and am glad to have it on my bookshelf. Revelation 13 let me know that I had to stop relying on the grocery store. That meant I had to find a solution to my allergies. I found my allergy answer in urine but I am convinced that there are many, many other answers as well such as answers to infections. [UPDATE: http://users.erols.com/martinlara/ has information of great interest, the books, are unavailable at this time but just reading the synopses and table of contents was of great interest. Also on the site is what Mr. Lara calls, "The Universal Remedy."] [Update: I had itching poison ivy. I had calamine lotion on it but said the next time it itched I would try urine. I swabbed it on full strength with a cotton ball and the itching did not return.] From an email-- > The man who told me about urine therapy (the former pharmacist) gave me a > couple of books about it which have proven very useful to me. > > *Your Own Perfect Medicine: The Incredible Proven Natural Miracle Cure > that Medical Science has Never Revealed -- by Martha M. Christy. Includes > some of the mechanisms by which urine works. Easy to read with well > placed technical details. It could be read cover to cover. I read enough > to figure out how to treat my allergies. > * * http://users.erols.com/martinlara/ If you surf around the internet and other places for information, remember you must not simply believe everything that you read--you must research and consider what is before you. Those with sinus problems and pollen allergies may wish to see, Sinus Treatment Protocols. home omaha directory feature column alternative healing library heartland healing natural healing integrative health You are here: Column Archives: Urine Therapy Urine Therapy If health is what you urine for, try this.. by Michael Braunstein Though we have been conditioned to think of urine as "dirty," quite the opposite is true. Urine fresh from the "spigot" is actually sterile, devoid of any pathogens at all, (except in the case of a urinary or kidney infection). Urine is 95 percent water. The other five percent of our urine is made of dissolved and suspended solids, none of which are toxic. The two main components are simple salt and a compound called urea. In addition to salt and urea, other elements include hormones, proteins, antibodies and other beneficial pharmacological agents. So far from being harmful, urine actually does have known healing agents. Furthermore, if urine has a bad taste or smell, it is generally from the diet or habits of the contributor. Poor diet, poor habits and you will get a rank and smelly urine. The point is that urine components reflect the provider. Practitioners! Businesses! Get listed in our directory! E-Mail this page to a friend! Print this page Print this page "Welcome aboard. Coffee, tea or pee?" When Ferdinand Magellan's fleet of five set out to circumnavigate the globe in 1519, the manifest gave each ship "50 casks of water, fresh and pure." It wasn't enough. Of course his crew knew they would have to locate water along the way. Unfortunately, finding themselves in uncharted waters and out of water 18 months into the voyage, they became desperate. With no hope of a fresh water source, they took what was the only recourse. They drank their own urine. Wrote one crewman, "It was surprisingly not unsavory, having no worse a taste than a flagon most foul with rancid port, as many I have tasted before." And after all, it did save their lives. Already the astronauts on the International Space Station are experimenting with the self-generated liquid and if NASA ever launches a manned mission for Mars, the ship won't carry enough water for the 18 month voyage. Like their preceding explorers, they will have to find water along the way. This presents a problem since rainfall outside the Van Allen Belt is pretty rare. NASA's answer? If it worked for Magellan it can work for Mars. Drink urine. Though filtered, purified and recycled, it will probably take a little getting used to psychologically. But there are millions of people throughout history who have actually swallowed the idea of urine as medicine. It is often called urotherapy. "Drink waters out of thine own cistern" - Book of Proverbs Given a choice between "a flagon most foul with rancid port" and drinking their own urine, most will probably choose the rancid port. Surprisingly though, many would not. The belief that urine has powerful healing properties existed even centuries before the Bible extolled its virtues. Cultures throughout all time have used urine for healing. Many practices have included the use of urine from other species such as cows or horses. But most common is using one's own "Golden Fountain" as the source. And a scientific analysis of urine would find it healthier than a "flagon most foul." Though we have been conditioned to think of urine as "dirty," quite the opposite is true. Urine fresh from the "spigot" is actually sterile, devoid of any pathogens at all, (except in the case of a urinary or kidney infection). Urine is 95 percent water. The other five percent of our urine is made of dissolved and suspended solids, none of which are toxic. The two main components are simple salt and a compound called urea. In addition to salt and urea, other elements include hormones, proteins, antibodies and other beneficial pharmacological agents. So far from being harmful, urine actually does have known healing agents. Furthermore, if urine has a bad taste or smell, it is generally from the diet or habits of the contributor. Poor diet, poor habits and you will get a rank and smelly urine. The point is that urine components reflect the provider. Usually the suggestion follows the Bible, to drink only our own "waters"; though there are times when urine from a select group is recommended. Sometimes, as in cases of wishing to enhance fertility, one would drink urine high in hormonal content of the right kind. This understanding led to a modern-day application. Serono Laboratories in Italy used the urine of post-menopausal nuns to prepare the pharmaceutical extract Pergonal, prescribed to stimulate fertility. And many women receiving hormone replacement therapy right now are receiving doses derived from horse urine. Though fresh urine is sterile, left standing it will provide an excellent medium for bacterial growth. Therefor it is always advisable to use fresh. Don't try to keep it in the 'fridge overnight or for when guests drop in. Ancient texts that describe the practice tell us to drink the middle of the flow. Presumably this would eliminate any trace bacteria from the urethra in the first part or leftover from bladder walls in the last spurts. After all, even with a fine red wine, you still don't drink the dregs. For thousands of years, nearly every culture in recorded history has included urine therapy for all manner of disease or injury. Hindu yogic practices have noted the benefits of drinking our own urine. Ancient Chinese medical texts record specific ways to use urine and even describe how it can be purified into a powdered crystal to satisfy any squeamishness on the part of the patient. Indigenous Americans encountered in 1806 by Lewis and Clark's expedition to Oregon had the custom "of bathing themselves all over with urine every morning," according to Lewis. Saharan Bedouins use urine to cleanse burns and wounds. When British officers during World War Two observed the practice, they were shocked. But actually it was the same medical practice described in the Ebers Papyrus of 1500 B.C, one of the oldest surviving documents of Egyptian history. The Aztec civilization also used urine to heal wounds. Various other cultures recommend drinking urine to increase fertility and stimulate sexuality. It is historically used to break down blood clots. It is used as a sleep aid, to cure yeast infections, fever, oral infections, diabetes, cancer and of course, bladder problems! As a topical medicine, it is used to heal wounds and rashes; to cleanse and tone the skin. And the claims continue. The list of maladies that urotherapy is used to fight is long and varied. Recently, urotherapy is used in the fight against the complex of conditions that make up AIDS. Perhaps because the substances believed therapeutic in urine are many and varied, advocates say it has a broad-spectrum effect on the multiple symptoms presented in AIDS. In the ayurvedic tradition of yoga, drinking one's urine is called amaroli. Because extensive Vedic texts exist from at least 2000 B.C., this practice provides us with much of the most thorough guidance available. Yogic techniques tell us exactly how to go about drinking or applying amaroli. One of the most famous users of urine therapy was Prime Minister of India from 1977 to 1979, Morarji Desai. On the occasion of his ninety-ninth birthday in 1995, Desai attributed his longevity to drinking his morning urine on a daily basis. Admittedly, there is very little Western science evidence to support the historical claims. After all, how would a researcher fare in submitting a grant proposal for such funding? "We are asking for five million dollars to investigate the health properties of pee cocktails." Or even more difficult, how would one find a test group to drink their own urine? And what would you give the control group? Apple juice? Despite the paucity of modern scientific substantiation, there is some common-sense evidence that explains why some of these beliefs exist. Let's start with using urine to sterilize and cleanse wounds. Remember a major component of urine is urea. Urea is commonly recognized as an effective antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral agent. Its mechanism is simple. The presence of urea in the urine is the result of the body's chemical balancing of sodium chloride and water ratio. When used on a wound, urea causes an osmotic imbalance that kills bacteria and fungus. It is so effective it is used in many topical ointments and creams sold pharmaceutically, both prescription and over-the-counter. Urea is found in a broad range of medicines used to treat inflammation. It is a main ingredient in the medicine Herpigon, used to treat herpes infections. Urine also can smooth and moisturize the skin. Your face cream or wrinkle remover most likely has urea or a derivative in it. Check out the ingredients. Each time you use it you are effectively smearing urine on your face. According to John Armstrong's 1971 book, The Water of Life, expensive and elegant European facial soaps often contain human, cow or pig urine. Historical anecdotes have said that drinking urine can prevent strokes and help break down blood clots and scabs. This lore was applied when investigators in the nineteenth century found that some component of urine could digest proteins, specifically fibrin, the key in clotting. In 1952, G.W. Sobel isolated the enzyme in urine that the folk lore claimed. He named it urokinase and it is now used in preparations to break up clots in heart disease and stroke. Apparently folk lore was right. Did modern medicine make it better or just more expensive? Certainly it's easier to sell. HOW DO YOU MAKE A HORMONE? Urine contains a number of different hormones. Fertility drugs contain estrogens from human urine that stimulate ovulation in women and sperm production in men. Maybe the Zimbabwean tribe that drinks baboon urine in beer as an aphrodisiac has reason to do so. (I'll stick to a scotch and soda.) If you're taking Premarin, it's prepared from mares' urine and other natural sources, including human. Several references recommend drinking urine for sleeplessness. And it's a well-known fact now that melatonin is a natural hormone that helps regulate sleep. So guess what? Melatonin is present in significant amounts in the urine, especially morning urine. And not only melatonin is present. There is a compound known as muramyl dipeptide. Simply put, it mirrors the action of seratonin, another well-known calming hormone. These may explain why Vedic texts recommend that yogis practice amaroli to enhance the ability to meditate more deeply. Often there are broad, sweeping claims made by proponents of almost every therapeutic modality. To entertain the possibility that urine therapy can cure everything from canker sores to cancer seems to be one of those claims. There is no therapy, massage therapy to chemotherapy, aromatherapy to heart surgery, that can hope to meet claims of 100 percent success. And honestly, I don't think most proponents of urine therapy intend such claims. But despite the first impression that the Western mind often has of seeing the modern practice of amaroli as antiquated at least and revolting at most, its value need not be dismissed out-of-hand. There is plenty of information on the internet about urotherapy. Not all of it is placed there by people trying to sell a product. After all, the best source is one's own "cistern" according to the Bible. Whether it's the ingestion of urine or its topical application, there seems to be scientific reason, if not scientific testing, that says it makes sense. The best advice is the advice you can give yourself. Know it exists. Find out more about it. Make your own decisions. If Magellan had gotten some melatonin into a native chieftain in the South Pacific, he might have made it back to Spain. As it was, Ferdie interfered in a tribal dispute and was slain by a warrior who was ... pissed. Be well. home • directory • feature column • column archives • news • hot links • calendar Michael Braunstein is Executive Director of Heartland Healing and certified by the American Council of Hypnotist Examiners in clinical hypnotherapy. He graduated from the Los Angeles Hypnotism Training Institute and was an instructor at the UCLA Extension University for 11 years. Heartland Healing is devoted to the examination of various alternative forms of healing. It is provided as a source of information and not as medical advice. It is not meant as an endorsement of any particular therapy, either by the writer or by Heartland Healing Center, Inc. © 1999-2010 Heartland Healing • All Rights Reserved Read Our Disclaimer Aromatherapy Contact us for advertising opportunities Learn something new every day More Info... by email Urea, also called carbamide, is an organic chemical compound, and is essentially the waste produced by the body after metabolizing protein. Naturally, the compound is produced when the liver breaks down protein or amino acids, and ammonia; the kidneys then transfer the urea from the blood to the urine. Extra nitrogen is expelled from the body through urea, and because it is extremely soluble, it is a very efficient process. The average person excretes about 30 grams of urea a day, mostly through urine, but a small amount is also secreted in perspiration. Synthetic versions of the chemical compound can be created in liquid or solid form, and is often an ingredient found in fertilizers, animal feed, and diuretics, just to name a few. Discovery Naturally, the chemical compound is not only produced by humans but also by many other mammals, as well as amphibians and some fish. Discovered in 1773 by the French chemist Hillaire Rouelle, urea became the first organic compound to be synthetically formulated. German chemist Friedrich Wöhler, one of the pioneers of organic chemistry, invented the process to create the synthetic version of the compound in 1828, just 55 years after its discovery. Ad Production The synthetic version of the compound is created from ammonia and carbon dioxide and can be produced as a liquid or a solid. In 1870, the process of producing the compound synthetically by dehydrating ammonium carbamate under conditions of high heat and pressure was invented, and this process is still used today. There are many common uses of the synthetic compound, and therefore its production is high; in fact, approximately one million pounds of urea is manufactured in the United States alone each year. Common Uses Most of the manufactured compound is used in fertilizers; when nitrogen is added to urea, the compound becomes water soluble, making it a highly desired ingredient for lawn fertilizer. The synthetic version is also used commercially and industrially to produce some types of plastics, animal feed, glues, toilet bowl cleaners, dish washing machine detergents, hair coloring products, pesticides, and fungicides. Medicinally, it is used in barbiturates, dermatological products that re-hydrate the skin, and diuretics Physicians can use urea levels to detect diseases and disorders that affect the kidneys, such as acute kidney failure or end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and the urine urea nitrogen (UUN) tests, which measure urea nitrogen levels in the blood and urine, are often used to assess how well a patient's kidneys are functioning. Increased or decreased levels of the compound, however, do not always indicate kidney problems, but instead may reflect dehydration or increased protein intake. Share: Cite / link: urea (u-re´ah) 1. the chief nitrogenous endproduct of protein metabolism, formed in the liver from amino acids and from ammonia compounds; found in urine, blood, and lymph. 2. a pharmaceutical preparation of urea used to lower intracranial or intraocular pressure, to induce abortion, and as a topical skin moisturizer.ure´al urea nitrogen the urea concentration of serum or plasma, conventionally specified in terms of nitrogen content and called blood urea nitrogen (BUN); an important indicator of renal function. Dorland's Medical Dictionary for Health Consumers. © 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved. u·re·a (yo͝o-rē′ə) n. A water-soluble compound that is the major nitrogenous end product of protein metabolism and is the chief nitrogenous component of the urine in mammals and other organisms. Also called carbamide. The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2007, 2004 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Urea A by-product of protein metabolism that is formed in the liver. Because urea contains ammonia, which is toxic to the body, it must be quickly filtered from the blood by the kidneys and excreted in the urine. Mentioned in: Blood Urea Nitrogen Test, Escherichia Coli, Kidney Function Tests Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved. urea [yoo͡r′ē·ə] Etymology: Gk, ouron, urine a normal metabolic waste product from protein metabolism, used as a systemic osmotic diuretic and topical emollient. indications It is prescribed systemically to reduce cerebrospinal and intraocular fluid pressure and is used topically as a keratolytic agent. contraindications Severely impaired kidney function, active intracranial bleeding, marked dehydration, or liver damage prohibits its systemic use. adverse effects Among the more serious adverse effects are pain and necrosis at the site of injection, headache, GI disturbances, and dizziness. There are no known severe reactions to topical use. Mosby's Medical Dictionary, 8th edition. © 2009, Elsevier. urea [u-re´ah] 1. the diamide of carbonic acid found in urine, blood, and lymph, the chief nitrogenous constituent of urine, and the chief nitrogenous end-product of protein metabolism; it is formed in the liver from amino acids and from ammonia compounds. 2. a pharmaceutical preparation of this compound, administered intravenously as an osmotic diuretic to lower intracranial or intraocular pressure, injected transabdominally into the amniotic sac to induce abortion of a second trimester pregnancy, and included in topical preparations to moisten and soften rough, dry skin. The amount of urea in the urine increases with the quantity of protein in the diet because urea is an endogenous and exogenous waste product: endogenous because some of it is derived from breakdown of body protein as tissues undergo disintegration and repair, and exogenous because some of it is derived from the deamination of amino acids absorbed from the intestinal tract but not utilized by the body. In severe nephritis or other disorders leading to renal failure, the concentration of urea in the blood may be greatly increased, as revealed by measurement of the blood urea nitrogen (BUN). urea concentration test a test of renal efficiency, based on the fact that urea is absorbed rapidly from the stomach into the blood and is excreted unaltered by the kidneys; 15g of urea is given with 100mL of fluid, and the urine collected after 2 hours is tested for urea concentration. urea nitrogen the urea concentration of serum or plasma, conventionally specified in terms of nitrogen content and called blood urea nitrogen (BUN), an important indicator of renal function. Miller-Keane Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing, and Allied Health, Seventh Edition. © 2003 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved. urea (ūrē´ə), n a water-soluble compound that is the primary constituent of urine. Ureaplasma n gram-negative eubacteria from the family Mycoplasmataceae that serve as a hydrolitic for urea. The bacteria do not have cell walls. Mosby's Dental Dictionary, 2nd edition. © 2008 Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved. urea 1. the diamide of carbonic acid found in urine, blood and lymph, the chief nitrogenous constituent of urine, and the chief nitrogenous end product of protein metabolism; it is formed in the liver from amino acids and from ammonia compounds. 2. a pharmaceutical preparation of urea occasionally used to lower intracranial pressure. 3. industrial urea is used as a fertilizer and feed additive for ruminants. Overfeeding or accidental access to large amounts can cause fatal poisoning. urea cycle see urea cycle. urea cycle enzyme deficiency see arginosuccinate synthetase, citrullinemia. urea hydrogen peroxide see carbamide peroxide. urea nitrogen the urea concentration of serum or plasma, conventionally specified in terms of nitrogen content and called blood urea nitrogen (BUN), an important indicator of renal function. urea poisoning causes tremor, dyspnea, abdominal pain, incoordination, bellowing, convulsions and death in 2 to 4 hours. Due to hyperammonemia. Saunders Comprehensive Veterinary Dictionary, 3 ed. © 2007 Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved hyperosmotic agent A drug that makes blood plasma hypertonic thus drawing fluid out of the eye and leading to a reduction in intraocular pressure. It is used in solution in the treatment of angle-closure glaucoma and sometimes before surgery to decrease the intraocular pressure. Common agents include glycerin (glycerol), isosorbide, mannitol and urea. See hypertonic solution. Millodot: Dictionary of Optometry and Visual Science, 7th edition. © 2009 Butterworth-Heinemann urea Pharmacologic class: Diamide salt of carbonic acid Therapeutic class: Osmotic diuretic Pregnancy risk category C Action Increases osmotic pressure of glomerular filtrate, inhibits tubular reabsorption of water and electrolytes, and elevates plasma osmolarity, increasing water influx into extracellular fluid Availability Powder for reconstitution: 40 g/150 ml ⊘Indications and dosages ➣ Increased intracranial pressure (ICP) or intraocular pressure (IOP) Adults: 1 to 1.5 g/kg as 30% solution I.V., infused slowly over 1 to 2½ hours at a rate no faster than 4 ml/minute. Maximum dosage is 120 g/day. Off-label uses • Abortifacient Contraindications • Hypersensitivity to drug • Severe renal impairment • Marked dehydration • Active intracranial bleeding • Hepatic failure • Infusion into lower leg veins in elderly patients Precautions Use cautiously in: • hepatic or renal disease, electrolyte imbalances, diabetes mellitus, sickle cell disease, membrane rupture, cervical stenosis, uterine fibroids • pregnant or breastfeeding patients. Administration • Add dextrose 5% or 10% in water to container with 40 g of urea, to yield a final concentration of 300 mg/ml. Infuse I.V. no faster than 4 ml/minute. • Infuse through large-bore catheter into large vein only. ☞ Don't stop infusion abruptly. Route Onset Peak Duration I.V. 30-45 min 1-2 hr 3-10 hr Adverse reactions CNS: headache, dizziness, agitation, confusion, disorientation, syncope, nervousness, drowsiness (with prolonged use in sickle cell patients), subdural hemorrhage CV: hypotension, tachycardia, ECG changes, capillary bleeding, cardiotoxicity GI: nausea, vomiting GU: oliguria Hematologic: hemolysis (with rapid administration) Metabolic: hypervolemia, hyponatremia, hypokalemia, electrolyte imbalances Skin: irritation or necrotic sloughing with extravasation Other: pain, thrombosis, chemical phlebitis, or infection at injection site; fever; hyperthermia Interactions Drug-drug. Lithium: increased lithium clearance and decreased efficacy Drug-diagnostic tests. Potassium, sodium: decreased levels Patient monitoring • Institute continuous cardiac monitoring. • Closely monitor vital signs, ICP, and neurologic and cardiac status. • Monitor electrolyte levels and kidney function tests. • Assess fluid intake and output. • When drug is used for IOP reduction, monitor IOP. Patient teaching • Explain drug therapy to patient. ☞ Tell patient drug may affect many body systems. Instruct him to immediately report such symptoms as headache or confusion. • As appropriate, review all significant and life-threatening adverse reactions and interactions, especially those related to the drugs and tests mentioned above. Nursing Spectrum Drug Handbook 2009. © 2009 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. u·re·a (yū-rē'ă), The chief end product of nitrogen metabolism in mammals, formed in the liver by means of the Krebs-Henseleit cycle and excreted in normal adult human urine in the amount of about 32 g a day (about 85% of the nitrogen excreted from the body). It may be obtained artificially by heating a solution of ammonium cyanate. It occurs as colorless or white prismatic crystals, without odor but with a cooling saline taste, is soluble in water, and forms salts with acids; has been used as a diuretic in kidney function tests, and topically for various dermatitides. [G. ouron, urine] Farlex Partner Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012 u·re·a (yūr-ē'ă) The chief end product of nitrogen metabolism in mammals, formed in the liver, by means of the Krebs-Henseleit cycle, and excreted in normal adult human urine in the amount of about 32 g a day (about 89% of the nitrogen excreted from the body); used as a diuretic in kidney function tests and topically for various dermatitides. [G. ouron, urine] Medical Dictionary for the Health Professions and Nursing © Farlex 2012 u·re·a (yūr-ē'ă) Chief end product of nitrogen metabolism in mammals. [G. ouron, urine] Medical Dictionary for the Dental Professions © Farlex 2012