How long does it take to recover from dehydration?

If the problem that caused dehydration is resolved and the person gets the right amount of fluid, mild to moderate dehydration can resolve in less than a day. Severe dehydration or dehydration of long duration should be treated by doctors in a hospital and typically takes 2 to 3 days to resolve with proper treatment.

Recovery from dehydration involves replenishing the fluid and electrolytes your body has lost. How long it takes to recover from dehydration depends on how dehydrated you are.

Research shows that you can relieve mild dehydration in about 45 minutes. However, for moderate to severe dehydration, you’ll take longer to recover, but this depends on the type and amount of fluids and electrolytes you take. If you are experiencing severe dehydration, you might need up to 24 hours and intravenous fluids to relieve dehydration.

The cause of dehydration also matters. For example, people with kidney disease may suffer from chronic dehydration because their kidneys can’t necessarily retain enough water. If you suffer from chronic conditions, ensure you consult your doctor.

If you want to speed up your recovery from dehydration, consider using a hydration drink, like DripDrop, that has the right balance of electrolytes and can be absorbed more effectively by the body. As we’ve mentioned, dehydration involves both fluid and electrolyte losses. A good hydration drink should contain electrolytes in addition to water. Plain water alone can’t correct dehydration because it doesn’t have enough electrolytes.

That’s why, sometimes, despite drinking many glasses of water, you still feel thirsty. And, drinking too much water is dangerous because it can result in water intoxication, a serious condition caused by loss of sodium electrolytes as your body tries to get rid of the excess water.