Potomania (From Greek pōtō "drink (liquor)" + mania) is a specific hypo-osmolality syndrome related to massive consumption of beer, which is poor in solutes and electrolytes.

The normal human kidney, through suppression of anti-diuretic hormone, is able to excrete vast amounts of dilute urine.

In the lack of proper solute intake, the amount of free water excretion can be severely limited.

Without adequate solute intake, the normal functioning electrolyte gradient that pulls water into urine will be effectively destroyed.

As with all cases of hyponatremia, extreme caution must be taken to avoid the fatal consequences of rapidly correcting electrolytes (e.g. central pontine myelinolysis, edema).