Is Gatorade good for dehydration?

Sweating, vomiting or diarrhoea can remove both water and salts from the body. A sports drink contains fluid and electrolytes, so it can be useful when you have lost these through heavy sweating or exercise. It is not the same as an oral rehydration solution, which is formulated for fluid loss from illness. Sugars and flavourings may also make a sports drink unsuitable for some people or cause stomach upset.

A dry mouth, thirst, headache, dizziness and dark urine can occur with dehydration. The colour of urine is only one clue; heat, food and medicines can also change it. Read more about [Dehydration](/conditions/dehydration/).

Take frequent small sips rather than drinking a large amount quickly, especially if nausea is present. Rest somewhere cool after heavy sweating and continue normal meals if you can tolerate them. After vomiting or diarrhoea, ask a pharmacist about an oral rehydration solution. Avoid relying on sports drinks for an infant, an older person who is confused, or someone with a condition requiring restricted fluids or electrolytes; seek individual advice instead.

Get urgent medical help for confusion, fainting, severe weakness, inability to keep fluids down, very little urine, or fast breathing. Seek assessment when dehydration follows persistent diarrhoea, repeated vomiting, or heat exposure and does not improve with sipping fluids. Heat Exhaustion can worsen and needs prompt attention if symptoms are severe; learn more at [Heat Exhaustion](/conditions/heat-exhaustion/).

Could my symptoms be caused by an illness rather than simple fluid loss? Which rehydration drink is appropriate for my age, medicines and health conditions? How should I manage fluids if I have kidney or heart problems?