Adequate fluid intake is extremely important for patients with kidney stones, but not every stone can be passed simply by drinking water.

Drinking plenty of fluids can help pass small stones in particular. However, for large stones or those blocking the urinary tract, drinking water alone may not be enough. Therefore, an appropriate treatment plan should be developed based on an assessment of the stone’s size and location.

In general, we recommend drinking enough fluids to maintain a daily urine output of approximately 2–2.5 liters.