Dark Urine Symptoms

Introduction

The colour of normal urine is usually pale yellow. However, if you are dehydrated, your urine may appear dark. In some people, the colour of the urine may appear brown, deep yellow or maroon. It may also indicate an underlying medical condition. However, dark urine can be diagnosed and treated early.

What is dark urine?

The colour of the urine appears dark in case of dehydration. In people with health conditions such as kidney stones, urinary tract infections, and liver disease, the urine appears dark even when the body is hydrated. Thus, urine colour may be an indication of the underlying health condition. Consult a doctor if your urine is dark for a prolonged period.

Types of dark urine

• Red or pink urine – Blood in the urine, infection in the urinary tract, tumour growth, kidney cyst, kidney stone or medication (like Rifadin or Rimactane) could be the cause of pink or red urine.
• Orange urine – Medications like sulfasalazine, laxative, chemotherapy drugs or a liver problem could result in orange colour urine.
• Blue or green urine – Medications such as amitriptyline, indomethacin, propofol, or familial benign hypercalcemia may cause blue urine.
• Dark brown urine – Food items like aloe or fava beans, antimalarial drugs such as chloroquine and primaquine, metronidazole antibiotic medicine and laxatives containing cascara or senna or methocarbamol (muscle relaxant) may cause dark brown urine.

Darkened urine is also a possible side effect of oral iron supplements.

Symptoms of dark urine

• The darkness of urine for a prolonged time
• Pain in the stomach
• A notable difference in the smell of urine
• Blood in urine

Dehydration causes dark urine; other underlying health conditions such as kidney stones, urinary tract infection and liver disease may also result in dark urine. If you have one or more of the symptoms of dark urine, please consult your doctor immediately.

Causes of dark urine

There are several causes of dark urine 

• Blood in the urine (haematuria), 
• Hepatitis, 
• Kidney or liver disease, 
• Anaemia, 
• Skin cancer, 
• Intense exercise, 
• Tick-borne disease, 
• Infection in the urinary system, 
• Certain medications, 
• Food or food dye.

If you experience a change in the colour of urine for a long time, then it is better to consult a doctor as soon as possible. The expert doctors at Yashoda hospitals provide online consultation, or you can directly book an appointment for any help.

Bleeding in the urinary tract, haemolytic anaemia (when red blood cells are destroyed), liver and kidney disorders, porphyrias (a condition that affects haemoglobin levels), and melanoma are possible risks and complications.

Diagnosis of dark urine usually involves taking a thorough medical history and getting a physical examination by a qualified medical professional. Certain tests may be performed such as urinalysis (to check for red blood cells, high levels of protein, and excreted minerals in the urine that may be indicative of kidney disease or urinary tract infection) and blood tests (to measure creatinine and blood urea nitrogen levels as well as check for diabetes).

Treatment methods will depend on the condition that causes the change in urine colour. If dehydration is the cause, more fluid is advised. If not, the underlying cause needs to be diagnosed and treated appropriately. If you are excreting dark urine accompanied by pain, it could be an early indication of kidney stones or urinary tract infection. Also, if you are experiencing nausea, vomiting or a high fever, immediate medical attention is recommended.

You may excrete dark urine due to dehydration; if it persists even when you are well hydrated, you may need to consult a medical health professional as it may be an indication of underlying health issues. Yashoda Group of Hospitals has medical experts who can help diagnose and treat this condition.