Dark or brown urine may be the result of ingestion of some medications or foods, as well as a symptom of a disease or a sign of dehydration.
When urine becomes dark while using a medicine, you should consult your prescribing physician to evaluate the possibility of being a side effect and exchange the remedy, for example. However, brown urine can also happen when you drink little water during the day or if you eat foods like asparagus or carrots.
However, when the individual is not taking any medication and can not identify any other possible cause for dark urine, urine testing is advised because it can be caused by diseases that require medical treatment. In addition, if urine also has a strong smell, it may be a sign of urinary tract infection, diabetes, or problems with kidney function. Learn more at Find out what Urine Smell Strong means.
What can be dark urine
The causes of dark urine may vary according to the symptoms presented. So some causes that usually require medical treatment include:
1. Dark urine with strong odor
Dark urine with a strong odor, when associated with other symptoms such as urine pain or fever, for example, may indicate the presence of a urinary tract infection, especially if the urine becomes reddish. However, dark urine with a strong odor can also be caused only by low water intake.
What to do: increase your daily water intake and if your urine changes continue for more than 2 days, consult a clinician or urologist to start the appropriate treatment.
2. Dark urine and back pain
One of the main causes of dark urine with back pain is the presence of kidney stones, especially when the pain is located in the lower back and worsens when urinating.
What to do: Immediately go to the emergency room if the pain is too strong or if the color changes for more than 24 hours associated with back pain.
3. Dark urine and light stools
Dark urine associated with light stools is a common symptom in patients with liver problems because the body fails to properly digest the fat causing very white stools and darkening the urine due to the accumulation of bilirubin, another substance produced by the liver.
What to do: It is recommended to consult a clinician or hepatologist to assess if there is a liver problem and initiate appropriate treatment.
Check out the symptoms of hepatitis.
4. Dark urine with foam
Dark urine with foam is usually caused by the presence of protein and therefore can be a sign of kidney problems or high blood pressure. See other causes for: Urine with foam.
What to do: a urologist should be consulted if the problem persists for more than 3 days to identify the cause and initiate appropriate treatment.
Dark urine in pregnancy
The main cause of dark urine in pregnancy is the dehydration caused by low water intake during the day, which can be aggravated during periods of more vomiting, for example. It is therefore recommended to increase water intake during the day and to see if the urine becomes clearer.
If the urine remains dark, even after an increase in water intake, it is recommended to consult the obstetrician as soon as possible, as it may indicate some health problems such as urinary tract infection, high blood pressure or liver problems. .
Learn more about changes in urine color at:
- What may change the color of urine
- Common urine changes
