What should you know about dark colour of urine?

Deep yellow urine often reflects reduced fluid intake or sweating. Orange, brown or tea-colored urine deserves closer attention, particularly when it persists. Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B can present with dark urine alongside yellow eyes or skin, nausea, poor appetite or abdominal discomfort. A urinary problem may instead cause burning, urgency, cloudy urine or visible blood. The shade, timing and associated symptoms give a clinician more useful information than color alone.

Think about recent heat, exercise, illness, fluid intake, foods, vitamins and medicines. Drink normally if you have no fluid restriction, then observe later samples rather than judging a single toilet visit. Do not stop prescribed medicines without advice. Write down whether the urine is yellow, orange, brown, pink or red and whether pain, fever, itching, pale stools or yellowing occurs. The Dark Urine page provides a focused description of this symptom.

Arrange an appointment if the change lasts, recurs, or has no clear explanation. Get prompt help for blood, fever with back pain, severe abdominal pain, inability to pass urine, marked weakness or vomiting. Yellow skin or eyes, confusion, fainting or very little urine requires urgent assessment. Dehydration and Heat Exhaustion can worsen quickly when fluid losses continue.

Does the shade suggest concentration, pigment, blood or a medicine effect? Do I need urine and blood tests? Which symptoms would mean I should seek same-day care? Should I change any supplement or medication?