What should you know about dark rusty urine?

When urine is concentrated after sweating, fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, or low intake, it may become amber, brown, or rust-like. Blood may make it pink, red, or cola-coloured and can occur alongside burning, urgency, side pain, or visible clots. Dark urine with yellow skin or eyes and pale stools can reflect bile pigments linked with liver or bile-flow problems. A recent food, supplement, or medicine may account for another colour change. No single shade confirms a cause, and rusty urine is not evidence that a person has cancer. For a general overview, see [Dark Urine](/symptoms/dark-urine/).

Think back to recent heat, exercise, illness, fluid loss, and new medicines or supplements. Observe the next few urinations without delaying care if you feel unwell. Drink normally if that is safe for you; people with a prescribed fluid limit should follow it. Arrange a review for persistent, recurrent, or unexplained rusty urine. The clinician may request a urine sample and choose blood tests based on your symptoms, examination, and medical history.

Get urgent care for inability to urinate, clots or heavy bleeding, severe side or abdominal pain, faintness, confusion, high fever, or ongoing vomiting. Seek prompt medical advice when urine output falls, swelling develops, or yellow eyes and pale stools appear. After heat exposure, dizziness, headache, nausea, or weakness can be signs of [Heat Exhaustion](/conditions/heat-exhaustion/).

Ask what the urine test shows, whether blood or infection is present, whether medicines could explain the shade, and whether kidney or liver checks are appropriate. Describe the colour carefully and mention every associated symptom, even if it has improved.