What is the medical term for dark urine?

A clinician may describe urine as concentrated, amber, brown, tea-coloured, red, or cola-coloured rather than assign one term to every case. Concentrated urine contains less water and appears deeper yellow. Blood can make urine pink, red, or smoky. Bilirubin, a bile pigment, can make urine brown or tea-coloured during some liver or bile-duct problems. Myoglobin released from injured muscle can create a cola shade. The same colour can have different causes, so colour alone cannot identify the source.

Write down the shade in ordinary words and whether it appeared suddenly. Note fluid intake, sweating, recent strenuous exercise, fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, foods, supplements, and medicines. A clinician may examine a urine sample and decide whether blood tests are needed to assess hydration, liver function, or muscle injury. Bring a list of regular and recently started medicines. Do not rely on a colour chart alone or discontinue treatment without professional guidance.

Get urgent help if dark urine occurs with yellow eyes or skin, confusion, faintness, severe weakness, severe muscle pain, markedly reduced urination, fever with flank pain, or visible blood. Brown or cola-coloured urine after hard exercise or heat exposure also deserves prompt assessment, even if discomfort is limited.

Ask what description best fits the sample, whether it contains blood or pigment, and whether urine or blood testing is appropriate. Explain any recent illness, heat exposure, exercise, new medication, supplement, or change in urine volume.