Dark yellow urine in the morning only

A morning-only pattern often reflects the hours spent asleep without drinking. Sweating in a warm room, exercising late, or having a salty meal may make the first urine more concentrated. A vitamin supplement or medicine can deepen yellow colour as well. The pattern is less reassuring if urine becomes brown, tea-coloured, cloudy, or unusually strong-smelling, or if it stays dark after you resume normal drinking. Read more about [Dark Urine](/symptoms/dark-urine/) and possible fluid loss from [Dehydration](/conditions/dehydration/).

For a few days, note the first-morning shade and compare it with urine later in the day. Drink to thirst and spread fluids through waking hours, unless your clinician has set a fluid limit. Review recent supplements and medicines with a pharmacist or prescriber. If you have been sweating in heat, cool down and replace fluids gradually; [Heat Exhaustion](/conditions/heat-exhaustion/) can cause broader symptoms that should not be overlooked. Avoid trying to correct the colour by rapidly drinking excessive fluid.

Book an appointment if the urine no longer clears during the day, the morning change continues without an obvious reason, or you develop burning, pain, swelling, fatigue, or reduced urine. Seek urgent help for confusion, fainting, severe weakness, repeated vomiting, or very little urine. Yellow skin or eyes, pale stools, fever, or pain under the right ribs should be assessed promptly. These features can occur with liver illness, including [Hepatitis A](/conditions/hepatitis-a/) or [Hepatitis B](/conditions/hepatitis-b/), although urine colour alone cannot identify a cause.

Ask how long to monitor the colour, whether your medicines or vitamins are relevant, and whether urine or blood testing is appropriate. Tell the clinician if the colour changes after drinking, and mention pain, fever, stool changes, or yellowing of the eyes.