How common is dark urine in G6PD deficiency?

G6PD deficiency affects how red blood cells cope with certain stresses. During haemolysis, the breakdown of red blood cells, pigment can pass into the urine and make it look tea or cola coloured. This may occur with tiredness, paleness, yellowing of the eyes or skin, breathlessness, a fast heartbeat, or abdominal or back pain. Dark urine also has causes unrelated to G6PD deficiency, so it needs assessment in context.

Contact a clinician promptly if you have G6PD deficiency and develop new dark urine, particularly after an illness, a new medicine, or contact with a known trigger. Tell the clinician about all medicines, supplements, and recent infections. Keep your personal trigger list available and check with a pharmacist or prescriber before taking a new medicine. Do not stop a prescribed medicine suddenly unless a clinician tells you to.

Seek urgent medical help if dark urine comes with severe weakness, shortness of breath, chest pain, fainting, confusion, yellowing of the eyes or skin, or a rapid worsening in how you feel. Get prompt assessment when a child with known G6PD deficiency develops these symptoms, because changes can be harder to judge.

Ask which medicines, foods, and chemicals you should avoid, what symptoms could indicate haemolysis, and whether your family members should discuss testing. Ask what action to take during infections and how to share your diagnosis with other healthcare providers.