If urine is dark brown?

Fluid loss from heat, sweating, vomiting, or diarrhoea can make urine very concentrated. Dark urine with yellow eyes or skin, pale stools, itching, nausea, or unusual tiredness can occur when the liver or bile system is affected. Blood or muscle pigments can also make urine look brown. New medicines and supplements may change colour as well.

Heat exposure plus headache, dizziness, weakness, heavy sweating, or confusion raises concern for heat illness. Colour alone cannot show which explanation applies.

Move to a cool place if you have been in heat, rest, and drink fluids gradually if you are awake and able to swallow. Record recent exercise, injury, heat exposure, illness, foods, medicines, and the time the colour changed. Do not stop prescribed treatment without advice.

Arrange prompt medical assessment when dark-brown urine has no clear short-lived explanation, continues, or appears with other symptoms. Urine and blood tests may be needed.

Seek urgent care for dark-brown urine with confusion, fainting, very little urine, severe weakness, repeated vomiting, yellow eyes or skin, severe abdominal pain, or a high temperature. After heavy exertion or muscle injury, tea-coloured urine with muscle pain or weakness needs prompt assessment.

Ask whether the colour could be from dehydration, bile pigments, blood, muscle injury, or a medicine, and whether urine, kidney, liver, or muscle tests are appropriate. Share details of heat exposure, exercise, injury, jaundice, stool colour, and fluid loss.