What Dark Urine Colour Can Mean

Urine can become deep yellow or amber when you have not taken in enough fluid, after sweating, vomiting or diarrhoea, or during heat exhaustion. Some foods, supplements and medicines can alter its colour. Brown or tea-coloured urine, especially with yellow skin or eyes, pale stools, nausea or pain, can occur with liver inflammation such as hepatitis A or hepatitis B. Red, pink or cola-coloured urine may need testing to check for blood or other pigments.

Consider recent heat exposure, exercise, illness, new medicines and the amount you have been drinking. If you feel well and dehydration seems possible, sip water regularly and monitor whether the colour returns towards pale yellow. Do not force large amounts of fluid if a clinician has told you to restrict fluids. Keep a note or photograph of an unusual colour and arrange a review if it persists or recurs.

Seek urgent care for dark urine with confusion, fainting, severe weakness, inability to keep fluids down, severe abdominal or side pain, or very little urine. Prompt assessment is also needed for yellow skin or eyes, fever, painful urination, visible blood, or urine that stays brown despite drinking normally.

Tell your doctor when the colour began, whether it changes with hydration, and any pain, fever, yellowing, new medicines or recent heat exposure.