My urine is brown: what does that mean?

Very concentrated urine may look amber or brown after fluid loss, but true brown or tea-coloured urine should not be dismissed. Blood can darken urine, sometimes with clots or discomfort. Liver or bile problems may occur with yellow eyes or skin, pale stools, itching, nausea, or pain in the upper abdomen. Muscle injury after strenuous activity can release pigment that darkens urine and may be accompanied by severe muscle pain or weakness. Food, supplements, and medicines can change colour too. Cloudiness, strong odour, burning, urgency, or fever can suggest a urinary infection; a kidney infection may also cause side or back pain.

Note the colour in good light and when it began. Drink normally if you can, but do not force large amounts of fluid. Review recent exercise, injuries, heat exposure, foods, supplements, and medicines, taking a list to a clinician. Do not use someone else’s antibiotics. A clinician may need a urine sample and may decide whether blood tests or imaging are useful based on your symptoms.

Contact a clinician promptly for brown urine that persists or returns, even without pain. Seek urgent care for visible blood, severe flank or abdominal pain, fever with urinary symptoms, repeated vomiting, very little urine, yellow eyes or skin, confusion, fainting, or severe muscle weakness. After an injury or unusually intense exercise, dark urine with muscle pain needs prompt assessment.

Ask what colour changes on testing mean, whether your medicines or supplements could contribute, and whether you need checks for infection, liver function, blood, or muscle breakdown. Tell the clinician about pain, fever, exercise, injury, fluid loss, and changes in stools or skin.