What should you know about super dark urine?

Urine may become deep yellow or amber when the body has less fluid available, including after sweating, fever, vomiting, or poor intake. Brown, tea-coloured, red, or cola-coloured urine has a wider range of possible causes, including blood, muscle breakdown, liver or bile problems, and some medicines or foods. Dark urine is a symptom rather than a diagnosis. Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B can present with dark urine alongside yellowing of the eyes or skin, nausea, tiredness, or abdominal discomfort.

Notice the exact colour, when it began, how often you pass urine, and whether the change followed heat, exercise, illness, a new medicine, or a food. If you feel well and dehydration seems possible, take regular small drinks and monitor whether the colour lightens. Do not stop prescribed medicine without advice. A clinician may check urine, blood tests, hydration, and liver or kidney function when the colour persists or has no clear explanation.

Seek urgent care for very dark urine with yellow eyes, severe abdominal pain, confusion, fainting, inability to keep fluids down, markedly reduced urination, or severe muscle pain and weakness. Prompt assessment is also sensible for visible blood, burning with fever, flank pain, or urine that remains dark despite drinking. Heat Exhaustion with dark urine can require urgent evaluation, especially after heavy exertion or prolonged heat exposure.

Ask whether the colour suggests concentrated urine, blood, pigment, or bile, which tests are appropriate, and whether any medicine, supplement, exercise, or recent travel could explain it.