What does dark urine feel like with G6PD deficiency?

Dark Urine is a common presentation of G6PD Deficiency. During an episode of red blood cell breakdown, urine may become tea-coloured, cola-coloured, or dark brown rather than simply deep yellow. You may also feel unusually tired, weak, breathless, dizzy, or notice yellowing of the eyes or skin. The urine itself may not cause burning or pain.

G6PD helps red blood cells cope with chemical stress. In someone with the deficiency, an infection or a triggering medicine or food can cause red blood cells to break down more quickly. Pigment released during this process can pass into urine and make it dark. The timing, colour, and accompanying symptoms matter, and dark urine has other possible causes, including dehydration, urinary bleeding, and liver or kidney problems.

Contact a clinician promptly if you have known or possible G6PD deficiency and new dark urine. Tell them about recent illness, medicines, supplements, foods, or chemical exposures, and do not take another dose of a suspected trigger unless a clinician advises it. Keep a record of when the colour changed and any weakness, breathlessness, fever, or yellowing. Drink normally unless you have been given fluid restrictions.

Seek emergency care for severe weakness, breathlessness, chest symptoms, fainting, confusion, a very fast heartbeat, or very little urine. Urgent assessment is also needed for dark urine with yellow skin or eyes, marked paleness, fever, or rapid worsening. A healthcare professional may check blood counts, red cell breakdown, kidney function, and urine.

Ask whether the colour could reflect red blood cell breakdown, which medicines and foods you should avoid, and whether testing is needed now. Bring a list of prescriptions, over-the-counter products, supplements, recent infections, and any previous G6PD test results.