When should you see a doctor about dark urine?

Urine may look darker after losing fluid through sweating, vomiting, or diarrhoea. It can also change after certain foods or medicines. Dark brown urine, tea-coloured urine, or urine with yellowing of the eyes may signal a liver or bile problem. Red or cola-coloured urine can reflect blood or muscle breakdown. Dark urine is a presentation of several conditions, so its appearance alone cannot identify the cause.

Notice the colour, smell, timing, and amount of urine, and record any new medicines, supplements, strenuous exercise, heat exposure, or change in diet. Drink fluids regularly if you have no medical advice to restrict them. Do not ignore dark urine that does not clear after rehydrating. You can read about [Dehydration](/conditions/dehydration/) and [Dark Urine](/symptoms/dark-urine/) while arranging advice.

Seek urgent medical care if you cannot pass urine, have severe side or abdominal pain, confusion, fainting, repeated vomiting, marked weakness, or visible blood. Fever with back pain or burning urination also needs prompt assessment. After heat exposure, dizziness, headache, cramps, or heavy sweating alongside dark urine may fit [Heat Exhaustion](/conditions/heat-exhaustion/). Yellow skin or eyes, pale stools, or persistent nausea should be assessed promptly.

Ask what tests may explain the colour, whether your medicines could contribute, and which warning signs should prompt immediate help. Mention recent travel, heat exposure, exercise, infections, and any family history such as [G6PD Deficiency](/conditions/g6pd-deficiency/). If liver symptoms are present, ask whether [Hepatitis A](/conditions/hepatitis-a/) or [Hepatitis B](/conditions/hepatitis-b/) needs consideration.