Description

Regular urine color varies from clear to pale yellow. But certain things can change the color.

Foods such as beets, berries and fava beans can turn urine pink or red, for example. And some medicines may give urine bright colours, like orange or green-blue.

An unusual urine color can also be a sign of a health problem. For example, some of the infections of the urinary tract can turn urine color milky white. Stones in the kidney, some types of cancer and other diseases sometimes cause the urine to red due to the blood.

Symptoms

Regulate the color of the urine varies. This depends on the amount of water that you drink. Fluids dilute the yellow pigments in urine. So the more you drink, the clearer your urine looks. When you drink less, the color yellow is becoming stronger.

But urine can turn colors far beyond what is typical, including:

  • Red.
  • Blue.
  • Green.
  • Orange.
  • Dark brown color.
  • White.

When to see a doctor

Consult your doctor if you have:

  • Blood in the urine. This is common in urinary tract infections and kidney stones. The problems often cause pain. Bleeding without pain can be a sign of a more serious problem, such as cancer.
  • Dark or orange urine. This can be a sign that the liver does not function properly, especially if you also have pale stools and yellow skin and eyes.

Causes

A change in the color of the urine is often caused by certain medications, foods, or dyes. Sometimes it is caused by a health problem.

Here is a little bit of urine colors, along with the things they can do. Please note that colors may look slightly different for different people. For example, what you see in red so that you can look orange to someone else.

Urine red or pink

Red colored urine is not always a sign of a serious health problem. Red or pink urine can be caused by:

  • Blood. Health problems that can cause blood in the urine include an enlarged prostate gland, tumors that are not cancer, and kidney stones and cysts. Some types of cancer can cause blood in the urine also. Intense exercise, such as running long distances, can also cause this bleeding.
  • Food. Beets, blackberries and rhubarb can turn urine red or pink.
  • Drugs. A tb medications called rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane) can turn urine reddish-orange. So that can be a medicine for the pain of the urinary tract called phenazopyridine (Pyridium). Constipation medicines containing the drug senna may also cause this color change.

Orange urine

Orange urine can be caused by:

  • Drugs. Phenazopyridine, and some medications constipation may turn the urine orange. So you can sulfasalazine (Azulfidine), a medication that reduces the swelling and irritation. Some chemotherapy drugs for cancer can also cause the urine to see orange.
  • Vitamins. Some vitamins, like a and B-12, can be put in the urine to an orange or yellow-orange.
  • The health problems. Orange urine may be a sign of a problem with the liver or bile duct, especially if you also have light-colored stools. Dehydration can also cause your urine to see orange.

Blue or green urine

Blue or green urine can be caused by:

  • Dyes. Some bright colored food dyes can cause green urine. The dyes that are used for some of the kidneys and the bladder tests may turn the urine blue.
  • Drugs.A medicine for depression called amitriptyline may cause the urine to see a greenish blue color. So can a treatment for ulcers and acid reflux-called cimetidine (Tagamet HB). A water pill called triamterene (Dyrenium) you can also convert the urine of a greenish blue color. The urine may turn green because of a medicine for the pain and symptoms of arthritis known as indomethacin (Indocin, Tivorbex). Green urine can also be caused by propofol (Diprivan), a strong medicine that helps people to sleep or relax before surgery.
  • The health problems. A rare disease called familial benign hypercalcemia can cause children to have blue urine. Urinary tract infections caused by a certain type of bacteria that can cause green urine.

Drugs. A medicine for depression called amitriptyline may cause the urine to see a greenish blue color. So can a treatment for ulcers and acid reflux-called cimetidine (Tagamet HB). A water pill called triamterene (Dyrenium) you can also convert the urine of a greenish blue color.

The urine may turn green because of a medicine for the pain and symptoms of arthritis known as indomethacin (Indocin, Tivorbex). Green urine can also be caused by propofol (Diprivan), a strong medicine that helps people to sleep or relax before surgery.

Dark brown or cola-colored urine

Brown urine can be caused by:

  • Food. Eat a lot of beans, rhubarb or aloe can cause dark brown urine.
  • Drugs. Some medications that can darken the urine are: Chloroquine and primaquine, to treat and to prevent malaria.The antibiotics metronidazole (Flagyl, Metrocream, and others), and nitrofurantoin (Furadantin, Macrobid, other).Constipation medications that contain senna (Senokot, Ex-Lax, other).Methocarbamol (Robaxin), a muscle relaxant.The seizure medication phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek).Medicines called statins that lower cholesterol.
  • Chloroquine and primaquine, to treat and to prevent malaria.
  • The antibiotics metronidazole (Flagyl, Metrocream, and others), and nitrofurantoin (Furadantin, Macrobid, other).
  • Constipation medications that contain senna (Senokot, Ex-Lax, other).
  • Methocarbamol (Robaxin), a muscle relaxant.
  • The seizure medication phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek).
  • Medicines called statins that lower cholesterol.
  • The health problems. Some liver and kidney disorders and some urinary tract infections can turn urine dark brown. So you may be bleeding on the inside of the body is called a hemorrhage. A group of diseases that affect primarily the skin or the nervous system, called porphyria, also can cause brown urine.
  • Extreme exercise. An injury to a muscle of extreme exercise can cause tea, or cola-colored urine. The injury can lead to kidney damage.
  • Chloroquine and primaquine, to treat and to prevent malaria.
  • The antibiotics metronidazole (Flagyl, Metrocream, and others), and nitrofurantoin (Furadantin, Macrobid, other).
  • Constipation medications that contain senna (Senokot, Ex-Lax, other).
  • Methocarbamol (Robaxin), a muscle relaxant.
  • The seizure medication phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek).
  • Medicines called statins that lower cholesterol.

Cloudy or murky urine

Urinary tract infections and kidney stones can cause urine that appears cloudy or murky.

Risk factors

A change in the color of the urine that is not due to the food, or medicine could be caused by a health problem. Some of the things that put you at risk of health problems that can affect the color of the urine are:

  • Age. Tumors of the bladder and kidneys, which can cause blood in the urine, are more common in older people. Men older than 50 sometimes have blood in the urine due to an enlarged prostate gland.
  • The history of the family. If any of your blood relatives, as a father, brother or grandfather, have kidney disease or kidney stones, you are more likely to get too. Both kidney disease and kidney stones can cause blood in the urine.
  • The intense exercise. Distance runners are at greater risk. But any person exercising hard, you can have blood in the urine.

Diagnosis

Your doctor will probably ask about your health and do a physical exam. You may also need tests, including:

  • Analysis of urine. This test checks the urine for possible signs of kidney or urinary tract problems. A sample of urine is also likely to be checked for bacteria that cause diseases.
  • Blood tests. Some blood tests to measure the level of waste products that accumulate in the blood when the kidneys are not working properly. Your healthcare provider may also check your blood for signs of liver problems and other health conditions, such as diabetes.

Treatment

The treatment, if needed, will depend on the health problem that causes the change in color of the urine.

Lifestyle and home remedies

When you're dehydrated, your urine becomes darker in colour. If this happens, it could mean that you need more fluids. Be sure to drink enough liquid every day to stay hydrated and stay healthy.

Preparing for your appointment

It is likely to start by seeing your primary care provider. In some cases, you may be referred to a doctor who specializes in disorders of the urinary tract, which is called a urologist.

Here's some information to help you prepare for your appointment.

What you can do

When you make the appointment, ask if there is something that you need to do to prepare. Make a list of:

  • Your symptoms and when they began.
  • Key medical information, including any other health problems you have and if the bladder or kidney disease in your family.
  • All the drugs, vitamins, and other supplements you are taking, including the dosage. A dose is the amount you take.
  • Questions to ask your doctor.

For the color of the urine, questions include:

  • What could be the cause of my symptoms?
  • What tests do I need?
  • I need treatment?

What to expect from your doctor

Your health care provider is likely to ask you questions, such as:

  • What color is your urine? It is always this color, or only sometimes?
  • Do you see blood or blood clots in the urine?
  • What your urine has an unusual odor?
  • How often do you pee? And it hurts when you urinate?
  • Has the appetite or thirst changed?
  • Has had urinary problems before?
  • Do you have allergies?
Symptoms and treatment of the Urine color