7 Causes of Dark Urine

Why Is my urine dark?

• Dark urine is often a sign of dehydration and may indicate that you need to drink more fluids.
• Certain foods (such as beets, blackberries, and fava beans) and medications (such as certain antibiotics and laxatives) can also cause urine to appear dark.
• In some cases, dark urine may indicate an underlying medical condition, such as liver disease.

There are a number of reasons why your urine might be dark in color. So if you wondering why your urine is dark, here are a few possible causes:

1. Dehydration

One of the most common reasons for dark urine is dehydration. When your body doesn’t have enough fluids, it will start to conserve water. As a result, your urine will become more concentrated and take on a darker color. Dehydration can be caused by a number of factors, including:

• Excessive sweating
• Vomiting or diarrhea
• Fever
• Not drinking enough fluids during the day

If you are dehydrated, you may also experience other symptoms, such as:

• Fatigue
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Dark circles under your eyes
• Dry mouth or throat

Therefore, if you are dehydrated, you must drink plenty of fluids. Water is always a good option, but you can also drink fluids like electrolyte-rich sports drinks or coconut water. If you are vomiting or have diarrhea, it is especially important to replenish your fluids.

2. Medications

Certain medications can cause your urine to darken. For instance, laxatives, antimalarials, warfarin, and chemotherapy drugs can lead to dark urine. Your doctor will usually inform you in advance that this is a possible adverse effect.

3. Foods

Eating foods with high levels of pigments can also cause your urine to darken. For example, if you eat a lot of beets, fava beans, or blackberries, your urine may take on a reddish or purple color. Other food-related causes of dark urine include black licorice.

4. Cirrhosis

One of the symptoms of cirrhosis is that urine may appear dark in color. This happens because the liver cannot process all of the bilirubin in the blood, so it builds up and is excreted in the urine. Other symptoms of cirrhosis include:

• Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes)
• Fatigue
• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss
• Nausea
• Swelling in the abdomen or legs
• Bruising easily
• Itchy skin

If you think you may have cirrhosis, it is important to see a doctor as soon as possible. Cirrhosis can be a serious condition, but it can be treated if it’s caught early. Left unchecked, however, it can lead to organ failure and death.

5. Kidney disease

Kidney disease is another potential cause of dark urine. Your kidneys are responsible for filtering your blood and removing waste from your body. If they are not functioning properly, waste can build up in your blood, which can cause your urine to become dark. Other symptoms of kidney disease include:

• Fatigue
• Swelling in your ankles, feet, or legs
• Decreased urination
• Nausea
• Pain in your back or sides

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it is important to see your doctor.

6. Hepatitis

Hepatitis is a viral infection that affects the liver. When you have hepatitis, your liver becomes inflamed and can’t function properly.  This can cause a buildup of bilirubin in your blood, an orange-yellow byproduct. Bilirubin is usually broken down by the liver and excreted in the urine, but when you have hepatitis, it can build up and cause your urine to turn dark.

Hepatitis can also cause your stool to turn pale or clay-colored. Other symptoms of hepatitis include fatigue, loss of appetite, stomach pain, and fever. If you think you might have hepatitis, it’s important to see a doctor immediately so you can get treatment. Hepatitis is a serious condition that can lead to liver damage, so it’s important to get treated as soon as possible.

7. Urinary tract infection (UTI)

Urinary tract infection (UTI) can cause urine to appear dark. That’s because the infection causes inflammation and irritation in the urinary tract, which can change the color of urine. UTI can also cause other symptoms like pain or burning during urination, urgency or frequency of urination, and cloudy or foul-smelling urine.

If you think you may have a UTI, it is important to see a doctor so that you can get treated. Left untreated, UTI can lead to serious complications like kidney infection.

Other conditions associated with dark urine include:

• Hematuria (blood in the urine)
• Porphyria (a disorder that affects the production of heme, a component of hemoglobin)
• Schistosomiasis (a parasitic infection)
• Gallstones
• Bladder stones
• Liver cancer
• Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas)
• Kidney stones
• Bladder cancer

When to see a doctor

Most of the time, dark urine is nothing to be concerned about. However, if you are also experiencing other symptoms, such as pain or burning during urination, it is important to talk to your doctor.

Also Read: What The Color of Your Pee Says About You