Urine is normally a shade of yellow, from pale to deep amber, depending on hydration; clear means well-hydrated, while darker yellow/brown indicates dehydration, but colors like red, blue, green, or dark brown can signal infections, liver issues, or other conditions, often due to foods, medications, or underlying health problems, warranting a doctor's visit.
Healthy urine is clear (not cloudy), odorless and in a shade of yellow that can range from very pale to a darker, amber-like hue. “The shade of your urine depends on your hydration level,” explains Dr. Leong.
If you urinate often, and your pee is very light-colored or even clear, it could be a sign of diabetes.
If your urine is dark yellow, brown, pink or red, it may mean something is wrong. Often, discolored urine means there is blood in your urine (blood can make your pee look brown, pink or red), which may signal you have a kidney infection, urinary tract infection (UTI) or kidney stone.
Dark brown or black urine has been associated with drugs such as nitrofurantoin, acetaminophen overdose, and metronidazole. While the exact mechanism is unknown, it has been hypothesized that the pigment of an azometabolite is responsible for metronidazole-induced urine discoloration.
Some liver and kidney disorders and some urinary tract infections can turn urine dark brown. So can bleeding inside the body called a hemorrhage. A group of illnesses that mainly affect the skin or the nervous system, called porphyria, also can cause brown urine. Extreme exercise.
The most common side effects of metronidazole tablets, liquid, suppositories or vaginal gel are feeling sick (nausea) or being sick (vomiting), diarrhoea, and a slight metallic taste in your mouth. It's unusual to have any side effects from metronidazole cream or gel.
Three key early warning signs of kidney problems are changes in urination (more or less frequent, especially at night), foamy or bloody urine, and persistent swelling, particularly around the eyes, feet, or ankles, indicating fluid retention. Other common signs include persistent fatigue, nausea, itching, and loss of appetite, as toxins build up when kidneys aren't filtering effectively.
Damaged glomeruli reduce your kidneys' ability to properly filter waste, meaning that abnormal amounts of protein and sometimes blood to leak into your urine, causing it to be pinkish, reddish, foamy or even brown in color.
Kidney failure can make urine smell strongly of ammonia or have a fishy odor, often due to built-up waste products (amines) or infection, signaling concentrated urine from dehydration or kidney dysfunction. Other signs alongside bad-smelling urine include foamy, bloody, or cola-colored urine, swelling, fatigue, and changes in urination, all pointing to potential kidney issues that require a doctor's evaluation.
How Does Sugar in Urine Look? Sugar in urine does not always have obvious signs but can sometimes give urine a cloudy appearance. High levels of sugar in the urine may also may your pee smell sweet.
Five early signs of diabetes include frequent urination, increased thirst and hunger, fatigue, blurry vision, and slow-healing sores or frequent infections, stemming from high blood sugar levels that affect the body's ability to use glucose for energy, leading to these common symptoms.
Some conditions that can cause changes in urine odor include:
But as this autoimmune disease progresses, dark urine may occur. In fact, healthcare providers consider orange or dark-colored urine to be a common symptom of liver damage. This is due to a substance called bilirubin being present in your urine.
One of the more common causes of smelly, darker yellow urine is dehydration. When you don't drink enough water, the amount of waste products in your pee increases. High levels of urea can make your urine smell like ammonia.
Generally, earlier stages are known as 1 to 3. And as kidney disease progresses, you may notice the following symptoms. Nausea and vomiting, muscle cramps, loss of appetite, swelling via feet and ankles, dry, itchy skin, shortness of breath, trouble sleeping, urinating either too much or too little.
Reddish purple urine can be a sign of lead or mercury poisoning. Cola- or tea-colored urine or urine that smells can be a sign of kidney disease. Orange-hued urine can be a sign of problems with your liver or bile duct. Greenish or cloudy pee can be a sign of a UTI.
In the case of liver or kidney disease, your odor may give off a bleach-like smell due to toxin buildup in your body.
Kidney function tests are urine (pee) and/or blood tests that evaluate how well your kidneys work. Your kidneys support your overall health by getting rid of waste and balancing body fluids and electrolytes. Most kidney function tests measure how well your glomeruli (glo-MARE-yoo-lye) work.
You feel kidney pain near the middle of your back, just under your ribcage, on each side of your spine where your kidneys are. Your kidneys are part of the urinary tract, the organs that make and remove urine from the body. (pee). You may feel kidney pain on one or both sides of your back.
Stay Hydrated
Water helps flush out toxins and waste products from your body, allowing your kidneys to function more efficiently. Aim to drink at least 8-10 glasses of water daily, and consider increasing your intake if you're active or live in a hot climate.
Metronidazole is a commonly used antibiotic, belonging to the nitroimidazole class of antibiotics. It is frequently used to treat gastrointestinal infections as well as trichomoniasis and giardiasis, and amebiasis which are parasitic infections.
Some people feel sick or may be sick (vomit) when they take Metronidazole. To prevent stomach upset, nausea and vomiting, take this medication with food (either a meal or a large snack). You can take the tablets with or without food, but having a full stomach will help to ease feelings of nausea.
Tell your doctor before you start taking or using metronidazole if you're taking any of these medicines: