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What Causes Brown Urine?
Posted on
Thu, 5 Nov 2015
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Thu, 5 Nov 2015
Answered on
Wed, 25 Nov 2015
Last reviewed on
Question : It's not constant but I do have periods of brown urine.
Brief Answer:
Please go in to doctor/clinic for tests:
Detailed Answer:
Brown urine, whether intermittent of continuous, is not normal and should be evaluated.
Sometimes urine looks brown because of certain foods including fava beans, rhubarb, and artificial food coloring. But these will only discolor the urine briefly rather than in periods of time that you mention.
There are a number of other causes of brown urine that should be checked though. These include problems in the kidneys or other places along the urinary tract. Problems with the liver can also produce brown urine (sometimes when this happens the stools are lighter in color if the problem is with the liver). Certain problems with red blood cells can also cause it.
So do go in to your doctor, who will likely do some or all of the following tests:
urinalysis
complete blood count with differential or microscopic exam
kidney function tests such as blood levels of BUN and Creatinine
liver function tests
Other than the urinalysis, these other tests are simple blood tests.
I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can provide further information or clarification.
Please go in to doctor/clinic for tests:
Detailed Answer:
Brown urine, whether intermittent of continuous, is not normal and should be evaluated.
Sometimes urine looks brown because of certain foods including fava beans, rhubarb, and artificial food coloring. But these will only discolor the urine briefly rather than in periods of time that you mention.
There are a number of other causes of brown urine that should be checked though. These include problems in the kidneys or other places along the urinary tract. Problems with the liver can also produce brown urine (sometimes when this happens the stools are lighter in color if the problem is with the liver). Certain problems with red blood cells can also cause it.
So do go in to your doctor, who will likely do some or all of the following tests:
urinalysis
complete blood count with differential or microscopic exam
kidney function tests such as blood levels of BUN and Creatinine
liver function tests
Other than the urinalysis, these other tests are simple blood tests.
I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can provide further information or clarification.
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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