Table 3 Common causes of abnormal urine color
From: Purple urine bag syndrome in benign prostatic hyperplasia patient
Color | Cause |
|---|---|
Colorless | Very dilute urine |
Overhydration | |
Cloudy/milky | Phosphaturia |
Pyuria | |
Chyluria | |
Red | Hematuria |
Hemoglobinuria/myoglobinuria | |
Anthocyanin in beets and blackberries | |
Chronic lead and mercury poisoning | |
Phenolphthalein (in bowel evacuants) | |
Phenothiazines (e.g., Compazine) | |
Rifampin | |
Orange | Dehydration |
Phenazopyridine (Pyridium) | |
Sulfasalazine (Azulfidine) | |
Yellow | Normal |
Phenacetin | |
Riboflavin | |
Green-blue | Biliverdin |
Indicanuria (tryptophan indole metabolites) | |
Amitriptyline (Elavil) | |
Indigo carmine | |
Methylene blue | |
Phenols (e.g., IV cimetidine [Tagamet], IV promethazine [Phenergan]) | |
Resorcinol | |
Triamterene (Dyrenium) | |
Brown | Urobilinogen |
Porphyria | |
Aloe, fava beans, and rhubarb | |
Chloroquine and primaquine | |
Furazolidone (Furoxone) | |
Metronidazole (Flagyl) | |
Nitrofurantoin (Furadantin) | |
Brown-black | Alcaptonuria (homogentisic acid) |
Hemorrhage | |
Melanin | |
Tyrosinosis (hydroxyphenylpyruvic acid) | |
Cascara, senna (laxatives) | |
Methocarbamol (Robaxin) | |
Methyldopa (Aldomet) | |
Sorbitol |