Why is my urine particularly yellow and looks like strong tea?
Aug 18, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Yang Guang
Introduction
Inflammation of the gallbladder causes impaired bile excretion, with bilirubin flowing back into the bloodstream and being excreted in urine, resulting in dark-colored urine resembling strong tea. This condition is often accompanied by symptoms such as right upper abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and fever. Generally, doctors may prescribe medications such as anti-inflammatory bile-promoting tablets, ursodeoxycholic acid capsules, and cefixime dispersible tablets, while advising avoidance of high-fat foods.
Very yellow urine that resembles strong tea may be caused by long-term dehydration, medication use, hemolytic diseases, cholecystitis, viral hepatitis, and other conditions. It can usually be improved through general treatments, medication, and other methods. If abnormalities are noticed, timely medical consultation is recommended. Detailed analysis is as follows:
1. Long-term dehydration: Prolonged insufficient water intake or excessive sweating can lead to highly concentrated urine, significantly increasing the concentration of pigments such as urobilinogen in the urine, resulting in a strong tea-like color. It is recommended to establish a regular hydration plan, ensure adequate daily water intake, and gradually dilute the urine to alleviate symptoms.
2. Use of specific medications: Long-term use of medications such as rifampicin capsules or multivitamin B tablets may cause metabolites to enter the urine, changing its color to resemble strong tea. If this occurs due to medication, consult a doctor to adjust the treatment plan. Urine color typically returns to normal gradually after discontinuation of the drug.
3. Hemolytic diseases: Extensive destruction of red blood cells increases the production of substances such as urobilinogen from hemoglobin metabolism, causing the urine to appear tea-colored. This is often accompanied by symptoms such as anemia, jaundice, fever, and back pain. Management may involve following medical advice to use medications such as prednisone tablets, folic acid tablets, and vitamin E soft capsules. Blood transfusion therapy may be necessary in some cases.
4. Cholecystitis: Inflammation of the gallbladder can obstruct bile excretion, causing bilirubin to reflux into the bloodstream and subsequently be excreted in the urine, darkening its color to resemble strong tea. This is commonly accompanied by symptoms such as right upper abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and fever. Doctors typically prescribe medications such as anti-inflammatory bile-promoting tablets, ursodeoxycholic acid capsules, and cefixime dispersible tablets, while advising avoidance of high-fat foods.
5. Viral hepatitis: Hepatitis viruses damage liver cells, affecting bilirubin metabolism and increasing bilirubin concentration in the urine, turning it tea-colored. Symptoms often include fatigue, reduced appetite, liver area pain, and yellowing of the skin. It is recommended to follow medical guidance for the use of medications such as entecavir dispersible tablets, silybin capsules, and compound glycyrrhizin tablets.
In daily life, maintaining good habits, avoiding excessive fatigue, and undergoing regular liver, gallbladder, and blood examinations are advised. If the symptom of very yellow urine resembling strong tea persists without improvement or is accompanied by other discomforts, timely medical consultation is recommended.
