- 1. Use of some medications
- 2. Consumption of asparagus and other foods
- 3. Urinary infection
- 4. Contrast tests
- When to go to the doctor
Although the appearance of green urine is not very common, it is also generally not indicative of a serious condition, and is usually caused by eating food, artificial colors, medications or by using contrast in some kidney tests, such as computed tomography.
However, in rare cases, green urine can also be caused by a pseudomonas urinary infection and, therefore, if the urine remains green for more than 2 days, or is accompanied by fever or other symptoms, it is recommended to go to the emergency room. - help to diagnose the problem and start the most appropriate treatment.
See also other common changes in urine and what they mean.
The most common causes of green urine are:
1. Use of some medications
The most common cause of green urine is the consumption of some types of medication, which are usually remedies that contain dyes in their composition, the most common of which are:
- Amitriptyline; Indomethacin; Metocarbamol; Rinsapine.
Green urine can also appear after surgery, as one of the components of general anesthesia, known as Propofol, can change the color of urine.
What to do: no type of treatment is necessary, as the color of the urine does not affect the functioning of the body, however, it is also possible to consult the doctor who prescribed the medicine to adjust the dose or change the medication, for example.
2. Consumption of asparagus and other foods
Foods that make urine green are especially those that contain artificial colors, such as confectionery, lollipops or gums, for example. In addition, some green leafy vegetables with a lot of chlorophyll, such as asparagus or spinach, can also change the color of urine.
The color of urine can vary from light green or lime green to dark green urine, depending on the amount of dye or food ingested.
What to do: if you have eaten this type of food and the urine has changed color there is no reason to be worried, and it is common for urine to recover its yellowish color after 1 day.
3. Urinary infection
Although most urinary infections do not cause any change in the color of the urine, there is a specific type that can cause this change, leaving the urine green. This infection is caused by a specific bacterium known as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and is usually more common in people admitted to the hospital.
In these situations, in addition to the greenish color of the urine, it is also common to develop other typical symptoms of urinary tract infection such as pain when urinating, fever or feeling of heavy bladder. See a more complete list of other signs of urinary tract infection.
What to do: If urinary tract infection is suspected, it is very important to see a urologist to have a urine test and assess the need to start antibiotic treatment.
4. Contrast tests
Some medical tests that use contrast, especially methylene blue, can cause the urine to change color, turning it green. Depending on the type of contrast used, it is also possible that the urine has other colors, such as blue, red or pink, for example.
What to do: no specific treatment is usually needed, it is only recommended to maintain a good water intake to eliminate the contrast more quickly.
When to go to the doctor
If the urine remains green for more than 2 days, it is advisable to go to the emergency room or general practitioner to diagnose the problem and start the appropriate treatment. In this consultation it is important that the patient takes a list of the medicines he is taking, as the color of the urine can also be changed by the use of some medications.
Find out what other colors of your urine may mean in the following video:
