is this normal? will it go away? did anybody else get this?
am i not drinking enough water???
ugh....
Posted by Dawn in VA (Member # 9693) on :
Randi, I've never heard of that being "normal" w/anything before. I think you should call your doc about this ASAP. You could be passing proteins and since flagyl is known to be tough on liver/kidneys...
Perhaps consider stopping the flagyl until you are told otherwise?
Posted by BoxerMom (Member # 25251) on :
Here is a link to rhabdomyolysis. It can be induced by certain drugs. It's the breakdown of muscle tissue that results in "tea colored" urine. It can cause kidney damage.
You should contact your doc. You could just be dehydrated, but rhabdo should be ruled out.
Good luck.
Posted by lululymemom (Member # 26405) on :
I wouldn't worry. Our doctor told us to watch for this and this is what I got off the website.
Metronidazole (flagyl) may cause dark urine in some patients. This is temporary and will go away when you stop taking this medicine.
Posted by randibear (Member # 11290) on :
yeah, i've been searching and found out that it's ok. also called the pharmacist and he said "more water".....
sorry for panicking but at least others might want to know..
i have to do 10 days for this diverticulitis and man, it's tough...
Posted by seekhelp (Member # 15067) on :
Call your doc. It could be serious. Don't take patient advice w/issues like this!
Posted by lululymemom (Member # 26405) on :
Since you were only on it for 2 days running to the doctor over a known side effect seems a little dramatic, but seek seems to know best.
We shouldn't think everything is a medical emergency.
Posted by TF (Member # 14183) on :
I have not had lyme in years.
When I got a stomach virus last year and basically stopped eating and drinking, my urine was brown. (I was not on any medications.) Doc tested it and said it was from dehydration. Told me to drink lots of water. It was difficult because of stomach feeling lousy.
When I recently took flagyl for an intestinal problem, it turned my urine dark. This is a stated side effect of flagyl.
If you are dehydrated AND on flagyl, that could make for some dark urine.
But, to be sure, you can always call doc's office and ask to come over and give them a urine sample of your brown urine. You don't need to see a doc for this. They will tell you right on the spot if it is OK. Gives peace of mind.
Posted by seekhelp (Member # 15067) on :
Everyone makes their own decision. What type of liability would we taken on if we told someone not to consult their doc IF it winds up being serious. For example, my neuromuscular specialist said years ago that dark urine is a symptom of muscle breakdown and deadly serious.
I'm sorry if someone feels like I'm wasting time. I'm no doctor. if I was, I'd be cured! I'm no expert on Flagyl either.
Whatever it is, I hope it's harmless and things are normal soon.
Posted by psano2 (Member # 11711) on :
I just wanted to throw out another possibility. You could be having a die off of Babesia, because I believe that Babesia die off can make the urine turn brown, and Flagyl can kill Babs. I've personally had that happen on other Babesia medications as well as on Flagyl. Not the only possibility obviously, but another one to consider.
Posted by randibear (Member # 11290) on :
why would babs cause brown urine? you mean the toxins actually could show up?
i drank three very large glasses of water yesterday and it was clear.
Posted by momintexas (Member # 23391) on :
It's better to be safe than sorry in my opinion.
Brown urine can also indicate gallbladder, kidney and or liver problems.
Why take the risk when you can just call your Dr and see what they think?
Are you experiencing any pain or discomfort?
Posted by psano2 (Member # 11711) on :
randibear,
Darkened urine has been reported in reports such as this one:
This is quite a good article. I would copy and paste the whole thing, but it's long, and you can read it yourself by following the link.
The explanation I've heard as to what causes it is that Babs lives inside the RBCs, so when it dies, it's expelled from the RBC and takes some of the hemoglobin with it. My personal experience also included that the whites of my eyes had become brownish in color and at it's worst had a darker brown spot on one place of the most affected eye. I would look at my eyes in the mirror and wonder why my eyes looked so tan. Now that I've been on heavy Babesia treatment for a while, the whites of my eyes are much whiter, and the brown spot is completely gone.
Posted by TF (Member # 14183) on :
Here is a quote from the article above:
"Treatment with the combination of quinine (Quinamm; 650 mg of salt orally, three times daily) and clindamycin (Cleocin; 600 mg orally, three times daily, or 1.2 g parenterally, twice daily) for seven to 10 days is the most commonly used treatment."
It makes other statements also like:
"Researchers compared the duration of parasitemia in persons who had received specific antibabesial therapy with that in silently infected persons who had not been treated. Babesial DNA persisted for 16 days in 22 acutely ill subjects who received clindamycin and quinine therapy (P = 0.03). Among the subjects who did not receive specific therapy, symptoms of babesiosis persisted up to 114 days."
Sorry, but this is not the babesiosis I experienced.
It is not cured in 7 to 10 days of treatment. And, those with babs who do not get treatment do not get rid of it in 114 days all on their own.
Posted by apljack (Member # 14233) on :
TF--I wish it was treatable in 7-10 days and untreated only 114. I didn't read the article, just your notes.
Randi--glad it's clear again.
Posted by bcb1200 (Member # 25745) on :
It is a normal side effect. Happens to me too.
Posted by tickssuck (Member # 15388) on :
I was in the hospital for 5 days due to rhabdomyolysis. I was on Bicillin and pulsing flagyl at the time. Fortunately, my kidneys recovered....I would NOT mess around. There is a simple blood test (I believe it's a CK test) to make sure you're not having muscle break down and associated kidney problems. Just sharing my experience; good luck. TS
Posted by annier1071 (Member # 28977) on :
I have the same issue from diflucan that was given to me for a yeast infection. The statemetn from the pharmacy said it is a common side effect for the medication...darkened urine....I would think it wouldnt hurt just to call the doc and make sure.
It is not worth the chance of a problem.
Posted by lululymemom (Member # 26405) on :
Great to hear that you're clear again, Randi!
If you go back to dark even with sufficient hydration, then yes, I would consult with a doctor as well..
Posted by steve1906 (Member # 16206) on :