$Unique_ID{BRK00567}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Green Urine}
$Subject{urine green ill defined symptoms symptom Genitourinary Chlorophyll
guaiacol magnesium salicylate thymol infection pseudomonas pyocyanic Methylene
blue urination infections}
$Volume{N-16}
$Log{}

Copyright (c) 1991-92,1993   Tribune Media Services, Inc.


Green Urine


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QUESTION:  Please don't laugh at my question.  I assure you it really happened
and almost made me pass out.  While passing my water I noticed that my urine
was definitely a green color.  I have no other symptoms, and it only happened
once more after that but the color was less intense.  Do I have anything to
worry about?  Will it happen again?

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ANSWER:  If it has disappeared without any other symptoms or complaints, you
most probably are out of danger.  You probably never had anything too serious
to worry about anyway.  The most common reason for green urine is the result
of something you have eaten or ingested.  Chlorophyll containing breath mints
when taken in large quantities are a frequent cause.  There are a number of
other substances in common medications that may also provoke a green color;
guaiacol contained in many cough medicines, magnesium salicylate in Doan's
Pills, and thymol, an ingredient in Listerine mouth wash.  The most serious
cause of green tinted urine occurs from an infection caused by pseudomonas in
the urine.  The pus may contain a pigment, pyocyanic, which causes the green
color.  Methylene blue used in some medical tests and treatments, when
combined with the normal yellow color of urine, produces a green color as
well.  Now it's up to you to think back over the circumstances which preceded
your colorful experience, and try to determine which of these possible causes
might have been the reason in your case.  If you don't repeat the experience,
your green urine days are over.

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The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
problem.