Xiao Wang, who is “no spicy but not happy”, after enjoying a spicy crayfish meal with relatives and friends on the weekend, his wisdom teeth became inflamed and the pain was unbearable. The dentist advised him to take the antibacterial tinidazole to reduce inflammation first, and then follow-up treatment. Xiao Wang took the medicine from the pharmacy and took the medicine according to the usage and dosage prescribed by the doctor. Two days later, the toothache eased slightly, but Xiao Wang found that his urine had changed from pale yellow to deep red. Is it blood in the urine? Xiao Wang hurried to the hospital pharmacy to consult a clinical pharmacist. The pharmacist advised him to do a urine routine, and the results of the examination were not abnormal. Knowing that Xiao Wang was taking tinidazole recently, the pharmacist judged that his symptoms might be caused by taking tinidazole.
So, what common drugs may cause changes in urine color?
Tinidazole Tinidazole is an anti-anaerobe drug of the nitroimidazole class, which can be used for infections caused by various anaerobic bacteria such as sepsis, osteomyelitis, periodontal infection and so on. Its metabolites can make urine appear dark red. Metronidazole and ornidazole, which are similar to tinidazole, have similar phenomena. The pharmacist told Xiao Wang that there is no need to worry too much about this phenomenon. After excluding the condition and other factors, the urine can return to normal color after stopping the medicine. Sulfasalazine, a sulfa antibacterial used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, can also make urine appear orange-red.
Vitamin B12 can also cause red staining of skin, urine and other body fluids.
In addition to other drugs, rifamycin drugs such as rifampicin, rifaximin and rifapentine, their metabolites have pigment groups and have a wide range of excretion pathways, which may also cause tears, saliva, and nasal cavity Secretions, sweat, urine and other secretions are red in varying degrees. When the carbapenem-cilastatin sodium in antibacterial drugs is used in children, non-bloody red urine may also occur, which is caused by the coloring of the drug.
Before taking these drugs, patients are advised to read the instructions carefully, or consult a doctor or pharmacist to understand that the discoloration of urine caused by the drugs is a normal reaction caused by the drugs. However, some drugs can indeed damage the urinary system and cause hematuria, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, aminoglycosides, vancomycin, cyclophosphamide, etc. If red hematuria occurs after taking these drugs, seek medical attention in time.
