Turquoise Urine in a Man Who Had Urinary Retention

While distressing to patients and physicians alike, urine discoloration is mostly benign. Most cases are due to food and drugs. A thorough history and physical exam generally elucidate the etiology but clinicians should have a broad knowledge of the differential diagnosis because life-threatening conditions, such as infection and poisonings, can also manifest as urine discoloration. Here, we present a case of a patient who presented with urinary retention and was found to have turquoise-colored urine, which was due to one of the patient's medications, Uribel. An appreciation of urine discoloration that is related to a benign and reversible medication can lead to stress reduction for patients and a reduction in unnecessary additional testing.