Urine Smells Like Ammonia: What Does It Mean?
Why Urine Smells Like Ammonia?
It can be alarming when a person’s urine smells like ammonia, but in most cases, it is due to his/her diet. This can include certain vitamins, allopathic medications and food.
Sometimes it may also be a result of an infection or an underlying health condition for example:
1. Dehydration
The lack of water in the body can cause one’s urine to become concentrated, meaning there is an increased number of proteins, sugars, and salts, known as solutes.
These chemicals produce the ammonia-smelling odor in the urine. Solutes can also discolor the urine, producing the dark brown or honey color. Bubbles/foam may also be present.
2. Pregnancy
During pregnancy, the body undergoes significant changes throughout this period to accommodate the growing fetus, and patient’s urinary system is no exception. Ammonia-smelling urine is common in pregnant women as are urinary tract infections (UTIs).
Urine-based waste products may cause discoloration of the urine along with the abnormal ammonia odor without the proper water intake. Dehydration is another common problem in pregnancy.
The increase in vitamins and minerals with allopathic supplements taken during pregnancy may be another reason for the odor.
3. Diet
In addition to asparagus, certain foods such as leafy green vegetables, onions, garlic, and coffee may also be the cause of stinky urine. Limiting or avoiding intake of such foods may see the ammonia odor disappear.
Foods enriched with proteins may increase the acidic components in urine. Our body produces urea nitrogen as it breaks down the protein in our food. A buildup of nitrogen is seen with excess proteins and causes the ammonia odor in the urine.
Our body requires sufficient amounts of vitamin B6 to break down protein. Vitamin B6 is water-soluble and cannot be stored in the body. Therefore, a vitamin B6 deficiency will allow more protein to circulate the body.
4. Medications
The urine smells like ammonia and discoloration may also be attributed to certain allopathic medications, especially antibiotics, supplements etc.
The medication “Tagamet,” a stomach acid reducer, may cause the urine to turn a shade of blue. Even the drug phenazopyridine, used to specially treat UTIs and bladder problems, can turn the urine orange. This same color may be seen with the use of certain chemotherapy drugs.
5. Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Urine smells like ammonia may also be caused by a sexually transmitted disease (STD), such as the bacterial infections chlamydia and gonorrhea.
Any form of STD that causes vaginal discharge to be in the urine may also cause the ammonia smell.
6. Bacterial Infections
In addition to the bacterial infections of STDs, other infections of the vagina, urethra, and rectum may produce urine with the ammonia odor.
These forms of bacterial infections are more commonly seen in women, due to the close proximity of the rectum, urethra, and vagina in the pelvic region.
7. Menopause
Women typically begin menopause, the end of menstrual cycles, in their 40s and 50s. The changing of the hormones in menopause may be why the vagina smells like ammonia.
As a result of menopause, urinary infections may develop as well as dehydration, both which can cause the urine to have an odor of ammonia.
Does Smelly Urine Indicate Any Medical Condition?
1. kidney disease
The ammonia-based, strong-smelling urine may indicate a problem with the functioning of one or both kidneys. Any malfunction is a form of kidney disease, known as nephropathy, and may range from mild to severe.
This may be due to an increase of chemicals in the waste products of the kidney, such as proteins and bacteria. The urine can then become highly concentrated, and an increased presence of ammonium can develop. This high level of acidity can lead to kidney stones.
You may be able to boost kidney functioning by increasing water intake and consuming dandelion tea, turmeric, and ginger. These could help cleanse the kidneys of toxins.
2. Kidney Stones
Also referred to as bladder stones, kidney stones are small, hard crystalized chemicals found in the urine. These chemicals include urate, calcium, cystine, oxalate, xanthine, and phosphate, and can cause the urine smells like ammonia.
Usually, these chemicals are dissolved and passed through urine, as a sufficient intake of water will prevent the kidney stone from forming. Without it, the stones can develop and block the urine passage. Water combined with the acidic properties of lemons may dissolve any kidney stones that have formed.
3. Urinary Tract Infection
Kidney stones may lead to a UTI. This type of infection occurs with the presence of bacteria in or near the urethra.
Once inside the urinary tract, the bacteria may cause fishy smelling urine, or urine smells like ammonia. This bacterial infection can cause pain and change the transparency of the urine to cloudy. This is caused by the presence of white blood cells, or leukocytes, and nitrites in the urine.
A UTI may present the ammonia smelling urine, nausea, vomiting, fever, severe thirst, and pain in the lower back or side.
4. Bladder Issues
In addition to UTIs and bladder stones, other bladder problems are known to cause the urine odor of ammonia. This can include incidences of holding in your urine for too long, which makes the urine become concentrated.
Having abnormal bladder control may also create an odd odor and color of the urine, whether the issue is infrequent urine output or bladder leaks.
The ammonia smell may also be caused by a bladder fistula. This develops when the bladder forms an opening that leads to another organ or area of skin. It is commonly seen with the bowel, known as an uterovesical fistula, or with the vagina, known as a vesicovaginal fistula.
Another health condition that may cause urine to smell like ammonia is ketonuria. This is seen with an increased number of ketones in the urine, mainly due to a lack of the essential natural hormone glucagon and insulin.
Ketones, or ketone bodies, are seen with the breakdown of fatty acids for energy. A high level may indicate a metabolic issue such as diabetes.
5. Diabetes
The abnormal levels of ketones in the liver may be linked to the diabetes disease and is commonly referred to as diabetic ketoacidosis. Ammonia urine smells are only one of the many effects of this high blood sugar condition.
An increase in appetite, fatigue, vision issues, and thirst may also accompany the strange smell in the urine. By managing the diabetes condition with diet, medication, and lifestyle choices, the strong odor of the urine may dissipate.
6. Liver Disease
Any malfunction of the liver that hinders the digestion of food and the removal of toxins can lead to liver disease, including infection. The liver will not be able to convert excess ammonia into urea.
The existing higher levels of ammonia from the breakdown of fats and carbohydrates in the liver may produce the strong, foul-smelling urine.
In addition to the ammonia smell, liver diseases may offer symptoms of nausea, vomiting, weight loss, and fatigue.
Allopathic treatment when Urine Smells Like Ammonia
As with most symptoms, treatment begins with addressing any underlying health conditions that may be causing the ammonia smell in urine. A doctor should use these responses to consider the next diagnostic tests for example: exam to check a man’s prostate for signs of enlargement that could be affecting urination, urine test for the presence of bacteria, blood, or biopsy of a bladder. kidney stone or other waste components, order imaging studies for abnormalities in the kidneys, bladder, or other areas that could be affecting the urine.
After diagnosing the root cause, start treat that main cause for ammonia like smelling urine.
Homoeopathic medicines when Urine Smells Like Ammonia
Cantharis
Cantharis is a well-known homoeopathic remedy for its marvelous effects on inflammations and infections. In cases of burns, it brings immediate relief.
It is ideal for cases with symptoms of inflammation of the bladder with pain and a lot of burning in the genitals. The urine passed drop by drop, excessive burning while passing urine. There is retention of urine, but the person feels the need to pass urine frequently; the reason for this is the incomplete clearance of the bladder. There is an intolerable urge to urinate that makes the person go into paroxysms. It can be used in cases of Interstitial cystitis where the root cause is chronic inflamed bladder.
Apis Mellifica
Apis Mellifica Is an excellent remedy used in homoeopathy in cases of chronic inflammation of bladder as well as Interstitial Cystitis. Apis helps to cure the inflamed part and reduce the swelling.
Hot urine passed drop by drop owing to the burning that corrodes the skin and makes it difficult to urinate. The urine in these cases is of a strong color and odor, incomplete urination gives rise to a constant urge to urinate. In cases of urine troubles with swelling in the genitals, retention of urine in infants. Urine smells like ammonia.
In youngsters, it can be used in cases where kidney inflammations have caused cystitis. The kid is scared to pass urine due to the burning pain it causes.
Equisetum
Slight or dull pain in right kidney then in left – extending down left side of sacrum, with urgent desire to urinate; had urinated only a few minutes before and now passed four ounces of clear light-colored urine.
Pain in bladder as from distension, severe dull pain in bladder not by urinating; continued some days after taking the allopathic drug and caused him to fear inflammation of the bladder.
Tenderness in region of bladder and lower abdomen, extending upward from groin; Pain and tenderness in bladder region with soreness of testicles, extending up spermatic cords.
Urine smells like ammonia. Excessive burning in urethra while urinating, Sharp cutting pain in urethra, Pricking in urethra a short distance back from meatus, Biting itching in meatus scratching, Great desire to urinate but only a small quantity passes, Urgent desire to urinate with prickling and soreness of meatus from contact and pressure, Obliged to rise several times at night to urinate, Profuse urination, with burning in urethra and sharp pain at root of penis, Later passes smaller quantities and darker.
Urine cloudy, Great excess of mucus on standing. Enuresis, nocturnal and diurnal.
Mercurius Corrosivus
Tenesmus of bladder; suppressed urine. Increased discharge of urine, passed in drops, and with great pain. Urine scanty, brown, with brick-dust like sediment; bloody; albuminous containing filaments, flocks or dark flesh-like pieces of mucus, epithelial cells of tubule uriniferous in a state of fatty degeneration. Urine smells like ammonia.
Gonorrhoeic discharges, first thin, then thicker (greenish, better at night), and then smarting pain when urinating, with stitches in urethra. Burning in urethra, more before micturition. Paraphimosis.
Petroselinum (Parsley)
Sudden urging to urinate. Patient suddenly seized with desire to urinate; if not gratified immediately, jumps up and down with pain. Severe pain when he passes urine as to cause him to shiver and dance round room in agony. Discharge of a milky fluid from urethra; Albuminous yellow discharge from urethra; gonorrhea. Urine smells like ammonia.
Orifice of urethra agglutinated with mucus. Creeping and crawling throughout whole length of urethra. Frequent and almost fruitless want to urinate, every half-hour. Tingling, lancinating, pressure and drawing, in urethra. Crawling and pressure in region of Cowper’s glands in morning in bed, > while standing and sitting. During micturition, burning and tingling from perineum through the whole urethra. Drawing, afterwards itching in fossa navicularis; burning in navicular fossa while urinating. Frequent desire to urinate, caused by crawling stitch behind navicular fossa. Frequent voluptuous tickling in navicular fossa.
Staphysagria
Itching, needle like stitches in region of kidneys. Pressure on bladder on waking from sleep. Frequent want to urinate, with emission drop by drop, or else of a slender stream of deep-colored urine, excessively painful emission of urine. Urine smells like ammonia.
Frequent (profuse) emission of clear watery urine (with much urging). Frequent emission of red urine. Constant micturition at night. Bloody urine. Involuntary emission of urine when coughing. After having urinated, a fresh want is felt, as if bladder were again full. Burning sensation in urethra, especially (after and) when urinating (with urging, as if the bladder were not emptied). Constant urging in young married women.
Asenicum Album
Retention of urine, as from paralysis of the bladder. Frequent inclination to make water, even at night, with abundant emission. Incontinence of urine, which escapes almost involuntarily, even at night, in bed. Difficult and painful emission of urine. Scanty urine, of a deep yellow color. Urine aqueous, greenish, brownish, or turbid, with mucus-like sediment. Sanguineous urine. Burning in the urethra on making water. Involuntary discharge of burning urine.
Berberis Vulgaris
Violent sticking pains in the bladder, extending from the kidneys into the urethra, with urging to urinate. Frequently recurring, crampy, contractive pain, or aching pain, in the bladder, when the bladder is full or empty – Incisive pains in the urethra, smarting pain in the urethra, with sensation of excoriation, even during the emission of semen in coition.
Motion excites and aggravates the pains in the urethra. Burning pains in the urethra while urinating, and afterwards. Stitches and burning in the urethra.
Shooting pains in the urethra, extending to the bladder. Aching pains in the region of the bladder, even when it is empty, and after making water. Contractive, drawing, acute, incisive, and cramp like pains in the bladder.
Shooting, violent pains in the loins, extending to the bladder. Sensation of burning in the bladder. Increased secretion of urine, which is as clear as water, sometimes urine pale yellowish, with slimy, gelatinous, mealy sediment, white, greyish white, or reddish.
Urine thick, yellowish, like whey, or clay colored water. Urine of a deep yellow, with abundant sediment. Urine dark yellow, red, becoming turbid, copious; mucous sediment, or transparent, jelly-like reddish, bran-like sediment (which is easily crushed and dissolved between the fingers). Greenish urine, depositing mucus. Urine reddish, as if inflamed, with abundant sediment. Urine smells like ammonia.
Apis Melifistida
Burning soreness when urinating, strangury, Pain in region of kidneys; soreness on pressure or when stooping. Frequent desire, with passage of only a few drops.
Urine smells like ammonia and high colored; with thirstlessness. Incontinence of urine from coughing and other circumstances. Urine suppressed. Too profuse discharge of urine.
Albuminuria of scarlatina. Burning and stinging in the urethra. Burning and smarting in the urethra, as if it were scalded. Bladder very painful, often tenesmus after urinating. Urine often milky appearance; very dark and frothy; very fetid; sediment reddish-brown, like coffee grounds.
Aconi Nepalus
Suppression of urine, with pressure in the bladder and pains in the loins. A frequent desire to discharge urine, accompanied by anxiety and pain. Flow of urine, with sweat, diarrhea, and colic. Involuntary emission of urine, from relaxation of the neck of the bladder.
Enuresis, with thirst. Urine smells like ammonia, burning, deep red, and with a sediment of a brick color (arising from taking cold, esp. in children); suppression of, from cold. Bloody sediment in the urine, Scanty, red, hot urine, without sediment. Heat and tenesmus in the neck of the bladder.
Sarsaparilla
Sarsaparilla is necessary for severe urethra pain at the end of urination. The urethra pain will also radiate up into the abdomen area, and it is also hard for the person to urinate unless they are standing. Urination will flow easily at night, possibly when the person experiences bedwetting. When sitting, urine will dribble. Urine smells like ammonia. Scanty, slimy, or bloody urine are also common features of someone requiring sarsaparilla.
There are natural home remedies and lifestyle choices that may help to get rid of the odor.
1. Stay Hydrated
When there is an ammonia odor to the urine and any discoloration, drinking lots of water may help to alleviate these issues. Water will promote the removal of toxins and dilute the urine to return to the normal yellow coloring of straw.
Drink eight glasses of water each day. To avoid nighttime urination, do not wait and drink the total amount in the afternoon and evening hours. Have a glass every one to two hours throughout the day. This will also help the liver and kidneys to properly filter and promote clean urination.
2. Change Eating Habits
If your urine smells bad, it may be from the type of foods you have consumed. Reducing high levels of protein intake will help over time. Many high-protein diets encourage eating large quantities of red meat, and may include whey protein, peanuts, soybeans, and soy extract.
Replace these high-protein foods with vegetables to reduce effects of ammonia-related urine while maintaining a proper protein diet.
3. Medications
Talk to a doctor or pharmacist about any prescribed or over-the-counter allopathic medications that may be causing the discoloration and ammonia smell in urine.
4. Urinate Frequently
One of the causes of concentrated urine can be abstaining from urinating frequently. By holding in urine, the chemical composition of the urine can change significantly enough to produce an ammonia odor.
Avoid this and other related problems, such as pain and strain of the bladder walls, by ensuring the bladder is emptied often.
5. Know Supplement Effects
Some supplements may also cause urine to have a foul smell, such as ammonia. This can happen with excessive amounts of protein and vitamin intake. It can be a sign of getting too much of a good thing.
6. Maintain Good Hygiene
Any strong urine odor, especially ammonia, may potentially be noted by others, especially in close living or working quarters. Empty your bladder completely and always dry well with each urination.
Thoroughly cleanse the genital and groin areas after every urination to avoid the lingering odor. Changing underwear more than once per day may also help to alleviate any remaining odor that can attach to the underwear with urine drops.
7. Try Home Remedies
- Apple Cider Vinegar – Try adding one to two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar to a glass of water and drink several times daily. This may help with any kidney stones and might prevent UTIs.
- Baking Soda – Add one to two teaspoons of baking soda to a glass of water and drink three to four times daily for two days. It may reduce uric acid, treat UTIs, and dissolve kidney stones.
Baking soda should not be used by those with high blood pressure, any form of cardiovascular disease, on a reduced sodium diet, or experience swelling of the feet and ankles. It may also counteract some medications.
When to See a Doctor When Urine Smells Like Ammonia
By making changes to your diet and lifestyle, the ammonia odor should dissipate. However, if the precautionary measures are not working, further investigation may be required by a medical professional. In case of urinary tract, the Homeopath treatment is the best choice for any age and gender.
Smelly urine may be caused by a number of health conditions as highlighted. The medical team will assess any accompanying symptoms and investigate the ammonia-causing odor with several follow-up questions.
- How long has your urine smells like ammonia?
- Are there times when your urine smells especially strong?
- Are you experiencing any other symptoms, such as blood in your urine, fever, back or flank pain, or pain when urinating?
These questions will determine the next course of action in the way of diagnostic tests that may need to be performed. This may include a male prostate test, a urine test, and imaging tests of the kidneys, bladder, and liver.
P. S: This article is only for doctors having good knowledge about Homeopathy and allopathy, for learning purpose(s).
For proper consultation and treatment, please visit our clinic.
None of above-mentioned medicine(s) is/are the full/complete treatment, but just hints for treatment; every patient has his/her own constitutional medicine.
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Dr. Sayyad Qaisar Ahmed (MD {Ukraine}, DHMS), Abdominal Surgeries, Oncological surgeries, Gastroenterologist, Specialist Homeopathic Medicines.
Senior research officer at Dnepropetrovsk state medical academy Ukraine.
Location: Al-Haytham clinic, Umer Farooq Chowk Risalpur Sadder (0923631023, 03119884588), K.P.K, Pakistan.
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