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A member asked:
Is it normal to poop black?
3 doctors weighed in across 2 answers
It depends: If you took Bismuth Subsalicylate (pepto-bismol), your stools often turn black. Iron supplements may also cause dark stools. Black stools (melena) can also be a sign of blood from an upper GI bleed (ex. Bleeding stomach ucler). See your doctor!
Answered 9/23/2016
5.4k views
No: Normal stool color is some variation on brown. Clay colored stool suggests something wrong w/your liver & bile system. Black tarry stool suggests bleeding somewhere in your gut. With that said, iron & bismuth (found in pepto-bismol) can both cause black stools. Bottom line: go see your family doc to be sure you're ok.
Answered 1/7/2013
5.4k views
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