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Suggest Treatment For Persistent Diarrhea
Question: Father has had black diarrhoea 4 days after starting iron tablets for anaemia-is that a side effect or internal bleeding?
Brief Answer:
It is a normal effect of Iron tablets.
Detailed Answer:
Hello.
Iron tablets do lead to black colored stools. That is a normal effect of the tablets. How frequent are the stools? How many times a day does he have to go to the bathroom? If it is more than 3 or 4 times a day then he might require medication for the same.
Do let me know.
Take care.
Dr Rishi, New XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
It is a normal effect of Iron tablets.
Detailed Answer:
Hello.
Iron tablets do lead to black colored stools. That is a normal effect of the tablets. How frequent are the stools? How many times a day does he have to go to the bathroom? If it is more than 3 or 4 times a day then he might require medication for the same.
Do let me know.
Take care.
Dr Rishi, New XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Thank you Dr XXXXXXX
It was apparently just once, but fairly large.. Has had a normal stool since. Generally as well as his usual (please see below). Has not been investigated for cause of anaemia, but, again apparently, haemoglobin level moved his Dr to start him on iron tablets as soon as possible.
He has multiple health problems now with type 2 diabetes, several heart attacks this year, dizziness and falls but normal CT brain. He is intermittently a bit vague. He takes many different tablets including Warfarin which is well controlled.
My concern is that we are just assuming this is the effect of the iron pills and that there could be underlying upper GI bleed. I'm often asked my medical opinion by friends and family, but as a radiologist for 20 years, now just breast radiology for 5, I'm almost in the group of "a little knowledge is a dangerous thing"!
Thank you again XXXXXXX xxxxxx
It was apparently just once, but fairly large.. Has had a normal stool since. Generally as well as his usual (please see below). Has not been investigated for cause of anaemia, but, again apparently, haemoglobin level moved his Dr to start him on iron tablets as soon as possible.
He has multiple health problems now with type 2 diabetes, several heart attacks this year, dizziness and falls but normal CT brain. He is intermittently a bit vague. He takes many different tablets including Warfarin which is well controlled.
My concern is that we are just assuming this is the effect of the iron pills and that there could be underlying upper GI bleed. I'm often asked my medical opinion by friends and family, but as a radiologist for 20 years, now just breast radiology for 5, I'm almost in the group of "a little knowledge is a dangerous thing"!
Thank you again XXXXXXX xxxxxx
Brief Answer:
Do not worry. You did the right thing.
Detailed Answer:
Hello Mam,
I dont think you need to worry unless it is recurring diarrhoea.
Iron tabs do have that effect.
As far as the Anemia workup, please get a PBS done for typing of anemia.
Take care and let me know if there are other queries on this issue.
Dr Rishi, New XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
Do not worry. You did the right thing.
Detailed Answer:
Hello Mam,
I dont think you need to worry unless it is recurring diarrhoea.
Iron tabs do have that effect.
As far as the Anemia workup, please get a PBS done for typing of anemia.
Take care and let me know if there are other queries on this issue.
Dr Rishi, New XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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