Does Taking Iron Supplements Make Your Stool Black

Whether you are taking iron supplementsalone or a multivitamin with iron you may experience this.

Does taking iron supplements make your stool black.

Iron supplements black poop can be a side effect of iron pills you take for anemia a condition that happens when you don t have enough red blood cells to carry oxygen around your body. Your blackened stools mean your body is absorbing the supplement. Iron supplements can cause dark or black stool can cause constipation or diarrhea. According to the university of maryland medical center this is actually a desirable repercussion of taking iron.

While iron supplements are safe to consume they can have some side effects. This can be disconcerting for those who have never supplemented with iron before. Your stool may become black but the effect is actually harmless. This is not a cause for alarm.

However patients who experience sharp stomach pains and black stools that have red streaks should seek immediate medical help because they are symptoms of stomach bleeding caused by iron supplements 1 this is a verified and trusted source mayo clinic. Some individuals s stools will turn black. Most doctors recommend taking iron supplements right before a meal to avoid side effects. Black or dark stools are a common side effect that may be the harmless result of unabsorbed iron.

Iron pills cause the stool to darken. If the stool does not turn black your supplement may not be successfully getting soaked up. In people with hemochromatosis iron could build to toxic levels. If you have low levels of iron your doctor may have advised you to take iron supplements as a quick fix.

Foods that are dark blue black or green. Common side effects of iron tablets are abdominal pain cramps constipation diarrhea nausea vomiting and black stools. Call md to discuss and make sure nothing else is going on. In more severe cases overdosing on iron can cause fluid build up in the lungs liver damage and vomiting of blood.