Why do black stools appear after Activated Charcoal?

Causes

Each person should pay special attention to the consistency, smell and color of their own stool, because it is an indicator of health status. Feces are the same throughout life - from light brown to dark brown (individually for all people).

There are many conditions that trigger the formation of black diarrhea. These may be physiological or pathological reasons.

Physiological reasons

Diarrhea occurs against the background of an increased amount of fluid in the intestinal lumen, which is why peristalsis works harder, trying to remove water from the body. The following physiological reasons contribute to the formation of diarrhea:

• taking certain medications and alcoholic beverages;
• sudden change in diet;
• acclimatization;
• infection with E. coli;
• excessive anxiety or stress;
• consumption of hard-to-digest foods;
• binge eating.

If a person with these conditions consumes foods/drugs, etc., that emit a dark coloring pigment, then diarrhea occurs in a black tone.

Physiological causes are usually not dangerous and are temporary. That is, the structure and color of stool are restored after eliminating the factors that influenced it. Therefore, therapy is most often not required. But if diarrhea occurs over a long period of time, you need to make an appointment with a doctor.

Diseases that cause black diarrhea

Feces become black in the presence of pathologies that are accompanied by internal bleeding. Accordingly, in the organs of the gastrointestinal tract - duodenum, stomach, esophagus. It is generally accepted that when bleeding occurs, the stool contains blood impurities, but this is not the case. Because before entering the feces, the blood first combines with bile and gastric juice, which leads to blackening.

Use of medications

Of course, each of us has had to deal with this violation at least once in our lives. In most cases, people do not pay attention to black diarrhea. Their treatment is usually limited to antidiarrheal drugs.

A popular medication from this group of drugs is Loperamide. It quickly restores peristalsis, but is dangerous for the development of complications. After taking it, mild intoxication of the body is possible due to the penetration of harmful elements into the blood. Therefore, immediately after Loperamide you need to take Enterosgel. This sorbent perfectly absorbs toxins and removes them from the body.

If your loose stools are dark in color, you should try to analyze your diet over the past few days. What causes diarrhea is easy to understand. It is possible that certain foods or medications may have contributed to the disorder. Therefore, you should avoid them for a while. Most likely, the condition will return to normal in a few days.

Associated symptoms

If a person exhibits only black diarrhea, then this is most likely physiological diarrhea that does not require treatment, but in pathological conditions additional symptoms may be observed depending on the cause. In general, you should be wary of the following:

• nausea and vomiting;
• pain syndrome in the epigastric areas;
• decreased appetite;
• weakness;
• weight loss;
• stomach discomfort;
• dizziness;
• paleness of the skin;
• increased gas formation;
• fog;
• increased body temperature;
• bowel movements too often.

What can help differentiate the likely causes of dark-colored stools?

• General health - if the cause is bleeding, then symptoms due to blood loss are more likely to appear - weakness, pale skin, sticky sweat, epigastric pain. If the cause of such coloring of stool is food or medication, then general health, as a rule, remains normal.
• The duration of this symptom - if the cause is the intake of certain foods, then the stool takes on a normal color after eliminating “coloring” foods after 1-2 days. With bleeding and long-term use of “coloring” medications, the stool may be black for a long time. If the reason was due to taking medications, then the usual coloration of the stool appears after they are discontinued, which is done by the doctor at the end of the course of treatment.

When should you see a doctor?

If you know that the stool has become liquid and black due to the intake of activated carbon or certain foods, then there is nothing to worry about, since this symptom will disappear on its own after stopping the intake for 2 days.

If you do not know the reason, and the diarrhea continues for more than 3 days, and the frequency of bowel movements is frequent, be sure to make an appointment with a doctor. Especially when, in addition to diarrhea, you have additional symptoms.

Prevention measures

To prevent diarrhea and its complications, doctors recommend following simple rules:

• wash your hands thoroughly before eating;
• do not consume expired eggs, milk, etc.;
• wash fruits and vegetables under running water.

Every conscious person should know what causes diarrhea and try to avoid factors that provoke the disorder. In addition, it is necessary to periodically undergo examinations, and if gastrointestinal diseases are detected, begin treatment immediately.

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Diagnostic methods

At the appointment, the doctor will palpate the patient and ask about additional signs, frequency and nature of bowel movements. Be sure to schedule a collection of stool and blood samples for laboratory testing. Next, the patient is sent for instrumental diagnostics:

1. Gastroscopy or FGDS. The upper parts of the gastrointestinal tract are examined. A gastroscope (flexible hose) is inserted into the oral cavity and moved through the esophagus to the stomach. Additionally, this technique can remove biological material (biopsy).
2. Colonoscopy. The lower parts of the gastrointestinal tract are studied. A miniature endoscope is inserted into the anus. The procedure is not very pleasant, but effective.
3. If tumors and other inflammatory processes are detected, ultrasound, magnetic resonance or computed tomography is performed.

Forecast

Gastritis has become a common disease of our time, which is associated with the fast pace of modern life, irregular and poor-quality nutrition.

Experts say there has been a significant increase in this disease over the past 10 years. According to statistics, in developed countries, 95% of the population has problems with the digestive system.

People who drink large doses of alcohol and take corticosteroids are at risk. Pathological changes that occur in the body at advanced stages of the disease cause bleeding, the symptom of which is the appearance of black feces.

Treatment of gastritis in the early stages is effective and treatable. In advanced stages, the disease will cause significant complications:

• stomach ulcers;
• bleeding;
• transition of the disease to a chronic form.

Esophageal cancer is a common disease in adults. If there is bleeding in the later stages of the disease, such people experience black stool.

The earlier the disease is detected, the greater the likelihood of a favorable prognosis in the treatment of the disease.

In total, there are 4 stages and each of them has its own healing process:

• first stage - 90%;
• second stage - 50%;
• third stage - only 10% live 10 years;
• stage four - life expectancy is no more than 6 months and there is practically no chance of cure.

Black feces can be the result of either a harmless reaction of the body or be a harbinger of serious problems that require immediate treatment.

Normal stool from a healthy person has a brown tint, and any deviations indicate an abnormal reaction of the body to the processes occurring in it.

How to cure black diarrhea?

To get rid of dark-colored diarrhea, you need complex treatment, which necessarily includes taking medications and diet. Comprehensive therapy is aimed at eliminating the symptoms and causes of diarrhea.

Medications

Drugs are selected based on the cause of dark diarrhea. For gastritis, these are antigastritis drugs, etc. But to eliminate the diarrhea itself, the doctor prescribes antidiarrheal drugs and medications aimed at restoring peristalsis, normalizing microflora, and destroying pathogenic microorganisms.

These may be the following drugs:

1. Loperamide.
2. Enterosgel.
3. Levomycetin.
4. Activated carbon (white).
5. Atoxyl.
6. Regidron.
7. Smecta.
8. Enterol.
9. Polysorb.
10. Maalox.
11. Almagel.

Therapeutic diet

Diet therapy involves complete exclusion of the following foods and dishes from the diet:

• canned and pickled vegetables, meat;
• spicy and fatty foods;
• smoked meats and sausages;
• baked goods and sweets;
• carbonated and alcoholic drinks.

What's useful:

• boiled porridge with water;
• dietary boiled meat;
• vegetables and fruits;
• clean water in sufficient quantity (minimum 2 liters).

Folk remedies

Traditional medicine recipes are considered quite effective for diarrhea, therefore they are always recommended by doctors as aids:

1. Rice water. For a liter of water you will need half a glass of raw rice. It should be cooked for a long time – at least an hour and a half. After the liquid has cooled, you need to strain it. Take 100 ml 4-5 times a day (it is not necessary to eat).
2. Starch solution. For 100 ml of water add 1 tsp. potato starch. Mix thoroughly and divide the dosage 3 times. Drink before eating.
3. You can drink 8-10 black peppercorns or make a tincture from it. Pour the same amount of peas into 200 ml of water, let it brew for 2-3 hours.
4. Drink strong tea (not coffee).
5. Use pure and natural rowan juice. You need to drink it 3-4 times a day, 50 ml. To improve the taste, you can add a little honey.
6. Peel 1 pomegranate. You will need crusts and membranes. Fill them with 2 liters of “steep” boiling water and leave for 1-2 hours (preferably in a thermos). Take throughout the day in small portions.
7. Take horse chestnut and chop it. For 1 tbsp. l. powder you need a liter of boiling water. Brew in a thermos for 3 hours. Drink 100 ml three times a day before meals.

Medicinal herbs that need to be brewed in the standard way or strictly according to the instructions for use are very useful. Use the following:

1. To eliminate inflammatory processes - peppermint, calendula, licorice root, linden, sage, chamomile.
2. Snake knotweed, rose hips, St. John's wort, fennel, and rowan have an astringent effect.
3. Restores damaged tissue of the mucous membranes and stops bleeding stinging nettle, burnet (root), creeping wheatgrass, yarrow, shepherd's purse.

Therapeutic diet

During diarrhea, doctors, in addition to drug therapy, prescribe a special diet. It involves excluding fatty and spicy foods, canned food and marinades from the diet. Carbonated water and baked goods are also prohibited.

All food should be as light and simple as possible. Do not overload the intestines, which require a long rest. If you have diarrhea, you can eat boiled chicken or rabbit meat, rice porridge without milk. It is recommended to pay special attention to the drinking regime, because with diarrhea the body loses a large amount of water.

Preventive measures

To avoid black diarrhea, follow these simple rules:

• Maintain personal hygiene - wash your hands with soap before eating;
• Take medications only in the dosages prescribed by your doctor;
• promptly seek qualified help for problems with the gastrointestinal tract;
• if there are diseases of the stomach or intestines, be sure to follow a diet;
• do not abuse alcoholic beverages;
• avoid poisoning (do not consume stale foods);
• Go for a preventive examination with a gastroenterologist 2 times a year.

Contraindications and side effects

There are contraindications in which the body cannot be cleansed in this way. These include:

• possibility of bleeding in the stomach;
• hypersensitivity to the drug;
• simultaneous administration of antitoxic drugs.

In rare cases, especially in case of overdose, the following side effects may occur:

• hypovitaminosis;
• darkening of stools;
• leaching of beneficial nutrients from the intestines;
• problems with bowel movements.

If such problems occur, you should consult your doctor to adjust the dosage or take a break.

Black diarrhea in a child

Black diarrhea in children has the same causes and symptoms as in adults. But in some cases it appears due to:

• introduction of new foods in infancy and beyond;
• teething;
• taking antipyretic drugs.

If the child feels fine, then there is no reason to worry. But if you experience increased moodiness, increased body temperature, nausea and vomiting, you should immediately go to the clinic or call your pediatrician home.

The appearance of black diarrhea can only be safe for physiological reasons. In other cases, this symptom poses a danger to human health and even life. Therefore, do not delay visiting a therapist, take care of yourself in a timely manner.

The mechanism of operation of the sorbent

First of all, you need to understand how this medicine works after taking it. It begins its work only in the intestines, and has no effect on the mucous membrane at all. It is this fact that reduces the number of contraindications to almost zero. Despite this, like any other medication, activated carbon can cause diarrhea if the instructions are not followed.

After the tablets reach the intestines, they envelop pathogenic microorganisms, which reduces their absorption.

One of the important factors in the therapeutic course is the selection of the required dosage. After all, with a small volume of medicine, enough bacteria remain in the body for their further reproduction. Activated carbon can cause diarrhea if this dosage is increased too much.

In addition, loose stools after coal are sometimes provoked indirectly. If you are already treating some pathology, know that the effectiveness of the medicine will be reduced to almost zero. Sorbents reduce the absorption of all foreign elements, including medications.

Traditional treatment

Before you start taking traditional recipes, you need to find out why and for what reason diarrhea formed.

Only after consultation with a doctor and complete diagnosis can traditional treatment methods be used.

• Rowan juice will help a lot. It is necessary to take a quarter glass twice a day, half an hour before meals.
• You can soak croutons or dried rye bread in warm water. After fifteen minutes, the mixture is filtered and taken in small portions throughout the day.
• You can use an infusion of wormwood in alcohol. Take twenty drops every three hours. It is not recommended to sweeten the infusion.

Only adult patients can treat greenish feces using traditional methods using home recipes. Children and adolescents under 18 years of age, as well as elderly people over 60 years of age, should seek professional help.