14 Known Causes of Dark Stool

The color of your stool can tell you a lot about your health. Most of the time your poop should be a regular brown color. Sometimes it may be darker than others, but most of the time it is a shade of brown. At times, you may notice that your poop is green. This is typical because of something that you ate and is not often a cause for alarm. However, when your stool is quite dark and almost black, it may be something that you consider abnormal. Stool that is black and tarry could simply be due to a change in your diet. However, there are times when it is a sign of a medical issue that should not be ignored. There are several things that may cause you to experience darker than normal stool. Here are 14 known causes of dark stool. 

1. Iron Supplements

If you are diagnosed with anemia, it means that you do not have enough iron in your body. Iron is important as it helps with the creation of red blood cells. Anemia is when there are not enough red blood cells in your body to carry oxygen to where it needs to go. If you are prescribed an iron pill to help with your anemia, it may be the cause of your dark stool. There are some iron supplements that may cause you to experience a stool that is dark and tarry.

This symptom may go away after a while. If it is persistent, you may want to ask your doctor for a different supplement to take. Some other side effects you may have when you are taking an iron supplement include nausea, constipation, stomachaches, and heartburn. It is important to discuss all of these things with your doctor so you can get a medication that may work better for your needs.