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"&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Stomach upset is very common, and many people will take an over-the-counter remedy to get some relief, such as Pepto-Bismol or Kaopectate. Feeling better typically happens pretty quickly, but later that day or the day after, something really weird happened in the bathroom. The next\u00A0bowel movement or two showed a difference in the color of the\u00A0&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/what-is-stool-inflammatory-bowel-disease-1943035&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;1&amp;quot;&amp;gt;stool&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;, and it\u00A0was\u00A0&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/causes-of-black-stool-1941711&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot;&amp;gt;black&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;\u00A0or maybe it was even\u00A0&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/what-causes-green-poop-or-green-diarrhea-1941725&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;3&amp;quot;&amp;gt;green&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;. Some people might even forget taking that medication, and then the black stool is really a surprise and a mystery.\u00A0However, it was actually taking these medications that has this effect. Green or black stools could be caused by the active ingredient\u2014&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/indigestion-vs-heartburn-1742319&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;4&amp;quot;&amp;gt;bismuth subsalicylate&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;h3&amp;gt;How Bismuth Subsalicylate Works&amp;lt;/h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Pepto-Bismol and Kaopectate (which are two of the well-known brand names, there are also generics or store brands the have similar ingredients) can be found in many drug stores. These medications are often used for an\u00A0upset stomach, such as after eating too much, or for mild stomach discomfort that&amp;amp;#39;s caused by a variety of reasons. They&amp;amp;#39;re not usually the type that are prescribed for chronic conditions, or for ongoing digestive complaints, because they may not be very effective at treating those actual problems. People who find themselves taking over-the-counter medications to manage digestive upset for longer than a few days or for several times a month should contact a physician.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Bismuth\u00A0subsalicylate\u00A0is an\u00A0&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/antidiarrheal-medications-1942385&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;5&amp;quot;&amp;gt;antidiarrheal drug&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;. It has several effects on the digestive system: it can calm inflammation and reduce the amount of water that goes into the bowel. This can help calm down loose stools or diarrhea.\u00A0It also has antibacterial properties, and may work to inhibit certain organisms that cause diarrhea and other gastrointestinal symptoms.\u00A0&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;A small amount of a\u00A0substance called sulfur is present in saliva and in the gastrointestinal tract. Sulfur interacts with bismuth, the &amp;lt;a data-inlink=&amp;quot;6QK9Uq18_cZ7tOusU7rxLQ&amp;amp;#61;&amp;amp;#61;&amp;quot; href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/active-ingredient-1124065&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;6&amp;quot;&amp;gt;active ingredient&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;\u00A0that&amp;amp;#39;s used in Pepto-Bismol. The result is a new substance called bismuth sulfide, which causes the stool to turn black.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;h3&amp;gt;Should You Worry About This Change in Stool Color?&amp;lt;/h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The black or green stool after taking bismuth subsalicylate can last for several days, but it is harmless. This &amp;lt;a data-inlink=&amp;quot;I75rSstg2ir_HnqrBmJjSA&amp;amp;#61;&amp;amp;#61;&amp;quot; href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/stool-color-changes-1945293&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;7&amp;quot;&amp;gt;change in stool color&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; is not a cause for concern unless you have stopped taking the bismuth subsalicylate and the changes in the stool color persist.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;h3&amp;gt;What to Do if the Color Change Continues&amp;lt;/h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;If the black or green color in your stool does not stop a few days after the medicine is stopped, there could be something else going on. Black stool can happen for a variety of other reasons, including taking iron supplements and eating certain foods (like black sandwich cookies). But when it can not be traced to a food or a supplement, a doctor should be consulted because black, tarry stools could contain blood. Blood in the stool is always a serious concern, it is never normal, and it does need evaluation.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Green stool is also common, especially after eating green or purple foods, However, green stool that continues for a longer time could be because of a medical problem. When stool moves through the body too quickly, it doesn&amp;amp;#39;t get a chance to be changed to brown, and it stays green. That&amp;amp;#39;s why green stools and diarrhea together should be discussed with a doctor.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Black or green stools that are accompanied by diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain or other symptoms, should prompt you to call your physician. Even if you think your stool changed color because of the bismuth\u00A0subsalicylate, if you have these other symptoms too, you should seek medical care.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;Sources:&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc. &amp;amp;#34;&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a607040.html&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;externalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;8&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Bismuth Subsalicylate&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;.&amp;amp;#34; MedlinePlus. 1 Feb 2011. 25 Nov 2015.&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;Pitz AM, Park GW, Lee D, Boissy YL, Vinj\u00E9 J. &amp;amp;#34;&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Antimicrobial activity of bismuth subsalicylate on Clostridium difficile, Escherichia coli O157:H7, norovirus, and other common enteric pathogens&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;.&amp;amp;#34; &amp;lt;em&amp;gt;Gut Microbes&amp;lt;/em&amp;gt;. 2015;6:93-100. 25 Nov 2015.&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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