There has been blood in my stool for 2 days. Should I tell my doctor about this?

Hello,

To clarify, when we say that there seems to be blood in the stool, we are talking about black stools. Black stools can be caused by a health condition or even medications (ex: bismuth products, iron supplements). Melena has been reported following the use of nifedipine, a treatment you have just started again. However, it is unlikely to be the cause since this side effect has been reported in less than 1% of cases in the monograph, and especially if it has not happened to you with your previous treatment.

If you have black stools, you should see a doctor as soon as possible to identify the cause.

If you are talking about a little light red blood on the toilet paper or in the toilet bowl when you defecate, this may be a sign of hemorrhoids. This is often related to constipation or diarrhea and usually resolves within 1 week. Over-the-counter support treatment is available if needed.

Hope this answers your question,

Samantha Hui, pharmacy student

Under the supervision of Alexandre Chagnon, pharmacist