What Causes Gas Pain, Diarrhea And Blood In Stool After Taking Ex-Lax?

Posted on Tue, 22 Sep 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Wed, 23 Sep 2015 Answered on

Tue, 13 Oct 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : I was constipated yesterday, so I took 2 ex-lax tablets--never have take a laxative before. Early this morning I had gas pains and then spent much time on the toilet with diarrhea. It has subsided this afternoon, but I have noticed that the small bits of fecal matter are orangish to pink and when i wipe the tissue is light pink. I'm scared--this has never happened before. I am a female, 64 years old.

Answered by Dr. Dr.Albana Sejdini Greca (5 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Nothing worrisome;light bleeding due to laceration of rectal mucosa...

Detailed Answer:
Hi my dear,

I understand your concern.

You have been constipated. When constipation is set, the stool is hard at the beginning and you find it difficult to empty your bowel. This is associated with laceration of rectal mucosa when hard stool is passing with difficulty.

This laceration is accompanied with light bleeding (which is completely normal and not worrisome). This explains why the tissue is light pink.

After the hard stool, you experienced more bowel movements with softer stool. This is also completely normal when constipated and after taking laxative medications.

Hopefully, it will be subsided. You should take good hygienic measure for your anal area and apply prep H ointment locally to speed up the healing of the lacerated mucosa.

Try to drink plenty of water and take more fiber rich foods. Fiber supplements containing psyllium can also help.

All the best!
Dr.Albana

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar