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What Causes Red Bowel Movement After Taking Red Yeast?
Started taken red yeast for a few weeks know bowel movement seems to have turn somewhat reddish and somewhat darker can they be putting red coloring in my red yeast rice? I m taking NOW supposedly organic. Wondering if it s red coloring or I m having reaction?
Thu, 12 Jul 2018
Hello and Welcome to ‘Ask A Doctor’ service.
I have reviewed your query and here is my advice.
Red yeast rice may cause change in the color of the stool and urine but mostly it causes dark colored urine and clay colored stools. If you have red colored stools or dark black stools it is important to rule out presence of blood with your stools. Having fecal occult blood test is recommended, you need to repeat the test three times and if the test is negative (normal) all three times you are very likely you do not have blood in stools.If you are over 50 years of age or have family history of polyps of bowel tumors you will need to have also a test called colonoscopy to rule out conditions of the bowel that might cause blood in stools. Colonoscopy is recommended as a screening test to be done routinely every 10 years after age of 50 in all adults, even if they have no symptoms or complains.
Hope I have answered your query.
Let me know if I can assist you further.
Kind regards, Antoneta Zotaj, MD
I have reviewed your query and here is my advice.
Red yeast rice may cause change in the color of the stool and urine but mostly it causes dark colored urine and clay colored stools. If you have red colored stools or dark black stools it is important to rule out presence of blood with your stools. Having fecal occult blood test is recommended, you need to repeat the test three times and if the test is negative (normal) all three times you are very likely you do not have blood in stools.If you are over 50 years of age or have family history of polyps of bowel tumors you will need to have also a test called colonoscopy to rule out conditions of the bowel that might cause blood in stools. Colonoscopy is recommended as a screening test to be done routinely every 10 years after age of 50 in all adults, even if they have no symptoms or complains.
Hope I have answered your query.
Let me know if I can assist you further.
Kind regards, Antoneta Zotaj, MD
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