Medications that cause blood in the stool

To appear Blood in the stool It can be alarming, but it is not always caused by a serious disease such as colon cancer. Although, when faced with this symptom, it is advisable to consult your doctor, you must also know that there are various reasons that can explain it, from hemorrhoids (the most common) to an anal fissure or a viral infection. There’s also medications that cause blood in the stooleither because they favor the irritation of the gastrointestinal tract, because they cause ulcers…

medications that cause blood in the stool

There are various medications that as a side effect, they cause blood in the stool. Some of them are:

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)

Continued use of NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen or diclofenac, may cause you to become irritate the lining of the gastrointestinal tract. This occurs because these drugs weaken enzymes essential to protect the lining of the stomach and intestine from damage caused by stomach acids, which can promote the development of ulcers and bleedingwhich can be found in feces.

anticoagulants

Anticoagulants, such as warfarin, dabigatran, or rivaroxaban, slow blood clotting and prevent clots from forming. one of his side effect is bleedingincluding bleeding anywhere in the gastrointestinal tract, from the esophagus to the rectum.

antiplatelet drugs

Antiplatelet medications, such as aspirin, clopidogrel and prasugrel, inhibit the activation and aggregation of platelets, which helps prevent the formation of blood clots. They can also reduce the body’s ability to stop bleeding, which increases the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding. Also, aspirin and other antiplatelet medications can irritate the mucosa of the gastrointestinal tract and cause ulcers and bleeding.

Corticosteroids

Corticosteroids, such as prednisone and hydrocortisone, are used to reduce inflammation. In some rare cases they can cause ulcers in the stomach and duodenum, which can lead to perforations and bleeding. In addition, continued use of these medications decreases the body’s ability to fight infection, with which there is a greater risk of gastrointestinal infections that can damage the mucosa of the gastrointestinal tract. On the other hand, the use of corticosteroids is associated with a increased risk of inflammatory bowel diseasewhich can also lead to ulcers and bleeding.

antibiotics

The antibioticssuch as amoxicillin and cephalexin, can alter the intestinal microbiota and allow the proliferation of harmful bacteria, such as Clostridium difficile, which can damage the mucosa of the gastrointestinal tract and cause bleeding. In addition, some antibiotics can irritate the stomach and intestines and cause the appearance of ulcers and bleeding.

It must be taken into account that the risk of bleeding varies from person to person and also depends on various factors, such as the duration of treatment or the dose. If you see blood in your stool and suspect that it may be due to a medication, see your doctor as soon as possible.

Other causes of blood in the stool

The presence of blood in the stool can have other causes and can sometimes be a sign of a health problem. The main causes include:

Hemorrhoids: They occur when the veins in the area of ​​the anus or rectum become inflamed. Hemorrhoids can bleed when going to the bathroom.anal fissures: are small tears in the tissue that lines the anus that can bleed when straining during defecation.Inflammatory bowel disease: the main diseases of this type are Crohn’s disease and the ulcerative colitis and both can cause inflammation and ulcers in the gastrointestinal tract that can lead to bleeding.

Polyps in the lining of the colon or rectum: are abnormal growths inside the intestine that can bleed.Colorectal cancer: Tumors can damage nearby blood vessels and bleed.Bacterial, viral or parasitic infections: can irritate the intestinal tract and cause bloody diarrhea.

It is necessary to see a doctor to determine the cause and apply the indicated treatment.