White Stool After Diarrhea: Should You Be Concerned?

Yes, be concerned if you have white stool after diarrhea.

If you’ve been taking large doses of certain antidiarrheal drugs, such as bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol, Kaopectate), this could result in very light stools.

White stools, however, could be a symptom of a more serious condition. If your poop is white, get a diagnosis from a healthcare provider.

Keep reading to learn about the more serious causes of white stool, including symptoms and treatments.

A lack of bile can often cause white stool or stool that has a claylike consistency. A lack of bile could be a sign of a serious problem.

What is bile?

Bile is a digestive fluid. Your liver produces it, and it’s stored in your gallbladder. During the digestive process, bile is excreted into your small intestine to break down fats into fatty acids.

Among other important functions, bile helps in the elimination of cholesterol and waste products, such as bilirubin. Bile gives your stool its typical brownish color.

A lack of bile in your stool is often the result of a blockage in the bile duct. The bile duct is a tube that delivers the bile to the small intestine. A number of conditions can cause a blockage, including:

• gallstones
• tumors (bile ducts or pancreas)
• bile duct inflammation
• enlarged lymph nodes in the transverse fissure of the liver (porta hepatis)
• bile duct cysts
• parasites (liver flukes)

Symptoms of bile duct obstruction

Along with white stools, you may also experience symptoms such as:

• jaundice (yellowing of skin or eyes)
• abdominal pain (upper right side)
• nausea
• vomiting
• fever
• dark urine

Treatment for a blocked bile duct

Your doctor will recommend treatment based on the underlying cause. For example, for gallstones, your doctor might suggest a cholecystectomy. That’s surgery to remove the gallbladder.

For liver flukes, you doctor may prescribe albendazole or praziquantel.

White stool can sometimes be a symptom of liver disease. There are many causes for liver disease, including:

• infection, such as:
  • hepatitis A
  • hepatitis B
  • hepatitis C
• cancer (and other growths), such as:
  • liver cancer
  • bile duct cancer
  • liver adenoma
• genetics, such as:
  • alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency
  • hemochromatosis
  • hyperoxaluria and oxalosis
  • Wilson’s disease
• immune system abnormality, such as:
  • autoimmune hepatitis
  • primary biliary cirrhosis
  • primary sclerosing cholangitis
• other conditions, such as:
  • chronic, heavy alcohol use
  • nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Symptoms of liver disease

Along with white stools, you may also experience symptoms such as:

• jaundice (yellowing of skin or eyes)
• abdominal swelling and pain
• chronic fatigue
• nausea
• vomiting
• swelling in ankles and legs
• dark urine
• bruising
• skin itchiness
• loss of appetite

Treatment for liver disease

Your doctor will recommend treatment based on the diagnosis. While some liver problems require medication or surgery, many can be addressed with lifestyle changes, such as losing weight or stopping alcohol use.

In all cases, treatment for liver disease should include careful monitoring of your liver function. Liver disease that leads to liver failure may ultimately require a liver transplant.

Bowel movement colors can reveal information about your health.

Having white stool after diarrhea might just be the result of taking large doses of certain antidiarrheal drugs. However, it could also be a symptom of a serious medical condition, such as liver disease or a blocked bile duct.

To be sure, get a full diagnosis from your doctor if you’re experiencing white bowel movements.