While white stools can result from certain over-the-counter medications, they can also be a symptom of a more serious condition.
The color of your stool can tell a lot about your health, so any time you see a different color in the toilet bowl, it’s natural to wonder why.
If you’ve recently had a bout of diarrhea, you may have pale or white-colored stool. These light-colored stools can be the result of various factors, so it’s important to note your symptoms and get a diagnosis from a doctor.
Keep reading to learn about the more serious causes of white stool, including symptoms and treatments.
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. Your stool color should return to brown after you stop taking the medication, so you don’t have to do anything.
However, if you continue to have white poop after a few days, you may need to consult a doctor.
A lack of bile can often cause white stool or stool with a claylike consistency, which can indicate a more 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 eliminate cholesterol and waste products, such as bilirubin. Bile also 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, which 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 the skin, eyes, or both)
- 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, which involves surgery to remove the gallbladder.
For liver flukes, your 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:
- cancer (and other growths), such as:
- genetic conditions, such as:
- alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (a condition where the body doesn’t produce enough of the AAD protein)
- hemochromatosis
- hyperoxaluria and oxalosis (when oxalate build ups in urine, blood vessels, bones and organs)
- Wilson’s disease
- immune system abnormality, such as:
- autoimmune hepatitis
- primary biliary cirrhosis
- primary sclerosing cholangitis (a rare liver disease that affects the bile ducts)
- 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
- abdominal swelling and pain
- chronic fatigue
- nausea
- vomiting
- swelling in the ankles and legs
- dark urine
- bruising
- skin itchiness
- loss of appetite
Treatment for liver disease
Your doctor will recommend treatment based on the specific diagnosis. While some liver problems require medication or surgery, many can be addressed with lifestyle changes, such as maintaining a moderate 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 result from taking 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, talk with your doctor about your symptoms if you’re experiencing white bowel movements. They’ll ask you how long you’ve been having white stools and if you’re experiencing any other symptoms.