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uk Health & medical scares black tarry stool • black poo • tarry poo • very dark poo • melena • blood in toilet bowl • blood in poo • rectal bleeding • dark red poo • fresh red blood in stool • blood on toilet paper • pink water in toilet • bloody diarrhoea • bleeding from the bottom • worried about bowel bleeding • on blood thinners and bleeding • after taking iron tablets black stool • after bismuth indigestion medicine black stool • coffee grounds vomit

What to do if…
you notice black, tarry stools or blood in the toilet bowl

Short answer

Treat black, tarry stools or visible blood in the toilet as something to be checked urgently. If there’s a lot of blood, you feel faint/unwell, or bleeding won’t stop, call 999 or go to A&E now.

Do not do these things

  • Do not assume it’s “just food” (or iron tablets) if the stool is black/tarry or the toilet bowl is red—get checked.
  • Do not drive yourself to A&E if you feel weak, dizzy, short of breath, or unwell—call 999 or ask someone else to take you.
  • Do not stop prescribed anticoagulants/antiplatelets (for example warfarin, apixaban, clopidogrel) on your own; instead, seek urgent advice and tell the clinician you take them.
  • Do not take aspirin or ibuprofen “just in case” for pain unless a clinician has told you to (they can worsen bleeding for some people).
  • Do not use laxatives, enemas, or “cleansing” products to try to clear the bowel.
  • Do not delay seeking help because you feel embarrassed—clinicians deal with this every day.

What to do now

  1. Decide if this is an emergency (act immediately if any apply):
    • Bleeding is non-stop, or there’s a lot of blood (for example the toilet water turns red) or large clots.
    • You feel faint, dizzy, confused, very weak, have cold/clammy skin, chest pain, or severe tummy pain.
    • You are vomiting blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds.
    • If yes: call 999 or go to A&E (do not drive yourself). Bring your medicines or a list of them.
  2. If it’s not “999 now,” but your poo is black/tarry or dark red, or you have bloody diarrhoea:
    Ask for an urgent GP appointment or contact NHS 111 today (phone or online). If you cannot get urgent assessment promptly—especially for black/tarry stools—go to A&E.
  3. If you’re on blood thinners, antiplatelets, or have a bleeding disorder (even if the amount looks small):
    Treat this as more urgent. Contact NHS 111 or your GP urgently (or 999 if you feel unwell), and tell them exactly which medicines you take and when you last took them.
  4. Capture the key details (helps triage and reduces repeating yourself):
    • When it started; how many times; whether it’s black/tarry, dark red, or bright red.
    • Any tummy pain, vomiting, fever, weakness, shortness of breath, or recent illness.
    • Any recent triggers: constipation/straining, diarrhoea, heavy alcohol intake, known ulcers.
    • Medicines/supplements: anticoagulants, aspirin, ibuprofen/naproxen, steroids, iron tablets, bismuth indigestion medicines.
    • If safe and not distressing, take a quick photo of the stool/toilet water for clinicians (keep it private on your phone).
  5. Do a quick “look-alike” check—without using it to dismiss symptoms:
    • Iron tablets, bismuth-containing indigestion medicines, and certain foods can darken stool.
      Even so, new black/tarry stool should still be assessed—especially if it’s recurring or you feel unwell.
  6. If you’re waiting for help/transport:
    Stay near a toilet, keep warm, and avoid alcohol. If you become faint, have worsening pain, or the bleeding increases, escalate to 999.

What can wait

  • You do not need to work out the cause right now.
  • You do not need to change your diet or start home treatments tonight to “fix it.”
  • You do not need to decide about tests or referrals—just get the right level of assessment first.
  • You can leave internet searching until after you’ve spoken to NHS 111/your GP or been assessed.

Important reassurance

Seeing black, tarry stool or blood in the toilet is frightening, but getting checked promptly is exactly what clinicians expect—and it often turns out to be treatable. Taking calm, practical steps now (urgent triage, clear details, safe transport) protects you while you get answers.

Scope note

This is first-steps-only guidance for the next few hours/day. Follow-up tests, treatment choices, and longer-term prevention depend on what a clinician finds.

Important note

This guide provides general information and is not a diagnosis. If symptoms are severe, worsening, or you feel faint/unwell, seek emergency care immediately.

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