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Gastroenterology  (Expert Forum)
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Black Tongue
This forum is for questions regarding Gastroenterology issues such as Acid Reflux (GERD), Barretts Esophagus, Colitis, Colon/Bowel Disorders, Crohn's Disease, Diverticulitis/Diverticulosis, Digestive Disorders, IBS, Stomach Pain.

Black Tongue

by Claudia21, Nov 26, 2001 12:00AM
This morning i woke up to go to school like every day and wen i went to brush my teeth i noticed my tongue had turned black.  I normaly have like a bad breath white stuff on it that i brush off my tongue, but this time it was black.  The day before i had some hot chocolate and a dounut and some of the usual stuff, soda, tacos.  A few hours before i went to bed i had heartburn.  I've felt that before so i thought, maybe there isn't enough acid in my stomach to digest the food so i had some lemon juice.  Then it kept hurting so i took some Peptobismal.  Wen i went to bed my stomach was still huring a little bit and wen i woke up the next morning my tongue was black.  i had a hard time brushing it off and i have a soart of a bitter taste in my  mouth all day.  It's the first time this has happend to me and i'm a little worried.

Claudia
Member Comments (14)

by pete1, Nov 27, 2001 12:00AM
the black is from the pepto. It can also cause your stools to be black. I do not think that it is any concern. The heartburn might be but the black is surely from the pepto.

by suzie-q, Nov 27, 2001 12:00AM
I also had a black tongue after I was taking pepto bismol for a few weeks as the Dr. told me to. It also turned my stool black.
Have you eaten any black licorce? that also causes blck tongue and a black stool.

by girl george, Nov 27, 2001 12:00AM
I was trying to find info on why my 7 year old's tongue had turned a dark brownish black. The staff at our very little clinic, did not have any answers. He had severe diarrhea, and gas cramps to the point of crying. I choose the old stand by, pepto bismol, only to find out that you should never give children pepto, because of the asprin content in it. It didn't work anyway. I continued to rub his tummy, and use viberation working clockwise to help move the gas bubbles down and out. The next morning his tongue was brownish black. This website was where I got the answer to the discoloration of the tongue. Thank you.G.G.

by Claudia21, Nov 29, 2001 12:00AM
Thank you very much for your help.  I was begining to think i was very sick.  It was the first time i had heard of Pepto turning tongues black, but knowing it makes me feel better.  Thank you all again. =0}

by olivecat, Jan 27, 2002 12:00AM
Thank you, I am so glad to  find out the cause of black tongue. I worried all day after I took a generic Pepto last night. I have taken Pepto before and this has never happened. I was so worried that I thought I had cancer or something...it was terrible. My husband said to check on the web and so here I found you. Thank GOD!!! I would have worried for weeks!

by tanglin, May 31, 2002 12:00AM
Wow I'm so glad I found this site!  My 15 yr old daughter has terrible problems with gas,heartburn, etc.  I also told her to take pepto.  She was in alot of pain even after taking the pepto for a while.  The pain finally went away but she woke up to bad breath and a black color tongue.  WE WERE SCARED TO DEATH!  A doctor told me it was usually sign of toxic poisoning.  I have been searching all over for answers to why this was going on with my daughter.  I felt like it might have had something to do with the pepto.  I feel much better now.

by tanglin, May 31, 2002 12:00AM
Wow I'm so glad I found this site!  My 15 yr old daughter has terrible problems with gas,heartburn, etc.  I also told her to take pepto.  She was in alot of pain even after taking the pepto for a while.  The pain finally went away but she woke up to bad breath and a black color tongue.  WE WERE SCARED TO DEATH!  A doctor told me it was usually sign of toxic poisoning.  I have been searching all over for answers to why this was going on with my daughter.  I felt like it might have had something to do with the pepto.  I feel much better now.

by easter, Aug 10, 2002 12:00AM
Why is it that Pepto Bismol can turn your tongue black? I have used the product for over 20 years and never had the experience before, it was  very frightening.

by Ali_02135, Aug 18, 2002 12:00AM
Phew! I am so glad to know that my blackend tongue was Pepto Bismol. As it is now 3 a.m. & I went online because I thought I was severely ill. Thank Goodness for the internet & sites like this.
- Ali

by Ali_02135, Aug 18, 2002 12:00AM
Phew! I am so glad to know that my blackend tongue was Pepto Bismol. As it is now 3 a.m. & I went online because I thought I was severely ill. Thank Goodness for the internet & sites like this.
- Ali

by Aly, Aug 23, 2002 12:00AM
Taking the drug Flagyl to erradicate the H.Pylori in my gut gave me a black tounge, and other side effects.

by ratroya, Sep 29, 2002 12:00AM
As well as the people before me... i thought that i was dying. seriously! I also had the symptoms of the black tounge, the tire taste, and yes i took pepto last night. this has never happended before and it was scary... look it is sunday morning and i am supposed to be in church lol! any way thank to this sight i now have the info that other sight couldn't provide me with and the security that i needed! thanks

by Random Terrain, Nov 12, 2002 12:00AM
I also get a black tongue. I always wondered if there was something wrong with me. I love Pepto-Bismol Chewables (Original). When away from home or even at home, Pepto-Bismol Chewables can be useful If you over do it on the fun food. I like them because they work fast, they fit in your pocket, they taste better than the liquid, and they don't contain aluminum. Another good thing about them is that bismuth can suppress Helicobacter pylori, (a bacteria which causes ulcers).

My first choice is to eat a couple slices of cucumber without the seeds (and without salt), but you can't always get fresh vegetables, so Pepto-Bismol Chewables are nice to have around. It's a good idea to keep a pack next to your bed for emergencies too.

They sell "Original" and "Cherry," so be sure you buy the right one because my family bought a box of the "Cherry" by mistake and we couldn't stand them.

I found the following page using Google.com which explains in detail why black tongue happens:

http://archderm.ama-assn.org/issues/v137n7/ffull/dlt0701-5.html



Duane Alan Hahn
http://www.homestead.com/Fortress_of_infinitude/

by Random Terrain, Nov 12, 2002 12:00AM
I also get a black tongue. I always wondered if there was something wrong with me. I love Pepto-Bismol Chewables (Original). When away from home or even at home, Pepto-Bismol Chewables can be useful If you over do it on the fun food. I like them because they work fast, they fit in your pocket, they taste better than the liquid, and they don't contain aluminum. Another good thing about them is that bismuth can suppress Helicobacter pylori, (a bacteria which causes ulcers).

My first choice is to eat a couple slices of cucumber without the seeds (and without salt), but you can't always get fresh vegetables, so Pepto-Bismol Chewables are nice to have around. It's a good idea to keep a pack next to your bed for emergencies too.

They sell "Original" and "Cherry," so be sure you buy the right one because my family bought a box of the "Cherry" by mistake and we couldn't stand them.

I found the following page using Google.com which explains in detail why black tongue happens:

http://archderm.ama-assn.org/issues/v137n7/ffull/dlt0701-5.html



Duane Alan Hahn
http://www.homestead.com/Fortress_of_infinitude/

by Leesh, Nov 12, 2002 12:00AM
Wow!!  I had the same thing happen to me this morning.  I woke up and wash brushing my teeth.  When I spit in the sick, it was black.  I looked in the mirror at my tongue and almost had a heart attack.  Anyway, I went to the health center at my college and they had no clue.  My mom decided to look online and found this website.  I had taken pepto last night before I went to sleep!!!  I don't know if I will be taking that again!!
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