Diarrhea at Night: Causes & How to Get Relief

Key takeaways:

• Diarrhea at night may be an indication that you have a medical condition.
• Almost every cause of diarrhea at night is treatable.
• Certain symptoms occurring along with nighttime diarrhea may signal a medical emergency.

Diarrhea can be an annoying and sometimes embarrassing symptom. You may experience diarrhea in the day that continues into the night. Other times, you may have diarrhea mainly at night. This condition is called nocturnal diarrhea.

Diarrhea at night is a sign that you may have an acute infection or be experiencing the first symptoms of a chronic condition. Nocturnal diarrhea can often be successfully treated, but your doctor must first determine its cause.

Is having diarrhea at night normal?

Diarrhea at night is not a typical symptom that healthy people experience. If you have diarrhea at night, you may need to schedule an appointment with your doctor.

Causes of diarrhea only at night

Diarrhea that has an organic cause does not usually cease at nighttime. Whether due to inflammation or infection, the organic condition often causes diarrhea at any time of day or night. Below are some common organic causes of diarrhea.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a family of conditions that includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. These conditions cause symptoms like abdominal pain, diarrhea, and bloody stools. The inflammation caused by IBD does not usually subside without treatment. Thus, symptoms may persist through the night.

Microscopic colitis

Usually seen in older adults, microscopic colitis causes persistent watery diarrhea. The exact cause of microscopic colitis is unclear. The immune system is thought to be involved. Around half of patients experience diarrhea at night.

Infection

Infection of the colon is another cause of nocturnal diarrhea. This can affect children and adults. Agents can include bacteria or parasites.

Additional symptoms include abdominal pain and blood or mucus in the stool. You may or may not have a fever. Unless treated, the infection will persist throughout the day and night, causing nighttime diarrhea and other symptoms.

Malabsorption

Our small and large intestines are responsible for reabsorbing nutrients and water. When this process is disrupted, diarrhea often results.

Several conditions can cause malabsorption, including:

• Lactose intolerance
• Celiac disease
• Chronic pancreatitis
• Bacterial overgrowth

If you have been diagnosed with one of these and have nocturnal diarrhea, you should see your doctor. Diarrhea caused by malabsorption is often foul-smelling, greasy, and bulky rather than watery.

Other symptoms include abdominal pain and cramping, increased flatulence, and increased stomach rumbling. Because absorption of nutrients takes a long time, you may experience nighttime symptoms from food eaten in the day.

Read our guides on different types of diarrhea and diarrhea causes for more.

Causes of nighttime diarrhea based on another symptom, condition, or situation

Symptoms accompanying diarrhea can sometimes point toward the cause.

Diarrhea every night

Any of the above conditions can lead to diarrhea every night.

Diarrhea and sweating at night

Sweating accompanied by nighttime diarrhea can be a symptom of hyperthyroidism. The thyroid is a small gland in the neck that controls metabolism. An overactive thyroid gland causes hyperthyroidism.

The metabolism is overstimulated with hyperthyroidism. Other common symptoms include weight loss, sweating, palpitations, and diarrhea. Patients sometimes experience hair loss and high blood pressure.

Diarrhea and stomach cramps at night

Diarrhea and stomach cramping can be a feature of inflammatory bowel disease. It may also indicate malabsorption or infection.

Constipation in the morning followed by diarrhea at night

Constipation followed by diarrhea may indicate irritable bowel syndrome. This is one of the most commonly diagnosed gastrointestinal diseases. It is characterized by abdominal pain and changing bowel habits.

There are several subtypes of IBS based on the predominant symptom. There is IBS with constipation (IBS-C), IBS with diarrhea (IBS-D), and IBS mixed (IBS-M). In the mixed type, patients often alternate between constipation and diarrhea.

Diarrhea at night while pregnant

Diarrhea at night during pregnancy may be related to normal hormonal changes. It could also be a sign of imminent labor. Please call your doctor if you are pregnant and have nighttime diarrhea.

How to get relief from nighttime diarrhea at home

Nighttime diarrhea is sometimes an indication of a more complex medical condition. Please do not treat your symptoms at home without speaking to your doctor first.

Over-the-counter medication

Several potential over-the-counter therapies can help your symptoms. Probiotics can restore normal intestinal bacteria destroyed by diarrhea. These medications can help restore normal intestinal function.

Anti-diarrheal agents may also be useful for your symptoms. But please speak to your doctor before starting these medications. These can make some infections worse and cause serious complications.

How to prevent nighttime diarrhea

The most effective treatments for nocturnal diarrhea are aimed at the cause.

Treat the cause

When you see your doctor for nighttime diarrhea, they may run tests or refer you to a specialist. You may require a colonoscopy. This is all meant to get to the diagnosis as quickly as possible.

Because the conditions that cause nighttime diarrhea are different, their treatments are different. Your doctor may want you to take over-the-counter or prescription anti-diarrhea medications while you are being evaluated. Those medications should not be substituted for treating the cause.

When to see a doctor about diarrhea at night

Diarrhea at night is occasionally a sign that something more serious may be wrong. Please see your doctor if you have this symptom.

You should see a doctor if:

• The diarrhea lasts longer than 48 hours.
• The symptoms are so severe you cannot complete normal daily tasks.
• You have a fever (temperature greater than 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit).
• You are showing signs of dehydration.
• You have recently taken antibiotics and now have diarrhea.

You should go to the emergency room if:

• You are experiencing severe abdominal pain.
• You have not produced any urine for 6 hours.
• The patient is confused or having difficulty staying awake.
• You feel like your heart is racing.
• You notice bloody or dark-black (tarry) stools.

Questions to ask your doctor about nighttime diarrhea

• What do you think is causing these symptoms?
• Can I take over-the-counter medications for the symptoms?
• How long do you expect this to last?
• When should I call you back if I don’t think I’m improving?

How a doctor can help treat diarrhea at night

Your doctor will recommend treatment aimed at the cause of your diarrhea. Depending on whether the cause of your nocturnal diarrhea is acute or chronic, your doctor may recommend a variety of different options.

Treating the underlying cause

The most important step is treating the cause of nighttime diarrhea. It may mean avoiding certain foods, taking antibiotics, or receiving therapy for inflammatory bowel disease.

Talk with your doctor about what they think is the underlying cause of your symptoms. That will help you better understand the steps that should be taken.

Frequently asked questions: nighttime diarrhea

It’s normal to have questions about your symptoms. Here are a few answers to some commonly asked questions that might shed some more light on your symptoms.

What would cause nighttime diarrhea with no other symptoms?

Microscopic colitis is one of the more likely causes. Infection or malabsorption may also cause nighttime diarrhea without other symptoms.

Is diarrhea at night a sign of diabetes?

Not usually. Signs of diabetes include frequent urination, feeling thirsty, weight loss, and vision changes.

Final thoughts

Diarrhea at night, or nocturnal diarrhea, is usually a sign that you might be dealing with a medical condition. However, it may also be the result of acute issues like infection. Diarrhea is not necessarily a medical emergency, but if it persists and causes dehydration, pain, or contains blood, it may warrant a visit to the emergency room. Regardless, it’s important to see your doctor so you can recover and feel better.

General Medicine follows a strict editorial process, including using real experts to write our articles, vetted primary sources, fact-checking, a secondary medical review, and updates as necessary. This article was medically reviewed and fact checked by Dr. Lane Thaut, DO.

Sources

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Lo Vecchio, Andrea, et al. “Infections and Chronic Diarrhea in Children.” The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal vol. 40,7 (2021): e255-e258. doi:10.1097/INF.0000000000003182

Burgers, Kristina, et al. “Chronic Diarrhea in Adults: Evaluation and Differential Diagnosis.” American Family Physician, vol. 101, no. 8, 15 Apr. 2020, pp. 472–480, www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2020/0415/p472.html.

‌‌Mathew, Philip, and Prashanth Rawla. “Hyperthyroidism.” PubMed, StatPearls Publishing, 19 Mar. 2023, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537053/.

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