Yes, you can consume probiotics either before or after the dose of antibiotics. Actually, some doctors suggest the use of probiotics with antibiotics. Read on to find why probiotics can help you get back on track, and when is the most effective time to consume probiotics.
How Do Antibiotics Work?
If you are suffering from an infection caused by bacteria, such as strep throat or a UTI, the doctor may prescribe an antibiotic as a treatment. The goal of antibiotics is to eliminate harmful bacteria that make you sick. But, antibiotics aren’t aware of the distinction between harmful bacteria and the beneficial microbiome in your gut that make up your microbiome.
Thus, in their efforts to improve your health, antibiotics also alter the balance and the amount of beneficial bad bacteria in the gut.
Studies have shown some changes in intestinal bacteria are linked to a higher likelihood of developing illnesses such as weight gain, inflammation bowel diseases as well as depression, diabetes, and.
It has not been scientifically been proven if these changes are a result of a causal factor or merely arise from similar metabolic factors that trigger these. However, it’s frequently recommended to consume probiotics before or after taking antibiotics since they may reduce some of the negative effects of antibiotics.
“Probiotics are live microorganisms. They are generally safe to consume,” says Rudolph Bedford, MD, a gastroenterologist at Providence Saint John’s Health Center.
Probiotics can be consumed as a supplement to your diet or you can obtain them through taking fermented foods and drinks such as Kombucha, yogurt, and Kimchi.
When To Take Probiotics
Bedford recommends that you should start using probiotics that same day as the antibiotic treatment.
When you’re taking antibiotics, begin with them before taking probiotics. Do not take them all at the same time, as the antibiotics can destroy the probiotic’s bacteria and block any positive benefits, Bedford says.
“You don’t want the probiotic on board until a couple of hours after the antibiotic itself is taken,” Bedford says.
Furthermore, Bedford highly recommends that you continue taking probiotics for 2 weeks after the dose of antibiotics has been completed to help restore your gut microbiome returned to normal.
Take Probiotics To Reduce Antibiotic-associated Diarrhea
Diarrhea is a frequent adverse effect of antibiotics. However, preliminary research suggests that taking probiotics may help prevent antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD).
For instance, one study from 17 research studies concluded that taking a probiotic could reduce the chance to develop AAD by 51 percent. Additionally, certain antibiotics may make you more susceptible to certain diseases, such as Clostridium difficile (C. diff). It is a bacterial infection that can lead to diarrhea, an inflammation of the colon, and in extreme cases, death.
The preliminary study found that probiotics could assist in preventing diarrhea due to C. diff, even though the correlation was not as strong.
For instance, based upon a review of 31 studies researchers found that there is one instance of diarrhea in every 42 C. diff-infected patients could be avoided by using probiotics.
In terms of which probiotic to choose, one option is a yeast named Saccharomyces boulardii CNCMI-745 that is sold under the trade name Floresta. The probiotic supplement is utilized to prevent and treat diarrhea.
People with immunocompromised conditions might not get the benefit of probiotics and must consider alternatives with a physician.
Key Takeaways
It could be a great option to combine probiotics along with antibiotics in order to alleviate the discomforts associated with antibiotics, such as diarrhea. It is also possible to reap the same benefits as probiotics by consuming naturally probiotic food items such as kombucha, yogurt, and the kimchi.