Those who’ve had an infection before have probably been prescribed antibiotics by a doctor. Antibiotics can be a great tool in treating infectious illnesses, but did you know that they can also result in other health problems? It’s true, but luckily, we can take steps to ensure this medication kills off harmful bacteria without harming our other vital systems.
Vegan Probiotics can be taken with antibiotics to reduce or prevent the side effects of antibiotic use. It’s recommended to take probiotics a few hours after the antibiotics to ensure effectiveness.
So if you’re taking antibiotics but want to avoid their adverse side effects, you’ve come to the right place. We have all the information on how antibiotic treatment disrupts gut health and how we can use beneficial bacteria to prevent and improve this issue.
What are antibiotics?
Antibiotics are medicines that doctors prescribe to treat an infection. This medication works by attacking and killing the foreign bacteria that threaten to get us sick.
Common side effects and infections that often require the use of antibiotics include:
- Ear and sinus infections
- Dental infections
- Skin infection
- Strep throat
- Bladder and kidney infections
- Other bacterial infections
Studies explain that the severity of potential bacterial infection will determine the level of aggressiveness in antibiotic therapy, which means that the strains and amount of antibiotics we’re taking can vary depending upon exactly what type of infection we have.
How antibiotics affect gut health
Although antibiotics help fight infections, they can also kill the good bacteria that our bodies need to maintain a healthy gut microbiome.
Research shows that antibiotic use can have several adverse effects on the gut microbiota, including reduced species diversity, altered metabolic activity, and the selection of antibiotic-resistant organisms.
That’s why taking too many antibiotics can cause the following issues:
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Yeast infections
- Bacterial vaginosis
But luckily, we aren’t helpless against the adverse effects of antibiotics - there are ways we can reduce our risk of developing these ailments.
What are probiotics?
Probiotics are live bacteria that we can ingest to support gut health and maintain homeostasis.
Multiple studies have found that probiotics have a beneficial effect on gut health. They fight off harmful bacteria while providing the gut with the good bacteria it needs to maintain health.
Probiotics can be taken in supplement form to control exact dosage and strain, but they can also be derived from the following sources:
- Yogurt
- Sauerkraut
- Kefir
- Kimchi
- Miso
- Pickles
- Kombucha
- Other fermented foods
Should I take probiotics with antibiotics?
To avoid the harmful effects of antibiotics, we can take probiotics to ensure balance in the gut.
One study found that probiotics prescribed with antibiotics appeared to effectively prevent gastrointestinal issues in children and adults receiving a wide variety of antibiotics for several conditions.
Further research supports these findings, stating that there is sufficient evidence to recommend the use of specific probiotic products to prevent ailments like antibiotic-associated diarrhea.
But what’s the best way to take probiotics and antibiotics for maximum effectiveness?
Taking probiotics while using antibiotics is the best method for protecting gut health, but it’s essential to bring them a few hours after taking antibiotics. Otherwise, the two may counteract and render each other ineffective.
Read more about the 10 signs of a weak immune system
Final thoughts
Antibiotics play an essential role in helping our bodies fight off infections, but they can do more harm than good if we aren’t protecting our gut health as we take them.
FuelOrganics offers a high-quality vegan probiotic supplement for anyone taking antibiotics or looking to support their gut health in general.
Trusted sources
- Calhoun C, Wermuth HR, Hall GA. Antibiotics. [Updated 2021 Jun 8]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK535443/
- Ramirez, J., Guarner, F., Bustos Fernandez, L., Maruy, A., Sdepanian, V. L., & Cohen, H. (2020). Antibiotics as Major Disruptors of Gut Microbiota. Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology, 10, 572912. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2020.572912
- Shi, L. H., Balakrishnan, K., Thiagarajah, K., Mohd Ismail, N. I., & Yin, O. S. (2016). Beneficial Properties of Probiotics. Tropical life sciences research, 27(2), 73–90. https://doi.org/10.21315/tlsr2016.27.2.6
- Rodgers, B., Kirley, K., & Mounsey, A. (2013). PURLs: prescribing an antibiotic? Pair it with probiotics. The Journal of family practice, 62(3), 148–150.
- Agamennone, V., Krul, C., Rijkers, G., & Kort, R. (2018). A practical guide for probiotics applied to the case of antibiotic-associated diarrhea in The Netherlands. BMC gastroenterology, 18(1), 103. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12876-018-0831-x