Antibiotics are a life-saving class of drugs that help your body fight infections that may have been fatal in the days before Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin in 1928. Even though antibiotics play an important role in your health and healing, taking antibiotics can have side effects. A probiotic taken alongside your prescription antibiotic can help diminish or prevent some of the unpleasant side effects of your antibiotic.
Identification
Antibiotics work in animals, humans and even plants, according to the Virtual Museum of Bacteria. Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics for a variety of reasons, from strep throat or as a means to fight a bacterial skin infection. Antibiotics are not effective against viral infections, such as influenza; rather, antibiotics help your body fight bacterial infections. Probiotics are live, "friendly" microorganisms, such as Lactobacillus, that may help your body stay in digestive balance when taken in conjunction with an antibiotic.
Rationale
When you take probiotics during your doctor-prescribed antibiotic treatment, you may be able to prevent gastrointestinal upsets such as diarrhea sometimes associated with taking antibiotics. Antibiotic use can alter your body's balance of intestinal bacteria, causing diarrhea. A March 2006 study published in the "Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology" indicated that in addition to using probiotics for antibiotic-induced diarrhea, probiotics may possibly help stop diarrhea from other causes, such as irritable bowel syndrome or colitis.
Types
You can find probiotics in foods as well as supplements. Foods that contain the healthy bacteria include yogurt and kefir. Read the label on the yogurt to verify that the yogurt has the word "active cultures" on the food ingredient list. Kefir is a type of fermented dairy drink that also contains probiotic bacteria. Your health food store or grocery store often stocks a variety of probiotic supplements. Some probiotic supplements are specifically formulated for conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, while others offer general digestive support. Check with your doctor before taking a probiotic supplement.
Strategies
Eat yogurt containing probiotics for the duration of your antibiotic regimen and for two weeks after you finish your medication. Yogurt may also help soothe your stomach if the antibiotics cause you to feel nauseous or gaseous. Choose unsweetened yogurt, adding diced fruit if you prefer the natural sweetness. If you do not like yogurt, use a probiotic supplement in place of yogurt. When shopping for a supplement, read the box label to ensure the supplement has either active or live probiotic cultures. Wait two hours after taking your antibiotic before taking the probiotic to avoid decreasing the effectiveness of the antibiotic.
References
- PBS: A Science Odyssey: Alexander Fleming 1881 - 1955
- The Virtual Museum of Bacteria; Dr. T. M. Wassenaar; January 2009
- "Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology"; Recommendations for Probiotic Use; Martin H. Floch, et al.; March 2006
- University of Michigan Health System; Healing Foods Pyramid; 2009
- National Institutes of Health; Lactobacillus; November 2010
