Probiotic supplements and antibiotic medications may perform complementary roles in your body when you have an infection. When you're taking antibiotics to destroy the pathogenic microorganisms that cause infections, these drugs can have the side effect of eliminating beneficial microbes. Supplements containing probiotic bacteria may help restore your natural bacterial balance, reducing your risk of secondary infections. The actions and potency of probiotic supplements may vary according to the strain of bacteria they contain and the concentration of live microbes in each dose. Consult your health-care provider about the form and dose of probiotics you should take during antibiotic therapy.
Definitions
By definition, antibiotic drugs destroy living microbes, specifically, the bacteria and fungi that can cause infections in the human body. Probiotic supplements support the naturally occurring bacteria in your gastrointestinal tract, genitourinary system and other areas of your body. These naturally occurring bacteria perform vital functions, such as promoting healthy digestion and producing compounds that create a hostile environment for infectious microorganisms. When your health-care provider prescribes antibiotics to eliminate microbes that are causing an infection, he may also prescribe live probiotics to prevent diarrhea, oral or vaginal yeast infections or other secondary infections that can occur when your body's beneficial bacteria are destroyed by antibiotics.
Actions
Probiotic supplements contain freeze-dried or liquid living bacteria, such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium species or Saccharomyces boulardii yeast. Lactobacillus acidophilus and other lactic-acid-producing bacteria create an acidic environment in your gastrointestinal tract, which inhibits the growth of pathogenic microbes that can cause diarrhea. Probiotic bacteria may also produce protective benefits by supporting their human host's immune response. Although recommendations about the strength of a probiotic supplement vary, a probiotic supplement should contain several billion microorganisms to restore bacterial flora, notes a clinical review published in the March 15, 2010 issue of the "American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy."
Recommendations
In general, antibiotics and probiotics that consist of live bacteria should be taken at least 2 hours apart. This time gap prevents probiotics from interfering with the actions of antibiotics. Lactobacillus and other probiotics may be taken as powder, capsules or liquid. Your health-care provider may also recommend yogurt containing live probiotic bacterial cultures to restore the balance of healthy bacterial flora in your gut. Lactobacillus supplements may be prescribed in suppository form if you have a vaginal yeast infection. Follow your health-care provider's instructions on how to schedule your doses of probiotics and antibiotics.
Considerations
Although probiotic supplements are generally considered safe for healthy adults when taken in prescribed doses, these supplements may pose health risks if you have a weakened immune system due to chemotherapy or a severe illness, or if you have a central venous catheter in place. Lactobacillus acidophilus supplements may cause digestive complaints, such as gas, an upset stomach or diarrhea. Probiotics may be purchased over the counter and taken as a dietary supplement. However, if you are taking antibiotics due to an infection, you should take probiotics under medical supervision to ensure that you're taking the right strain of probiotic bacteria for your condition and that probiotic supplements do not interfere with your antibiotic therapy.
References
- "American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy"; Probiotics; N.T. Williams, Pharm. D.; March 15, 2010
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Lactobacillus acidophilus; Steven D. Ehrlich, N.M.D.; June 22, 2009
- "Clinical Infectious Diseases"; Probiotics: Definition, Sources, Selection, and Uses; Mary Ellen Sanders, Ph.D.; February 1, 2008
