Antibiotics are often required to rid the body of the bad kind of bacteria that causes illness. Unfortunately, many of the good bacteria, the ones that are necessary for particular functions in the body, also get wiped out in the process. Using probiotics during or after a course of antibiotics may minimize some of the secondary symptoms of antibiotic use.
The Good Bacteria
Humans are full of bacteria. Fortunately, most of these bacteria perform functions that help rather than hurt us. According to a February 2009 article in the "Internet Journal of Nutrition and Wellness" regarding the relationship between probiotics and antibiotics, there are over 400 types of good bacteria in our digestive tracts. These bacteria aid in the digestion of food, but their benefits do not end there. In addition, they prevent colonization of unhealthy organisms and contribute to overall immune system health. When the balance of good versus bad bacteria is disrupted, however, illness can result. An illness caused by a bacterial infection often requires the use of antibiotics.
Antibiotic Use
Antibiotics are not used for every illness; only those that are caused by bacterial infections require intervention. Antibiotics do not help clear up viral infections such as a cold, but they may be necessary for certain types of pneumonia or upper respiratory infections. Not all bacterial infections require antibiotics, though some are severe enough to require a combination of different antibiotics or even more than one course. This is often necessary with more resistant strains, or infections caused by more than one type of bacteria. Taking an antibiotic will either kill the existing bacteria causing the infection, or will stop their ability to reproduce, allowing the body to kill the residual bacteria off naturally. Unfortunately, this does not always come without side effects.
Antibiotic Side Effects
Unfortunately, you can't kill off the bad bacteria without killing off at least some of the good. The good bacteria that contribute to immune health and ward off other illnesses may dwindle during antibiotic use, leaving you more susceptible to other related health problems. This is why one of the common side effects of prolonged antibacterial use is digestive upsets, usually diarrhea. Other related side effects are often digestive as well and include gas and stomach upset. In women, a side effect of antibiotic use can be a vaginal yeast infection; the natural flora that prevents this type of yeast overgrowth that may be wiped out along with the other bacteria.
Probiotics and Antibiotics
Using probiotics can not only limit the duration of some antibiotic side effects but may even prevent some. In particular, the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine recommends L. acidophilus and L. bulgaricus, both of which may be found in yogurt, cheese and over-the-counter supplements. For optimal effect, take probiotics a few hours after taking your antibiotic. After the antibiotic course, a one- to two-week course of a double or triple dose of probiotics to replenish the natural intestinal flora is recommended. Talk to your doctor for guidelines and particular dosing recommendations.
References
- "The Internet Journal of Nutrition and Wellness"; Probiotics and Antibiotics: A Brief Overview; S. S. Biradar, S. T. Bahagvati & B. Shegunshi; February 2009
- The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library: Antibiotics; September 2008
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine: An Introduction to Probiotics; March 2011
