Antibiotics are prescription medications that treat bacterial infections. Medication and food sometimes interact with each other, which can affect the efficacy of the medication and impede healing. Some types of antibiotics should not be taken with dairy products, while others may be taken with them if you take the right steps.
Timing
Consume dairy products at least two hours before or two hours after you take your antibiotics for best results. The calcium in milk, cheese or ice cream can interfere with the effectiveness of your medication in some cases, causing either more or less of the prescribed dose to be absorbed into your body. Check with your doctor to determine if your prescription interacts with dairy products, and follow all dosing directions exactly as noted.
With or Without Food
Ciprofloxacin is an antibiotic medication used to treat urinary tract infections and exposure to anthrax. Ciprofloxacin is a type of medication classified as a quinolone. Dairy can decrease the absorption of ciprofloxacin and other quinolones. According to the National Institutes of Health's Medline Plus service, you shouldn't take ciprofloxacin with milk, dairy or other beverages that contain calcium if you are eating a full meal at the time. However, if you take your medication on a full stomach, you can include dairy products in your meal.
Stomach Upset
A common side effect of taking antibiotics, especially in young children, is diarrhea. Not only do antibiotic medications destroy the unhealthy bacteria in your digestive tract, they also kill the beneficial kind, which as a result, leads to gastrointestinal upset. Dairy products, particularly milk, may exacerbate your condition, even if the class of medication does not specifically interact with dairy. Milk and other dairy contains lactose, a natural sugar that can be difficult to digest for some people, leading to stomach pain and diarrhea.
Treating Diarrhea
Although dairy products in general may upset your stomach while you are taking antibiotics, there is one exception to this rule. Yogurt containing live Lactobacillus acidophilus, a type of probiotic, may be beneficial to your digestive tract. Probiotics can restore a healthy balance to your intestines, helping stop diarrhea. Eat yogurt containing probiotics three hours before taking the antibiotic to avoid an interaction with the calcium content in the food.
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