It's important to take probiotics when using antibiotics -- antibiotics kill both the bad and the good gut flora that your body needs to maintain health. CNN Health explains that beneficial bacteria protect your body, but antibiotics "can open up a window of opportunity for pathogens to move in." There are a trillion microorganisms living in and on your body; antibiotics upset the balance of these bacteria and can leave you vulnerable to new infections, especially yeast infections caused by Candida albicans; a candida overgrowth is very common when the beneficial bacteria that kept the candida in check are destroyed by antibiotics.
Antibiotics
Antibiotics are antimicrobial medicines that fight bacterial infections by killing the bacteria or stopping them from reproducing. Antibiotics should not be used to treat colds or viruses and can actually do more harm than good in those cases; leaving your body open to other infections and causing your body to build up a resistance to antibiotics, rendering them ineffective in the future when you may need them. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, antibiotic resistance may be "one of the world's most pressing public health problems." You should not use antibiotics unless absolutely necessary.
Bacteria Balance
Your body maintains a balance of both helpful and harmful bacteria. If harmful bacteria grow out of control, you may need to use an antibiotic; but antibiotics kill both bad and good bacteria. Called probiotics, these good bacteria aid in digestion -- reducing cramping, bloating, gas and diarrhea, support your immune system and can even reduce the gastro-intestinal side-effects of chemotherapy. There are two groups of probiotics -- Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium; within each group there are several species, and within each species are multiple strains. Some strains are more beneficial than others, and some health benefits are strain-specific. For example, Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Lactobacillus GG help those undergoing chemotherapy.
Probiotics and Antibiotics
Not all probiotics are bacteria -- some beneficial microorganisms are yeast, such as S. cerevisiae boulardii, a probiotics that can relives diarrhea associated with antibiotic use. Taken together with Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, and Bacillus coagulans GBI-30, these three probitics can help prevent or lessen the severity of diarrhea, cramps, gas and bloating associated with using antibiotics. Look for supplements that contain 20 billion live cells. You may have to take multiple probiotic supplements to ensure you get the proper strains and number of live bacteria needed.
Candida
Candida albicans is a type of yeast found in your digestive tract. Antibiotic use destroys the probiotic bacteria that keep candida in check. Using antibiotics can lead to a candida overgrowth -- causing a vaginal yeast infection, jock itch, thrush or athlete's foot. Lactobacillus acidophilus can be used to help fight yeast infections; it can be added to your diet or used vaginally. Vaginal suppositories containing 100 million to 1 billion colony forming units of Lactobacillus acidophilus used once or twice daily for seven to 10 days can help treat a yeast infection. Probiotic treatment works best in conjunction with conventional anti-fungal medication. Always check with your doctor to make sure probiotic supplementation is right for you.
References
- The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine: An Introduction to Probiotics
- CNN Health; Best Cures for Stomach Troubles -- Which Probiotics Work and Why; Jessica Snyder Sachs; March 2009
- MayoClinic.com; Probiotics: Important for a Healthy Diet?; Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D.; April 2010
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Fast Facts About Antibiotic Resistance
