Antibiotics are medications that fight infections caused by bacteria. They act by killing bacterial colonies or preventing them from becoming larger. A doctor will prescribe an antibiotic for infections in various tissues and organ systems, including your respiratory or urinary tract, your digestive system or your skin. Although usually effective in fighting infection, antibiotics may cause problems in your intestines if they destroy beneficial micro-organisms that live there. Taking probiotics while on antibiotics may help prevent or resolve these problems.
Intestinal Bacteria
Your gastrointestinal tract contains millions of beneficial bacterial colonies that help you digest food, aid in absorption of nutrients and control growth of potentially pathogenic bacteria. When you take antibiotics, the medication may destroy some of these good intestinal bacteria in addition to the infectious bacteria for which your doctor prescribed it. If enough of these micro-organisms are killed, you may experience side effects such as gas, bloating, or diarrhea. Replenishing beneficial bacteria by consuming probiotics may help prevent this side effect or shorten its duration.
Probiotics
Probiotics are bacterial cultures similar or identical to those good bacteria that normally live in your gastrointestinal system. Consuming probiotic foods can help increase the number of these good bacteria, generally improving your digestive health. In addition, if you consume probioics while taking antibiotics, you may lessen drug-induced loss of these bacteria and reduce the likelihood you will experience unpleasant gastrointestinal side effects from the antibiotics.
Probiotic Foods
Probiotic foods contain live cultures of beneficial bacteria. For example, yogurt and other cultured milk products that are unpasteurized are probiotic foods. Fermented cabbage dishes such as sauerkraut and Korean kimchi also contain these types of bacteria, as do fermented soybean products such as tempeh, miso and natto. Kefir, a type of fermented milk popular in Europe, is also a probiotic food that has the added benefit of not containing any lactose, since it is broken down during fermentation, making it a good choice if you are lactose intolerant.
Supplements and Recommendations
Probiotic supplements are also available from health food stores as capsules or tablets. Both supplements and probiotic foods are generally considered safe and without any significant side effects. For best results when taking antibiotics, do not take the medication at the same time as the probiotic food. Instead, take the antibiotic and follow this about two hours later with a probiotic. It may also be helpful to continue taking probiotics for a week or two after you complete your antibiotic therapy, to help rebuild beneficial bacteria in your intestines. Discuss probiotic foods or supplements with your doctor to decide the best course for you.
References
- The Harvard Medical School Family Guide: Health Benefits of Taking Probiotics
- "The Internet Journal of Nutrition and Wellness"; Probiotics and Antibiotics: A Brief Overview; S. Biradar et al.; 2005
- The Conscious Life: Top Probiotic Foods You Are Not Eating
- The Merck Manual Home Health Handbook: Antibiotics
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Lactobacillus Acidophilus
