Probiotics are beneficial bacteria your body needs to digest food, absorb nutrients and keep your immune system strong. If you have a bacterial infection that requires antibiotics, it is safe to take them concurrently, as probiotics do not reduce the effectiveness of antibiotics. However, antibiotics do affect probiotics, so you should not take both at the same time. Take your probiotics two hours before or after your antibiotics, according to MedlinePlus.
Antibiotics
Antibiotics only fight illnesses caused by bacteria, parasites and certain fungi; they can't help viral infections, which typically cause coughs, colds and the flu. Antibiotics should be used only if absolutely necessary to avoid antibiotic resistance. Bacteria that become resistant to antibiotics are more difficult to beat. Antibiotics work by killing bacteria in your body, but sometimes they kill both harmful and beneficial bacteria. Side effects from antibiotic usage, which include diarrhea and yeast infections, can be treated by taking probiotics to replenish friendly bacteria.
Probiotics
There are more than a 1,000 different types of microorganisms in your body, most of them in your digestive system. Each strain has a specific purpose. There are two main types of good bacteria, lactobacillus and bifidobacterium, with several different strains and species in each family. Probiotics may be useful for treating candida overgrowths, diarrhea associated with antibiotics and traveling, irritable bowel syndrome, colic in babies, lactose intolerance and high cholesterol. Because antibiotics destroy both good and bad bacteria, replenishing your good bacteria during treatment can prevent a secondary health problem.
Antibiotics and Diarrhea
For patients taking antibiotics, 20 percent may stop treatment early because of diarrhea, reports a 2008 article on Science Daily. Lactobacillus GG, sold as Culturelle, is the strain most likely to help prevent or stop antibiotic-related diarrhea. Adults need 10 billion live cells daily, while children need only 5 billion live cultures. Probiotics should be taken every day, at least two hours before or after your antibiotics. Although there are no reported side effects of probiotic usage and there are generally regarded as safe, according to MedlinePlus, you should always talk to your doctor before taking any type of supplement.
Candida
Candida albicans is a normally harmless yeast-like fungus in your digestive system. Candida is kept from growing out of control by beneficial bacteria, in particular Lactobacillus acidophilus. Antibiotic usage can affect the acidophilus population, allowing candida to flourish. Oral thrush, diaper rash, jock itch, vaginal yeast infections and athlete's foot are all caused by an overgrowth of candida. You can take acidophilus supplements or you can eat 8-oz. of unsweetened yogurt daily, suggests MayoClinic.com. For a vaginal yeast infection, there is some evidence that vaginal probiotic suppositories can treat candida.
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