Probiotics and Antibiotics - Who Knew?

[BookNut]

Probably every one but me knows this. My PCP just prescribed an antibiotic. Because I also take probiotics, she mentioned that I should not take them together. I should take them at least three hours apart. Evidently, a probiotic will cancel out the effects of the antibiotic.

Hmmmm....... I have been on a long-term antibiotic for at least 6 months. And you guessed it...I take the antibiotic and the probiotic at the same time with breakfast. Gah! 6 months down the drain! Oh well. At least now I know. I thought I had better share this with the forum in case anyone else is doing the same thing. We learn from each others successes and goof-ups!

[Pierre42]

Probably every one but me knows this. My PCP just prescribed an antibiotic. Because I also take probiotics, she mentioned that I should not take them together. I should take them at least three hours apart. Evidently, a probiotic will cancel out the effects of the antibiotic.

Hmmmm....... I have been on a long-term antibiotic for at least 6 months. And you guessed it...I take the antibiotic and the probiotic at the same time with breakfast. Gah! 6 months down the drain! Oh well. At least now I know. I thought I had better share this with the forum in case anyone else is doing the same thing. We learn from each others successes and goof-ups!

Particle + Anti-Particle cancels each other out in a STUNNINGLY huge burst of energy. (puts an atomic bomb to shame)

I'm thinking it's a miracle you're still around to tell the tale!

[Alysia]

Yes. I know that probiotics "cancell" antibiotics if taken together. Thanks for sharing. I cant bear probiotics.
Maybe this is why you still have infection ?

[Joni]

I did not know this! Makes sense though...Thanks for sharing..

[annekat]

Then why do they tell us to eat yogurt when taking antibiotics, to work against thrush, or yeast growth, in the mouth, and to alleviate some digestive problems such as diarrhea? I thought antibiotics killed off a lot of the normal bacteria in our systems and yogurt or kefir would replace some of them. Maybe it is a matter of concentration, as pure probiotics would have a lot more in them than the amount in yogurt. I've been taking Bactrim for years and do eat yogurt, but not for that reason, just because I eat it anyway. I don't take actual probiotics other than what is in the yogurt.

[Birdie]

Then why do they tell us to eat yogurt when taking antibiotics, to work against thrush, or yeast growth, in the mouth, and to alleviate some digestive problems such as diarrhea? I thought antibiotics killed off a lot of the normal bacteria in our systems and yogurt or kefir would replace some of them. Maybe it is a matter of concentration, as pure probiotics would have a lot more in them than the amount in yogurt. I've been taking Bactrim for years and do eat yogurt, but not for that reason, just because I eat it anyway. I don't take actual probiotics other than what is in the yogurt.

Most antibiotics don't kill the flora and fauna in your colon, that's what probiotics and yogurt are suplementing. The antibiotics which kill the stuff in your colon are usually called "broad spectrum" antibiotics. In that case it's a great idea to take the probiotics at the same time, and for quite a while after. It can take a month or more of heavy probiotics to restore the damage done to your colon through the use of broad spectrum antibiotics.

[annekat]

Most antibiotics don't kill the flora and fauna in your colon, that's what probiotics and yogurt are suplementing. The antibiotics which kill the stuff in your colon are usually called "broad spectrum" antibiotics. In that case it's a great idea to take the probiotics at the same time, and for quite a while after. It can take a month or more of heavy probiotics to restore the damage done to your colon through the use of broad spectrum antibiotics.

Thanks, Birdie. I have taken broad spectrum antibiotics before and that's when I was told to eat yogurt, etc., and was prescribed that stuff to rinse your mouth with to kill thrush, when it develops in there. So we need to be distinguishing between what types of antibiotics we are talking about, as to whether we should be eating yogurt and taking antibiotics or not, apparently, according to what you say. I don't know what kind of "spectrum" Bactrim DS, 3X/wk is. But I know that I don't get thrush or have digestive issues and I do eat a moderate, but not huge, amount of yogurt.

[Birdie]

Thanks, Birdie. I have taken broad spectrum antibiotics before and that's when I was told to eat yogurt, etc., and was prescribed that stuff to rinse your mouth with to kill thrush, when it develops in there. So we need to be distinguishing between what types of antibiotics we are talking about, as to whether we should be eating yogurt and taking antibiotics or not, apparently, according to what you say. I don't know what kind of "spectrum" Bactrim DS, 3X/wk is. But I know that I don't get thrush or have digestive issues and I do eat a moderate, but not huge, amount of yogurt.

Antibiotics or not, pill or yogurt, probiotics are a great idea for digestive health. Take both, flora and fauna. When it comes to yogurt I was told by the best colon doc that Activia is the only one he suggests. Claimed the rest have almost no probiotic benefit, followed by a long explanation of how they're made/processed/packaged/shipped/stored... etc... I got bored with that part.