Antibiotics and probiotics
Ball-and-stick model of an amoxicillin molecule
Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons
Should these be taken in conjunction with each other? That was not a question I had ever considered until yesterday. Would the two counteract each other, the probiotics undermining or cancelling out the antibiotics?
Google is in trouble again in the news this morning – exerting undue influence or pressure or some such, as well as AI errors, but, nonetheless, I consulted it. It transpires that probiotics can help to rebalance the disruption sometimes caused by antibiotics.
That’s a relief. I didn’t want to be responsible for antibiotics and probiotics fighting for ascendancy and making matters worse.
I've never heard of a "probiotics".
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like it's helping bacteria.
They help the good bacteria, not the bad.
DeleteAntibiotics are targeting bacteria. You have to realize that our bodies also harbor good bacteria, especially in the digestive track. Antibiotics can do a number on the good bacteria. C-diff is one possibility. Probiotics target your digestive track, encouraging the
ReplyDeletegrowth of those necessary bacteria.
It was just one of those random thoughts that non-medical people sometimes have . . .
DeleteI did actually know this (amazing I know 😉) In the past when I've had to take a course of antibiotics I always try & take some probiotics in some form (usually probiotic yoghurt) as it helps the replenish the good bacteria in the gut ... or something like this !
ReplyDeleteExcellent, Julie - go to the top of the class :-)
DeleteThose Yakuklt drinks are quite pleasant
ReplyDeleteAlison in Wales x
Yes, and Actimel :-)
DeleteSorry 😐 there's an extra K in there somewhere 😉😂
ReplyDeleteAlison x
:-))
DeleteI always thought probiotics were to be taken immediately after ceasing the antbiotics, but maybe things have changed and you now take them together. I don't recall the last time I needed antibiotics of any kind and I've never bothered with probiotics.
ReplyDeleteWe do anything we can to beat the inevitable, but there's no escape - life is terminal.
DeleteI can't take amoxycillin due to an allergy but presumably the synthetic types have the same effect on our good bacteria. Not that I have had to take antibiotics for many years now.
ReplyDeleteThat's the way to keep it, if you can. I can't remember the last time I had antibiotics (tempting Providence there . . . )
DeleteWhen I left home age 18 my mother reminded me that I was allergic to penicillin. Since then I have always avoided any antibiotics in the penicillin family, but I have always doubted my mother's statement as I don't ever rememeber an adverse reaction. Last year I read an article saying that lots of people who think they're allergic to penicillin aren't really. So when I went to the pharmacist about an infected chilblain and she asked if I was allergic to any antibiotics I explained my uncertainty. We agreed to an experiment! She would prescribe an antibiotic from the penicillin category (flucloxicillin) and I would carefully monitor any reaction and obviously stop taking the tablets if necessary. When I asked if there was anything I could do to avert potential problems she says maybe try a probiotic drink or yoghurt. In the end I just took the tablets, no reaction at all and infection cleared in a couple of days..
ReplyDeleteSorry - rather a long comment here.
Cheers, Gail.
That's really interesting, Gail. Pharmacists are very helpful and much underrated. (An infected chilblain sounds doubly nasty!)
DeleteI've not taken antibiotics for years, I like to try and sort myself out rather than taking loads of pills, I don't take probiotics either, old fashioned gal here.
ReplyDeleteWe're just fighting the inevitable . . . ;-0)
DeleteLike the commenter above me, I haven't taken antibiotics for many years. I have been know to take probiotics though.
ReplyDeleteI'm cheekily commenting from the office, but as we are dealing in pharmaceuticals, I'm somehow feeling less guilty commenting on your post :-)
You could say it's all in the interests of business :-)
DeleteShould you take probiotics as an antebiotic, as a neobiotic, or as a postbiotic?
ReplyDelete. . . and what about a prebiotic? Questions, questions . . .
DeleteI wonder if probiotics are really necessary. Might they be like vitamins, which you shouldn't need if you have a good and balanced diet? Nosy me, are the antibiotics related to your hospital visit?
ReplyDeleteThey are, but not for me . . .
DeleteI've always heard to take a probiotic while taking antibiotics.
ReplyDeleteThat's interesting - I don't think any doctor has ever told any of us that - and I'm referring to a large family of children, grand and great grandchildren.
DeleteI too have always heard to eat yogurt when on antibiotics if you can eat dairy.
ReplyDeleteLooks as though the UK is behind the curve again . . .
DeleteThank you, Denise. It keeps me busy ;-)
ReplyDelete