How To Take Probiotics
How long after you stop an antibiotic should you continue to take your probiotic? Experts say one to four weeks, but the research is unclear. A study published in the journal Cell found that participants who took a probiotic for four weeks after an antibiotic were able to restore their gut microbiome to normal after six months the placebo group, however, colonized new, healthy gut bacteria in just three weeks.
The upshot here? The benefits of taking a probiotic with or after an antibiotic isnt 100% confirmed, but there is little downside to trying it. Stick to the more studied strains such as Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Saccharomyces. Look for supplements with USP seal, a dietary supplement certification that ensures the bottle contains what it says it does. The FDA does not regulate probiotics, so its essential to do some legwork. You can also eat your probiotics in active culture-containing and fermented foods and drinks such as yogurt, sauerkraut, miso, and kefir.
-
General Info: National Central for Complementary and Integrated Health. Probiotics: What You Need to Know.
-
Probiotic and AAD:The Journal of Family Practice. Prescribing an Antibiotic? Pair it with Probiotics.
Study Summary: Probiotics Significantly Reduce Aad
Hempel et al reviewed 82 studies and pooled data from 63 RCTs to identify the relative risk of AAD among patients who received probiotics during antibiotic treatment compared with those who received no probiotics or were given a placebo.1 The studies encompassed a variety of antibiotics, taken alone or in combination, and several probiotics, including Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Saccharomyces, and some combinations.
The outcome: The pooled RR for AAD in the probiotics groups was 0.58 , with a number needed to treat of 13. Although the authors reported that the overall quality of the included trials was poor, a sensitivity analysis of the higher quality studies yielded similar results.
Subgroup analyses by type of probiotic and duration of antibiotic treatment were also consistent with the overall pooled RR. In subgroup analysis by age, a similar decrease in AAD was found among the youngest patients and those between the ages of 17 and 65 years. Among patients older than 65 yearsfor whom there were just 3 studiesa non-significant decrease in risk was found. Twenty-three of the studies assessed adverse outcomes, and none was found.
What Are The Benefits Of Probiotics For Toddlers And Kids
Research shows that some probiotics can help prevent antibiotic-related diarrhea in children. For this reason, pediatricians often recommend that kids take probiotics whenever theyre on antibiotics.
Since some antibiotics wipe out good bacteria along with the infection-causing bacteria, probiotics act as the reserve corps the reinforcements sent in to bulk up the numbers of helpful bacteria and crowd out the illness-causing bacteria.
These good little soldiers also help strengthen the intestinal lining so that bad bugs cant multiply freely, and they may change the intestinal environment, making it more balanced and therefore less desirable for bad bacteria.
Other research has found that probiotics can shorten a bout of diarrhea in children whove caught an infection by about one day.
For now, at least, the strongest evidence for probiotics is for preventing and relieving the kind of diarrhea that comes with antibiotics and the infectious diarrhea that can be picked up at day care and while traveling.
Don’t Miss: Best Over The Counter Probiotic For Women
Antibiotic Risks For Your Microbiome
Thats because your gut microbiome is critical for your health. It’s involved in immune system function, body weight, and even brain health. However, antibiotics can lower the diversity of microbes present in your gut, causing imbalances that increase the risk of inflammation and lower your protection from diseases.
The use of antibiotics during pregnancy, in newborns and infants, is especially problematic because the gut microbiome develops in early life and, during that period, it educates the immune system.
Infants who are exposed to antibiotics either before or after birth have been shown to have fewer health-promoting microbes like Bifidobacteria and Lactobacillus that are dominant members of the infant microbiome.
Research shows that antibiotic disruption of the gut microbiome at a young age is linked with an increased risk of allergies, asthma, and autoimmune disorders. Antibiotics and weight gain are also a major issue: this medication has been pinpointed as an important factor in the obesity epidemic.
For example, Clostridium difficile is a deadly bacterial infection affecting the colon that is common in healthcare settings, and it’s resistant to most antibiotics. Nowadays, doctors have found that transplanting a healthy microbiome into patients is most effective when treating for C. diff.
When Should You Take Probiotics With Antibiotics
Taking antibiotics gradually decreases the natural friendly bacteria gut which can result in less-than-ideal digestive issues, like not fully breaking down waste.
This can cause you to have diarrhea, indigestion, abdominal pain and cause a rapid decline in energy levels. The goal is to maintain a healthy gut microbiome, where many trillions of bacteria live peacefully with each other.
Studies have shown that taking probiotics at the same time while youre taking antibiotics can act as a counterbalance in the gut microbiome. Probiotics increase the beneficial bacteria and lessen the side effects of taking antibiotics.
Many pharmacists are already recommending people to take it together or eat more foods that replenish the good bacteria if they have been prescribed antibiotics.
Taking probiotics wont ruin the efficacy of your antibiotics, however you might want to make sure that your probiotics are suited to do the job.
Recommended Reading: Is Vsl 3 A Good Probiotic
Probiotics Instead Of Antibiotics
As the field of microbial research continues to expand, we expect the future of medicine will include targeted probiotic prescriptions in lieu of antibiotics, and that antibiotics will be reserved for specific or emergency scenarios.
In fact, probiotics are already proving to be more effective than antibiotics at treating and preventing certain diseases and infections, such as mastitis.
In one study, researchers analyzed 352 women suffering from mastitis, a painful breast infection often associated with breastfeeding. After 21 days, women who took probiotics saw more improvement and fewer recurrences than those taking antibiotics .
Do Probiotics Disturb Antibiotic Functioning
There is no suggestion in current research that probiotics interfere with the action of antibiotics in any way. In fact, doctors and GPs are often now recommending probiotic supplements and probiotic foods, such as yoghurts or kefir, to be taken alongside a course of antibiotics.
You May Like: How To Know If A Probiotic Is Good
Best Probiotics To Take With Antibiotics
There are many probiotic supplements on the market, so how do you know which one to choose?
Well, the right probiotic to choose depends on what youd like it to do. Probiotic effects are strain-specific, meaning that different strains have different effects on the body. If you want to reduce anxiety you could take a strain called Bifidobacterium longum R0175, while this strain may not be as effective if you wanted to prevent c.diff infection.
So as you can see, its important to choose the right probiotic strain for the job!
Do Prebiotics Help Return The Gut Microbiome To Normal
Prebiotics are foods for probiotics and include fiber-rich foods such as fruits, vegetables, cereals.
Mixing prebiotics with probiotics, such as yogurt with fruit and cereal or sauerkraut with a vegetable stir fry could be helpful for your gut, although there is no scientific evidence to support this.
Good prebiotic foods include vegetables such as artichokes, asparagus, garlic, onions, and any green vegetable fruits such as bananas, berries, and tomatoes herbs such as chicory or garlic grains like barley, oat, and wheat and other fibers such as inulin that may be available on its own or added to foods such as granola bars, cereal, and yogurt.
Also Check: Benefits Of Green Tea With Ginger And Probiotics
The Microbiome And The Importance Of Gut Replenishment
Our digestive tract really is a marvel of coordination and if you think about it, it really is a highway,, with the entrance being the mouth and the sinus tract, and then the exits being the anus and the urethra in the genitourinary area. There are several areas along that tract where there are substantial colonies of microorganisms devoted to different purposes to help protect and support our health.*
Our sinuses and mouth have various bacterial species that, when in good health, guard against colonization by pathogenic viruses and bacteria that could cause a variety of contagious illnesses . The delicate balance of these bacteria, however, can be disrupted by the food we eat, certain exposures to microbes or environmental toxins such as toxic molds, which can then increase our risk for various kinds of infections and other symptoms.
When we travel downstream into the stomach and eventually the intestines, eventually we reach what is called the microbiome, which is a collection of bacteria, yeast, viruses and fungi that perform many vital functions. These include digestion, production of vitamins, detoxification, protection against pathogenic organisms and facilitating elimination through the bowel.
Unfortunately, this collection of microorganisms can be damaged in many ways nowadays. This includes but is not limited to:
Should You Take Probiotics As Often As Daily
Yes you should be able to. Aside from How often should you take a probiotic? another common question in regards to probiotics is whether or not it is ok to take probiotics every day.
With some probiotics there may be a few exceptions to this rule, but generally the answer is yes, its safe, and often recommended to take them daily. The first point to mention here is that probiotics are a natural supplement and not a medicine.
Theyre natural so theyre less likely to cause harm, with a medication, you should be more reluctant about taking it often without a doctors supervision.
Recommended Reading: Most Effective Probiotic For Constipation
How Do You Take Probiotics With Antibiotics
Have you ever been concerned that if you take probiotics while on antibiotics, it will just cancel out the probiotics?
Its a really common question that I get from my clients.
And frankly, your head is in the right place if you worry about this because we know that antibiotic exposure does decrease even good gut bacteria which can include the probiotics that you take.
The answer to this question is YES if you take antibiotics and probiotics too close together, the probiotics will essentially be canceled out.
So taking them together will not help .
The general recommendation is to take probiotic supplements 2-3 hours before or after a dose of antibiotics.
This timing rule also includes spore-based probiotics like Megasporebiotic.
The only exception to this rule would be S. boulardii .
Challenges To Implementation: Lack Of Guidance On Dosing And Duration
Since probiotics are considered food supplements, health insurance will not cover the cost . No single probiotic strain has high-quality evidence however, most of the RCTs included in the meta-analysis used combinations of Lactobacillus species, which are usually found in over-the-counter antidiarrheal probiotic supplements. No standard dose exists, but dose ranges in RCTs are 107 to 1010 colony-forming units per capsule 1 however, product labels have variable accuracy.11 The duration of treatment ranges from one to 3 weeksor as long as the patient continues to take antibiotics.
You May Like: What Is A Probiotic Pill
Probiotic Dosage After Antibiotics
The strain and dosage of probiotics you need to take while using antibiotics depends on the reason you’re using probiotics. Common side effects of antibiotic usage include diarrhea and yeast infections caused by an overgrowth of Candida albicans. Lactobacillus GG can help prevent or lessen diarrhea in both children and adults, while lactobacillus acidophilus can help treat a yeast infection 2.
If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately.
Should You Take Probiotics When You’re On Antibiotics
by Lito Papanicolas And Geraint Rogers, The Conversation
If you take antibiotics, there’s a good chance you’ll also get diarrhoea.
Antibiotics kill harmful bacteria that cause disease. But they also cause collateral damage to the microbiome, the complex community of bacteria that live in our gut. This results in a profound, though usually temporary, depletion of the beneficial bacteria.
One popular strategy to mitigate the disruption is to take a probiotic supplement containing live bacteria during, or following, a course of antibiotics.
The logic is simple: beneficial bacterial in the gut are damaged by antibiotics. So why not replace them with the “beneficial” bacterial strains in probiotics to assist gut bacteria returning to a “balanced” state?
But the answer is more complicated.
There is currently some evidence that taking probiotics can prevent antibiotic-associated diarrhoea. This effect is relatively small, with 13 people needing to take probiotics for one episode of diarrhoea to be averted.
But these studies have often neglected to evaluate potential harms of probiotic use and haven’t looked at their impact on the wider gut microbiome.
Pros and cons of probiotics
The assumption that there is little downside to taking probiotics was challenged in a recent Israeli study.
In contrast, the microbiota of the second group returned to normal within three weeks of finishing antibiotics.
A more effective alternative?
Explore further
Don’t Miss: Are Probiotics Actually Good For You
So What Are Prebiotics
Prebiotics are compounds that help beneficial gut microorganisms grow and survive.
Prebiotic foods contain complex carbohydrates that cant be digested and dietary fibres that resist digestive processes in the stomach and small intestine.
They pass undigested into the large bowel where they are fermented by the healthy good bacteria.
To be called a prebiotic, they need to undergo the processes above, and be shown in clinical trials to selectively improve the microorganism composition in the gut.
Not all dietary fibres are prebiotic. Common ones include complex carbohydrates called fructo-oligosaccharides, inulin and resistant starch.
You can find foods at the supermarket with added prebiotics, but non-digestible carbohydrates occur naturally in many everyday foods, including:
-
grains: barley, rye bread, rye crackers, pasta, gnocchi, couscous, wheat bran, wheat bread, oats
-
legumes: chickpeas, lentils, red kidney beans, baked beans, soybeans
-
vegetables: artichokes, asparagus, beetroot, chicory, fennel bulb, garlic, green peas, leek, onion, shallots, spring onion, snow peas, sweetcorn, savoy cabbage
-
fruit: nectarines, white peaches, persimmon, tamarillo, watermelon, rambutan, grapefruit, pomegranate, dates, figs
-
nuts: cashews, pistachios.
Additional sources of resistant starch include under-ripe bananas, cooked and cooled rice, cornflour, cooked and cooled potatoes.
For babies, breast milk is naturally rich in oligosaccharides.
Should I Take Probiotics And Antibiotics The Same Day
Bedford recommends that you start taking probiotics the same day as an antibiotic treatment. While youre on antibiotics, take those first before the probiotics. Dont take them at the exact same time because the antibiotics could destroy the bacteria from the probiotic and cancel out any beneficial effects, Bedford says.
Also Check: Can Probiotics Make You Break Out
How Should Probiotics Be Taken For Best Results
In order to ensure the best results from probiotics, it is important to take them in a timely manner. Most doctors recommend taking probiotics at least 1 hour before a meal. This will provide optimal protection against stomach acid and also minimize the amount of food that needs to be digested after taking your probiotic supplement.
Taking probiotics with food may allow for better absorption by the intestines but it may also increase symptoms such as bloating or gas. Probiotics should not be taken on an empty stomach because this can cause indigestion or nausea which can lead to other symptoms such as diarrhea, constipation, cramps, and pain in your abdomen area.
Additionally, you should never drink alcohol while taking probiotics since alcohol will kill off many of your good bacteria. Therefore, you should never take a probiotic supplement on an empty stomach or with alcohol.
When Might Other Probiotics Be Appropriate
Children
Children aged 1 year and over can also take Lactobacillus acidophilus Rosell-52 and Lactobacillus rhamnosus Rosell-11, which have been trialled in this young age group. However, parents may wish to seek a supplement especially formulated for childrens gut health.
Women with intimate health issues?
If you are a woman taking antibiotics for an intimate health issue, it might be worth considering probiotic strains which are well researched for womens intimate health, such as Lactobacillus reuteri RC-14® and Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1®. Health professionals can visit the Probiotics Database to read more about the research using these strains Lactobacillus reuteri RC-14® and Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1®.These strains are often used alongside antibiotics for vaginal infections, but are best taken 2 hours away from the medication.
Read Also: What Does It Mean When You Keep Having Heartburn
You May Like: Is Yogurt Probiotic Or Prebiotic
Timing The Dosing Of Your Probiotics
When I have a client on an antibiotic regimen, I typically suggest that to minimize the killing of the probiotic species, to take the antibiotics and the probiotics at least five hours apart. I have found that clinically to work well*. Unfortunately, there is very little research on this unique issue.
However, research does illustrate that starting probiotics at the start of an antibiotic regimen vs. waiting until later does minimize potential adverse side effects from the antibiotic regimen*. The time of day is not typically a big issue, but youll want to keep in mind what times your antibiotic will be dosed as that will dictate the times you can optimally take your probiotic!
The Lack Of Consistency In The Findings On Probiotics Comes In Part Because They Are Being Treated Like Conventional Drugs
This opens the door to developing personalised probiotic treatments based on someones genetic profile. Such a system is realistic and could be developed relatively soon, says Elinav, but at this stage it remains a proof of concept. To become a reality, it will need more research on probiotic tailoring and testing more bacterial strains in larger groups of people.
This kind of personalisation may release the full potential of probiotic treatments for gut health. At the moment, the lack of consistency in the findings on probiotics comes in part because they are being treated like conventional drugs. When you take a paracetamol tablet, you can be more or less sure that the active component will do its job and work on receptors in your brain, dulling your sensation of pain. This is because most peoples pain receptors are similar enough to react in the same way to the drug.
But the microbiome is not just a receptor it is closer to an ecosystem, and sometimes likened to a rainforest in its complexity.
As a result, finding and tailoring a probiotic treatment that will work on something as intricate and individual as your own internal ecosystem is no easy task. And with that in mind, its not so surprising that a dried-out pack of bacteria from a supermarket shelf may well not do the trick.
Join 900,000+ Future fans by liking us on or .
You May Like: How Many Probiotics Does Activia Have
