The digestive tract is rich in beneficial bacterial flora and "bad" bacteria. When you take antibiotics, you get rid of the pathogens that cause the infection, but you also lose some of the helpful bacteria that live in the gut. A small population of beneficial bacteria causes the proliferation of the "bad" one which produces toxins, inflammation and leads to diarrhea. Some doctors recommend probiotics such as lactobacillus acidophilus to restore balance. If you have been prescribed this supplement during a course of antibiotics, it is important to take it correctly.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Reduce the Side Effects of Antibiotics
Step 1. Ask your doctor for advice on the type of acidophilus you should take and how to take it
The doctor can tell you the best daily dosage and the type of supplement to buy. The dosage is very variable; however, 10-20 CFU have been shown to be useful in counteracting diarrhea associated with antibiotic therapy.
- Your doctor may also suggest you take smaller amounts based on the type of antibiotic you are taking, the length of your course, and the likelihood of developing colitis. Some medications, such as cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones, and clindamycin, are more likely to cause diarrhea.
- There are also many different dosages, depending on the pharmaceutical formula available (capsules, tablets and powders). Use only the formulation recommended by your doctor. Do not mix different types of lactobacillus acidophilus, such as those contained in tablets and those in powder, because each supplement has a different strain of bacteria.
- Take them for as long as your doctor tells you to. Probiotics are usually taken for 1-3 weeks beyond the course of antibiotics.
Step 2. Do not take antibiotics concurrently with probiotics
If you take them together, the cure won't work; this is because probiotics serve to strengthen the good bacterial flora, while antibiotics destroy it.
Take lactobacillus acidophilus at least an hour or two before or after antibiotics; some recommend spacing them 2-4 hours
Step 3. Take the acidophilus properly to increase its effectiveness
Make sure the supplement hasn't expired and has been stored properly. Those that have expired or that have not been placed in the refrigerator although necessary, may have lost their effectiveness. Make sure you take them consistently. Some manufacturers recommend taking them with meals or just before breakfast, because a higher gastric pH can favor their action.
Step 4. Consider eating foods rich in lactobacillus acidophilus
The most common food, in this case, is yogurt. Many commercial yogurts are enriched with probiotics such as acidophilus. Some manufacturers report the bacterial strain contained on the label.
By eating yogurt daily you can integrate lactobacillus acidophilus into your diet, albeit in smaller quantities than those available with the supplement
Method 2 of 2: Learn about Acidophilus Lactobacillus and its Use with Antibiotics
Step 1. Read up on the acidophilus
The scientific name is lactobacillus acidophilus and it is a type of "good" bacterium for the human organism; it helps break down food in the colon and protects the intestinal tract from pathogenic bacteria by producing lactic acid. It occurs naturally in our body and can be taken through probiotic supplements with the aim of solving various gastrointestinal problems and other diseases.
In addition to the acidophilus, many other probiotics are available, some belonging to the Lactobacillus genus; however, the acidophilus is the most used
Step 2. Know why lactobacillus acidophilus is taken and how it interacts with antibiotics
Clinical studies have found that this bacterium suppresses the growth of pathogens (the microorganisms that cause disease, such as bad bacteria) in the digestive tract. It is used to manage gastrointestinal conditions (such as irritable bowel syndrome), support digestion, reduce vaginal yeast infections and help the body fight other conditions such as lung or skin infections, as well as to reduce triggered diarrhea. from antibiotics.
When you take antibiotics to kill bad bacteria, you lose some of the beneficial bacterial flora found in the gut. This reduction in good bacteria leads to a proliferation of pathogens that produce toxins, causing inflammation and diarrhea
Step 3. Know why it is important to avoid antibiotic-induced diarrhea
In most cases, this is mild and goes away when you stop taking your medication. However, in certain circumstances it can trigger serious problems such as colitis (inflammation of the colon) or a more serious form of it called pseudomembranous colitis. In about one third of cases, long-term use of drugs (usually hospitalized) leads to infection with Clostridium difficile, a serious disease, problematic to treat and which is responsible for frequent discharge of diarrhea.
- Recent and important studies have shown that probiotics such as acidophilus can prevent or reduce episodes of antibiotic-associated diarrhea and are useful in avoiding Clostridium difficile infection.
- This infection is more common after the use of fluoroquinones, cephalosporins, clindamycin and penicillin.
Warnings
- Stop taking treatment and see your doctor if you experience swelling of the face or mouth, as this could be a sign of an allergic reaction.
- If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a disease that weakens the immune system or impairs the intestinal system, ask your doctor for advice before taking lactobacillus acidophilus or antibiotics.
