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Why combine antibiotics and probiotics? Don’t wait until you get sick to start learning more about the benefits. What you should know about them.
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) reports over 266 million people are prescribed antibiotics on an outpatient basis. Infections in the ear, sinus, and digestive path are examples of conditions requiring antibiotics.
While a licensed physician can only prescribe antibiotics, there is a trend of overprescribing. The CDC found that 30% of antibiotic prescriptions were not needed. This happens often because doctors tend to prescribe antibiotics before test results are available.
A patient present with symptoms of an infection and the doctor prescribes treatment. Some doctors send patients for testing to confirm an illness; some don’t.
One concern related to the overuse of antibiotics is that people may develop what is called antibiotic resistance. Reports from the CDC claim over 70% of infections acquired in hospitals are resistant to at least one antibiotic.
Further, antibiotics can cause undesirable side effects. It is side effects that prevent some patients from finishing the full course of antibiotics and not treating their illness correctly. Probiotics can help with this problem.
We discuss below how antibiotics and probiotics are improving health with taken together. But before that, we want to give you a greater understanding of the two.
Antibiotics Explained
Antibiotics are also known as anti-bacterial. They have prescribed medicines that help fight bacterial infections that can exist anywhere in the body, especially in the gut and digestive system. They do this in one of two ways. One way is bactericidal, which kills bacterial growth. Examples of this antibiotic include penicillin and cephalosporin.
The other way antibiotics work is bacteriostatic. This form blocks the infection from growing and reproducing.
There are hundreds of types of antibiotics available for prescribing. Some are broad-spectrum and used to fight widespread infections. Others are narrower and used to treat specific types of bacteria.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Antibiotics
There are pros and cons of everything, including antibiotics. The pros of antibiotics are that they can be life-saving to those whose bodies cannot fight off infections independently. They can prevent disorders like Lyme disease, which can be life-altering, from spreading. They can aid your immune system in fighting bacteria.
Antibiotics can also have adverse effects. In some, they don’t work. In others, side effects can appear. Some of the milder side effects include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, cramps, tooth discoloration, and light sensitivity.
Harsher side effects can include allergic reactions, hives, skin pain, blood reactions, tendonitis, and in rare cases, seizures.
To avoid side effects, you must discuss your health history thoroughly with your doctor and pharmacist.
Your intestines can house 100 trillion types of bacteria. Most of the bacteria are good and provide healthful benefits, like boosting your immune system.
Another disadvantage of taking antibiotics is that it can kill all bacteria in your gut and digestive system, the good and the bad. This is why many doctors are now recommending supplementing antibiotic treatments with probiotics to maintain a healthy gut.
What Are Probiotics?
Probiotics are living microorganisms, or bacteria, that can provide health benefits. They are not prebiotics, which are carbs that feed your probiotics. Instead, probiotics help maintain a healthy gut flora in your digestive tract, colon, and intestines.
Gut flora is vital because it produces vitamins in your system. It also helps process fiber that performs metabolic functions. Some reports claim an unbalanced gut flora can lead to physical and mental health disorders like Type 2 diabetes and depression.
One of the most important findings is that probiotics can help restore balance in the gut, and when paired with antibiotics, can reduce and even eliminate side effects.
Pros and Cons of Probiotics
The main disadvantage of probiotics is that it is a relatively new treatment. More research is needed on its uses. However, the advantages discovered so far are impressive.
Benefits of probiotics include a reduction in inflammation in the body, reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety, lowered blood pressure and cholesterol, improved immunity, healthier skin, and some strains have anti-aging effects.
Probiotics and Antibiotics
If you want to create a power team to improve your health, combine your antibiotics and probiotics regimen. The combination reduces side effects like nausea and diarrhea, allowing patients to finish antibiotic courses. In turn, this prevents the development of antibiotic resistance.
MIT researchers found in one study that combining the two eliminated two strains of infections that affect wounds. That’s huge. They found a way to treat conditions that are resistant to antibiotics.
Further reports state combining probiotics and antibiotics helps your immune system stay strong, so it can better fight bacteria and viruses in the future.
Steps To Take Before Taking Antibiotics and Probiotics
Before you take any medicine, prescribed or over-the-counter, it’s essential to talk to your pharmacist. Your doctor is great at giving advice and prescribing the right medications. But your pharmacist is the expert in pharmacology, including non-prescribed supplements.
Meet with your pharmacist and discuss possible side effects of both strands of antibiotics you are prescribed and probiotics. Discuss possible drug interactions with other medicines you may be taking. Learn the best time of day to consume antibiotics and probiotics.
Many pharmacists recommend taking probiotics with breakfast and antibiotics later in the day. Your pharmacist can help you choose the highest quality products with the right number and type of strands to benefit you. They can also teach you how to obtain probiotics naturally, like through the foods you eat.
Just as important is the length of time you take probiotics, even after your antibiotic course is finished, and when to add prebiotics.
Your pharmacist can also explain the importance of follow-through and what to expect when taking probiotics with your antibiotic treatment.
Finally, your doctor can compound your antibiotic and probiotic into a format that makes it easier for you to ingest.
Don’t wait until you get sick to start learning more about the benefits of combining antibiotics and probiotics. Consult with your pharmacist now, so you can better prepare if an unexpected illness arises.
