Antibiotics - Help!!
#165686 - 03/31/05 09:31 AM
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MCV
Reged: 01/04/05
Posts: 740
Loc: Manchester, NH
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Hi everyone -
I went to the doctor today and he precribed me 2 weeks worth of antibiotics - nothing related to IBS. Anyway, I am a nervous wreck to take them. I take a probiotic daily - should I increase the probiotic while I am on the antibiotic, or do I just keep taking the same amount? Any info is appreciated - I need to start the antis tonight.
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Michelle
IBS-A, pain predominant
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I must admit, I don't know the answer for sure but it would seem logically to take a little more pro-biotic while on the anti-biotic. A lot of people do get some D, especially the first couple of days on an anti-biotic, so you may have to resort back to "what to eay when you can't eat anything" for a couple of days. Try not to take the anti-biotic on an empty tummy and that should help a little also.
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Taking it one day at a time.....
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I agree..
#165703 - 03/31/05 10:19 AM
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Kandee
Reged: 05/22/03
Posts: 3206
Loc: USA, Southern California
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It can't hurt to up the probiotic a little (or even a lot). You were so smart being on them BEFORE starting the antibiotic. I think it is next to criminal that doctors don't put people on a probiotic right along WITH and antibiotic. That or it should be on the warning label.
Kandee
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According to both my regular physician as well physician on the AllExperts.com taking a probiotic at the same time as an antibiotic is longer considered the best advice.
Let the antibiotic first deal with the problem. If probiotics are taken over same period the antibiotic will mrely kill them off. According to them after a antbiotics are finished then take the probiotics to return the friendly bacteria in your gut.
This was also confirmed by a naturopath also on the AllExperts.com although admittedly local naturopath does not agree.
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Your point does make sense to me - now I really don't know what to do! Do I stop taking the pro while I take the anti? Do you think the pharmacist would be able to help? I'm a wreck about this!
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Michelle
IBS-A, pain predominant
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I don't know anything about probiotics, but I would suggest the following when taking antibiotics:
1. If permitted (see directions on antibiotics), drink a large amount of room temperature water (at least one large glass)when taking each dose. This will speed the antibiotic through your gut and minimize discomfort.
2. If permitted, eat some soluble fibre before and after taking each dose (French bread, mashed potatoe or white rice). This will help you tolerate the antibiotic better ... if food is allowed.
3. Make sure the antibiotic your doctor prescribes is NOT a sulpher-based antibiotic. If it is, get him/her to switch it to a non-sulpher-based one. Sulpher is a bad thing for IBS people.
Belinda
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Based on what ArtKen said, taking probiotics at the same time as antibiotics isn't wrong or unhealthy, it just might not do any good. So, if you're getting different advice, it sounds like you can err on the side of caution and take probiotics before, during, and after being on antibiotics just to cover all the bases. You might be wasting money if the antibiotics are really killing the probiotics, but better safe than sorry.
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[Research tells us fourteen out of any ten individuals likes chocolate. - Sandra Boynton]
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...take the probiotic, but try to space the probtiotic and antibiotic as far out in the day as possible. So if you take the antibiotic in the evening take the probiotic in the morning, etc. It can't hurt and might help to keep your gut going until the course is finished. And definitely up your probiotic intake for a while after the course finished when the probiotics (and any prebiotics you take) can really do their work.
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I talked to my pharmacist about this. He recommended not changing anything - continue with the probiotics as usual while taking the antibiotic. He suggested I take the anti with meals and avoid dairy for an hour before and an hour after taking. Since I do not consume dairy, this won't be a problem. He also said to expect my stomach to be in an uproar the next couple of weeks while taking the anti. Oh Joy!!
Thanks to all for your advise. I'm going to start off continuing the probiotic and see how it goes.
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Michelle
IBS-A, pain predominant
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I had to go back some on e-mails but I generally keep answers from this site.
See the following re advice received from a naturopath in the States. AllExperts is a free site and there is no registration to go there.
Richard Morton, ND, DR, LMT Answers -
Dear Art,
As far as avoiding salads, I certainly don't ever advocate that, since salads are a melange of green plants, which is one of the healthiest things a normally functioning person can eat. Unfortunately, if you have a GI tract that has impaired function (as evidenced by the diverticulitis), then I'd certainly advise you to see your doctor before undertaking any radical diet modification. Typically, a consultation with a dietician will help you settle on the best diet regimen for you. Yes, there may be some modification of the intake of raw plant products, but you still may be able to have some of a limited selection.
Acidophilus powder is a controversial area. Acidophilus is essentially a pro-biotic, rather than an antibiotic. Before adding it to a diet, especially when you are already taking an antibiotic, I'd really recommend having a good chat with your pharmacist. Addition of acidolphilus to your diet may very well prove harmful, or at the very least, it may diminish the effectiveness of your antibiotic regimen.
Art, without a very detailed assessment of your health condition, it would be irresponsible of any naturopath or other health practitioner to just prescribe some natural remedy or regimen for you. The best course of action would be to find a local naturopath, provide him/her with your full health history, then let a comprehensive healthcare screening exam provide the indicators that your naturopath and your personal physician can use to find the best approach for you. So many people I see go to half a dozen or more practitioners who don't talk to each other, and their condition certainly shows it! All these practitioners are doing things that work against each other. Much better to have a medical doctor who talks with and coordinates the efforts of the chiropractor and/or the naturopath. Personally, I provide assessment and treatment reports to the physicians of the folks I consult. It's really the best thing for the patient, and it results in the best treatment overall!
Good health to you!
Dr. Richard Morton, ND, DR, LMT
http://www.iowa-reflex-sciences.com
Have any other questions? Try one of our experts at http://www.allexperts.com
http://www.allexperts.com
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ArtKen, That is exactly what I did..took Cipro without a probiotic to counteract what would happen to my gut. I started probiotics afterwords and by that time it was to late...the damage had been done.
I've been on probiotics religiously for over 2 1/2 years and last winter, when I couldn't shake a respiratory infection I took Zithromax...........WITH, I might add, a healthy dose of probiotics the entire time. The Zithro worked and kicked the infection........and not once did I have any gastro complaints.
So to this I say hogwash....if it came down to NOT taking an antibiotic at all because the probiotic would negate all the "killing" affects of the antibiotic I'd say to H* with the antibiotic and drink tons of pau d' arco tea, and tank up on a few other supplements that are known to kill infections. It just may take a little longer. Remember always, "The body wants to HEAL itself".
Until these docs have walked in someone's shoes who has been there, I'll trust what my gut tells me, not them.
Sorry, but this irks me to no end... I'm not a red-headed-Irish-woman for nothing. Kandee
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Well stated. He did state that various medical experts disagree. I have been off and on cipro for some time for another condition and same with probiotics and frankly I am at the point where trying to get off both.
But are you saying you are taking probiotics now only on a regular basis, or only if you are ill?
In both cases I'm advised to take larger doses than I do but my gut doesn't seem to want to handle It's unfortunately where we have supposedly progressed in medication so much that we can't handle the old shot of pennicillin that we used to be able to take.
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Quote:
Well stated. He did state that various medical experts disagree. Well, Heather is not a degreed doctor, but I consider her more of an "EXPERT" on IBS than anyone I've seen or met or read about. It takes someone who has suffered from an ailment who went the extra mile to find answers then share them with others that I personally consider experts! For every remedy for an ailment there is a counter remedy. Where one might be the solution for one person it's not necessarily for the next. A good example is the variances you see right on this board. I have been off and on cipro for some time for another condition and same with probiotics and frankly I am at the point where trying to get off both.
Wait a minute. We are comparing apples and oranges here. They are two VERY different substances. I consider the entire class of antibiotics that cipro fall under to be almost lethal. There was a very good post a long time ago right on this site all about the hundreds of class action suits against the classification that cipro falls under and the devastating, life debilitating conditions it has caused many people. I wish I would have saved the post. But if you're interested do a google search. I will never, ever as long as I live take any antibiotic in that class again. On the other hand a probiotic is something that used to be in our food of days gone by naturally. You're probably old enough to remember REAL buttermilk, real sour cream and other foods that were made by natural fermentation. Those foods had natural probiotics that unfortunately we have to take in pill or liquid form today. Even the milk of today, once it has been pasteurized and homogenized to death, to the point of not having anything beneficial in it, would kill a calf. It's been proven.
But are you saying you are taking probiotics now only on a regular basis, or only if you are ill?
As regular as I eat! And will for the rest of my life if I can!
In both cases I'm advised to take larger doses than I do but my gut doesn't seem to want to handle Ahh yes, I believe this. If you take to high a dose of a probiotic right away it may not make you feel to great, but you can, easy enough, work up to higher amount. Try a low dose and up it slowly. That or a different brand or form. Personally I take mine with food but some labels say take on an empty stomach. I'm not sure what the correct way really is. You may try both. I've recently began making my own kefir, dairy free, with rice or nut milk and it sets very well on my tummy.. with or without food. I'm also as sold on digestive enzymes, especially for we vintage folks as the pancreas doesn't produce the enzymes as easily or as fast as it did when we were younger.
It's unfortunately where we have supposedly progressed in medication so much that we can't handle the old shot of pennicillin that we used to be able to take. Very true! That plus there are so many stains of bugs that we need a million different types of antibiotics to attack each kind. Kandee
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Thanks for reply. As stated I am trying to normalize if possible. I agree that Heather is an expert in her field and I have both her books but my problem is more with diverticulous than IBS I believe.
If you look at the AllExperts site under Health & Fitness you will see IBS listed there. The expert there is one that you know well.
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Ken, we are starting to organize a Canadian fall sprawl for the weekend of September 23rd. If you're interested, check out the let's get together board.
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Formerly HanSolo. IBS, OCD, Bipolar, PTSD times 3.
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at least the last few times I was on an antibiotic are the worst peirods for me and really the only times post finding this site and diet that my IBS has truly flared out of control!
Amie
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Dietetics Student (anticipating RD exam in Aug 2010)
IBS - A
Dairy Allergic
Fructose and MSG intollerant
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Okay, will do, thanks
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