Antibiotic Effects
Antibiotics are designed to kill off bacteria, both good and bad. In doing so, they may cause damage within the gut flora, making it vulnerable to conditions involving abdominal pain, diarrhea and/or constipation.
Can antibiotics cause diarrhea? Yes, and it's a common side effect. If you're experiencing diarrhea after taking antibiotics, Erceflora® can help replenish your gut flora and ease your symptoms. In some cases, your doctor may also prescribe an antibiotic for diarrhea in adults to address specific bacterial overgrowth.
Antibiotics & Bacterial Flora
Few people are aware of just how destructive antibiotics can be to the healthy levels of bacterial flora inside the body. Here’s what you need to know:
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Bacterial Flora are Vital to Tissues and Organs
The skin, intestines, urogenital system and respiratory system all depend on healthy levels of bacterial flora to function.
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It’s Difficult for the Body to Rebalance Bacterial Flora
Particularly those good bacteria wiped out by antibiotics. While not impossible, it takes time, and this leaves the gut vulnerable to digestive complications in the interim.
Antibiotics Disrupt the Balance
Antibiotics are designed to kill bacteria, but they don't discriminate between "good" and "bad" bacteria. This means that when you take antibiotics, they can wipe out a significant portion of your beneficial bacteria, leading to an imbalance in your microbiome.
How to Recognize Antibiotic Related Gut Disorders
While antibiotics may also have stomach-related side effects, our area of interest would be the intestines:
Diarrhea
Antibiotics may significantly reduce your colonies of good bacteria, rendering your gastrointestinal tract leaky and weak. This can lead to loose, watery stools and an increased frequency of bowel movements. It is important to stay hydrated and replenish electrolytes if you experience diarrhea.
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Gas & Cramping
Long periods of antibiotic usage tends to cause severe inflammation of the colon, resulting in bloating and abdominal pain. This discomfort can range from mild to severe and may be accompanied by changes in bowel habits.
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Nausea
Nausea is a common symptom of imbalanced intestinal bacteria; those with vulnerable tummies are also prone to vomiting. This can be due to the disruption of the gut's normal digestive processes and the overgrowth of harmful bacteria.
Antibiotic Effects: Tips & Remedies
The negative effects of antibiotics often catch people off guard. These tips can help you bring the body back into balance once symptoms have set in. Mild antibiotic-associated diarrhea usually resolves after the antibiotic treatment ends, but managing symptoms is crucial.
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Maintain a high fiber, fermented diet
These foods will have a nourishing effect on the affected gut, helping it to rebalance itself faster.
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Water, water and more water
If diarrhea has occurred as a result of antibiotics, you are at risk for dehydration. Drink plenty of water throughout the day, and consider oral rehydration therapy should the diarrhea worsen.
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Keep a piece of ginger…
…between your cheek and lower gum. This will help to keep the nausea at bay, and you may be able to tend to your day as usual.
How to Prevent Antibiotics from Affecting the Gut?
The solution to prevention is a lot simpler than you think; implementing it before it’s too late is what many fail to do!
Use a probiotic before, during and after antibiotic treatment
This will prevent the depletion of your gut bacteria, giving digestive symptoms little to no room to thrive. Probiotics can help prevent antibiotic associated diarrhea, which is a common complication of antibiotic therapy.
Accompany your probiotic with a prebiotic
Prebiotics stimulate and support existing probiotics, making them more effective.
Don't forget about your diet
Eating a variety of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains can also help support your gut health.
When to Seek Medical Attention
If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms, seek medical attention:
- Severe diarrhea that lasts for more than 3 days
- Diarrhea that is bloody or contains mucus
- Abdominal pain or cramping
- Fever above 101.5°F (38.6°C)
- Signs of dehydration, such as excessive thirst, dark urine, or decreased urine output
- Vomiting or inability to keep fluids down
- Difficulty breathing or rapid heartbeat
- Severe symptoms that worsen over time
It is also important to seek medical attention if you have a history of C. difficile infection or if you are taking antibiotics and experiencing any of the above symptoms.
Frequently Asked Questions
Antibiotics can really complicate things from the inside out. You’ve probably got a few questions for us; check out our FAQ.
How do antibiotics affect my immune system?
Antibiotics fight off bacterial infections, but in doing so may damage the gut microbiota that also play a role in your immune system, which could leave you vulnerable to both bacteria and viruses in the future.
Do antibiotics alter my bacterial flora?
Yes, very much so. They particularly affect the microbial populations in the gut, also known as the intestinal flora, creating opportunity for digestive disorders to negatively affect the individual.
Can probiotics counteract the effects of antibiotics?
Besides killing pathogenic bacteria, antibiotics also reduce the good bacteria of the intestinal flora, while probiotics work to restore them.
Why should I take probiotics during or after antibiotic treatment?
Taking a probiotic during antibiotic treatment can reduce the risk of diarrhea as a side effect of imbalanced bacterial flora. Taking a probiotic after a course of antibiotics will help restore any good bacteria that was lost during treatment.
Our Products
Erceflora® aims to prevent or help recover from a number of conditions associated to poor intestinal wellbeing as a result of imbalance microbiota for both kids and adults.
Gut disorders triggered by one or more of these scenarios can be prevented by taking Erceflora® Gut Defense daily. Symptoms can also be alleviated by taking Erceflora® Gut Restore as soon as they manifest.
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Stay Informed
Getting to know your gut, and identifying your personal triggers, is the first step to better intestinal health. Stay informed as to how gut microbiota become negatively affected by everything from traveling to seasonal changes, and how to bring about internal balance to your life.
