Taking Probiotics With Antibiotics

The good news is that evidence suggests taking probiotics alongside antibiotics may help to reduce adverse effects on the composition of the gut microbiome¹⁹. Read on to find out more about the best probiotics for antibiotics. 

In this article we will look at the following:

• Which are the best probiotics to take alongside antibiotics?
• Antibiotics and gut health
• Why take a probiotic with an antibiotic?
• Can I take probiotics with antibiotics?
• Probiotics for children taking antibiotics
• Do antibiotics kill probiotics?
• When should I take probiotics when taking antibiotics?
• Should you take probiotics after antibiotics?
• Best probiotics for long-term antibiotic use?
• Do probiotics disturb antibiotic functioning?
• Important tips for supporting general health whilst on antibiotics
• Key takeaways: probiotics and antibiotics

Which are the best probiotics to take alongside antibiotics?

A question we often get asked is, which are the best probiotics with antibiotics to support antibiotic diarrhoea? It seems that this is the most commonly experienced side effect when taking this type of medication and can lead to a discontinuation of treatment.

In clinical trials involving individuals undergoing antibiotic treatment for Helicobacter pylori infection, participants were given Lactobacillus acidophilus Rosell-52, Lactobacillus rhamnosus Rosell-11 and Bifidobacterium lactis Lafti B94 alongside antibiotics. All three strains were proven to survive alongside the medication, enhance the efficacy of treatment and reduce side effects like diarrhoea, loss of appetite and pain^11,12.

The recommended use for a supplement containing this probiotic combination is as follows:

• Take one capsule daily with breakfast, even with your antibiotic medication.
• Take daily until the antibiotic course is finished, and preferably for one week after.
• Continue until the pack is completed and add a second pack if the antibiotic treatment lasts more than one week.

Those taking antibiotics for a vaginal health issue might also like to consider taking probiotic strains which are well researched for intimate health, such as 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.

Health professionals can visit these strains' entries in the Probiotics Database: Lactobacillus reuteri RC-14® and Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1®.

Antibiotics and gut health

The gut microbiome is a complex ecosystem of trillions of microbes that live together in harmony in our gastrointestinal tract. These microbes have far reaching effects on human health, enhancing digestion, immunity, skin health and energy^3,4,5. A balance is required between beneficial microbes and more harmful microbes that naturally colonise the gut. This balance can be disturbed by various lifestyle factors including low-fibre diet, travel and infection, among others.

So, what happens to our gut microbiome when we take an antibiotic? Unfortunately, taking antibiotics can be detrimental to our gut health. Whilst effective in killing bad bacteria antibiotics are essentially non-selective and can also deplete the beneficial bacteria residing in the gut. This is thought to contribute to the development of diarrhoea, constipation and/or vaginal thrush when taking an antibiotic. In certain cases, this disruption to our gut microbiome can result in an overgrowth of unwanted, pathogenic bacteria such as Clostridium difficile. 

Of course, for active infection, the benefits of taking antibiotics far outweigh the associated negatives. Taking a probiotic alongside an antibiotic can help to minimise digestive upset that occurs as a result of the disruption to our gut microbiome, otherwise known as dysbiosis.

People taking antibiotics may experience⁶:

• Loss of appetite
• Bloating
• Nausea
• Indigestion
• Abdominal pain 
• Fatigue, feeling low on energy or ‘wiped out’
• Antibiotic-associated diarrhoea 

Why take a probiotic with an antibiotic?

Taking probiotics whilst taking antibiotics may help maintain gut microbiome health during antibiotic therapy. Replenishing the gut with beneficial bacteria helps to rebalance the gut microbiome and reduce the risk of developing common side effects of antibiotics. The NHS has recognised the beneficial effects of probiotic supplementation⁷. When prescribed antibiotics, many individuals now choose to supplement their natural bacteria with a probiotic supplement. Your local pharmacist may even recommend probiotics and antibiotics when dispensing your presciption.

Antibiotic-associated diarrhoea (ADD) is one of the most common side effects of antibiotics, with a prevalence of between 5 to 35%, depending on the type of antibiotic⁸ taken. A meta-analysis of 23 studies from the highly esteemed Cochrane Collaboration carried out in 2012 (focusing on contrasting and combining results from multiple studies) found that probiotics can reduce the risk of antibiotic-associated side effects by 64%. One particular form of AAD is Clostridium difficile infection, which manifests as chronic diarrhoea and in severe cases, colitis. This is of particular concern in the elderly and can sometimes be fatal. Based on a systematic review and meta-analysis of 23 randomized controlled trials including 4213 patients, evidence suggests that probiotics are both safe and effective in helping to support the health of the gut microbiome and reducing digestive upset related to Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhoea¹⁰

A new meta-analysis, conducted by the University of Toronto⁹, reviewed 16 separate studies encompassing a total of 3,403 patients undergoing antibiotic treatment. The results showed that patients supplemented with probiotics during antibiotic treatment had a significantly reduced risk of developing antibiotic-associated diarrhoea or C. difficile infection.

Can I take probiotics with antibiotics?

Yes. Extensive clinical research suggests the best probiotic to take with antibiotics are particular strains that can be taken alongside antibiotics, rather than separately. These particular strains are Lactobacillus acidophilus Rosell-52, Lactobacillus rhamnosus Rosell-11 and Bifidobacterium lactis Lafti B94 which we will look at in the next section. These strains can be taken at exactly the same time as antibiotic medication, which is not the case for most other probiotic supplements. Health professionals can read this article about research using a probiotic for antibiotics.

It’s not necessarily bad or counterproductive to take other probiotic strains alongside antibiotic medication, it just means that the probiotic may not be viable, but rest assured, the antibiotic medication itself would not be affected. It’s always good to take strains of probiotics that have been studied to help with the health concern or situation you are looking to support as not all probiotics are the same.

Taking well-studied strains that have been shown to survive when taken at the same time as the antibiotic medication is particularly useful alongside intravenous (IV) antibiotics which may be constantly administered on a drip. We would always say that it is a good idea to take probiotics during and after courses of antibiotics. Taking probiotics after antibiotics is discussed later in this article.

Probiotics for children taking antibiotics

Many parents first start giving probiotic supplements to their children when they are given a course of antibiotics, as this type of medication can sometimes cause tummy upsets. Children aged one year and above are fine to take the above mentioned strains, Lactobacillus acidophilus Rosell-52, Lactobacillus rhamnosus Rosell-11 and Bifidobacterium lactis Lafti B94, as they have also been clinically trialled in children. It can be easier to use these strains , as there's no need to give them at a different time to the antibiotics. However, if their child is already taking a probiotic supplement especially formulated for children’s gut health, parents can opt to continue giving this with food a couple of hours away from the medication.

Do antibiotics kill probiotics?

Unfortunately, only a few probiotic strains have been shown to survive when taken directly alongside antibiotics. As all antibiotic medication will have some kind of negative impact on the gut microbiome, it’s really important to choose the right strains of probiotics when taking this type of medication. You want strains that have not only been researched to survive when directly taken alongside antibiotics but to also demonstrate that they exert benefits. 

The extensive research behind the three previously mentioned Lactobacillus strains sets them apart from many probiotic supplements on the market today and makes them a suitable choice for anyone who wishes to take natural bacteria during their course of antibiotics. Furthermore, Lactobacillus acidophilus Rosell-52, Lactobacillus rhamnosus Rosell-11 and Bifidobacterium lactis Lafti B94 have been tested and shown in-vitro to survive stomach acidity and bile salts. 

When should I take probiotics when taking antibiotics?

Generally, with a few exceptions aside, it is best to take our probiotic supplements in the morning with breakfast. If you are taking a probiotic containing the strains Lactobacillus acidophilus Rosell-52, Lactobacillus rhamnosus Rosell-11 and Bifidobacterium lactis Lafti B94, you would still be able to follow this recommendation alongside antibiotics and take both with your brekkie.

However, if you are taking different strains, such as Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM^®, Bifidobacterium lactis Bi-07^® or Bifidobacterium lactis Bl-04^®, it is best to give a 2 hour gap between antibiotics and taking the probiotic supplement. So, if you have been instructed by your doctor to take your antibiotics with breakfast, you would take the medication first in this instance and leave a 2 hour gap before taking the other probiotics. It’s a good idea to take our supplements with food, so in this case, with your lunch or a mid-morning snack.

Ideally, any alternative probiotic strains taken should also have research demonstrating their efficacy during antibiotic therapy. If you are taking a probiotic from a different supplier, it is best to ask that supplier directly about the length of time to leave between taking their product and taking your antibiotics. As a general rule, many companies tend to recommend waiting 1 or 2 hours after taking antibiotics before taking their probiotics. After this length of time, sufficient levels of the beneficial bacteria are able to reach the gut alive. It is generally recommended to take probiotics every day during your course of antibiotics; this way you can replenish your friendly bacteria daily before your digestive system is upset by a longstanding microbial imbalance.

Should you take probiotics after antibiotics?

Even if you have taken a probiotic designed to be taken alongside your antibiotic medication, it is always a sensible idea to take good daily probiotics after antibiotics for at least a month or so to replenish the gut microflora. Scientists are not really sure exactly how long it will take to rebuild the gut flora after antibiotics; it will depend on several different factors such as the individual gut microbiome, the length of the course, the strength of medication, diet and lifestyle etc. What are the best probiotics after antibiotics? Well, studies show taking a probiotic supplement that contains the strains Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM and Bifidobacterium lactis Bi-07^® after antibiotics may help to stabilise Lactobacillus populations in the gut¹³. The Lactobacillus genus of friendly bacteria helps to crowd out the bad guys and keep our gut environment healthy. 

Best probiotics for long-term antibiotic use?

The best probiotics when taking antibiotics long term are ones which have shown to be helpful in reducing side effects when taken at the same time. If you need to take a longer course of antibiotics, you may wish to consider choosing a supplement that contains Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM^®. A supplement that contains this particular strain has been demonstrated in a randomised controlled trial to minimise disturbance to the composition of the gut microbiome when taken alongside antibiotics¹⁴. This can be useful when antibiotics are being taken for longer than two weeks. However, it is recommended to take this probiotic strain 2 hours away from an antibiotic, rather than at the exact same time. To find out more about the research using this strain, health professionals can visit its entry in the Probiotics Database: Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM^®

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.

The over-prescription of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance

The emergence of antibiotic resistance is a concerning public health issue. The World Health Organisation (WHO) published a report¹, analysing data from 114 countries, and calling resistance to antibiotics a 'major global threat'. They state that simple, common infections thought to pose little threat today, could become killers again in the future, due in large part to antibiotic resistance. In light of this, steps must be taken to slow the progress of antibiotic resistance, and to change the way we use and prescribe antibiotics. Over-prescription and over-use of antibiotics are significant contributing factors to the development of antibiotic resistance¹⁵. The over-prescription of antibiotics is a pertinent issue in the UK, with up to 23% of antibiotic prescriptions being deemed “inappropriate” by the NHS¹⁶. Healthcare practitioners can read further information about the over-prescription of antibiotics here.

Failure to complete a full course of antibiotics is also believed to contribute to antibiotic resistance¹⁵. Probiotics are being used increasingly to help support digestion during antibiotic use which may enable patients to complete their medication. Health professionals might be interested to read more about the use of probiotics against antibiotic resistance.

Alternatives to antibiotics would, of course, be interesting to explore but ideally, in the case of a bacterial infection, this should be under the supervision of a healthcare practitioner. It is worth considering that antibiotics are not always necessary, for example in the case of viral infections, antibiotics will remain ineffective (because antibiotics, by nature, target bacteria). There are also arguably a number of minor bacterial infections that have the potential to resolve naturally without having to rely on an antibiotic. Of note, up to 42% of uncomplicated urinary tract infections may clear spontaneously within 48 hours, especially when helped along with plenty of water¹⁷.

Probiotics vs Antibiotics? You’re asking the wrong question.

The question of whether someone should be taking a probiotic or an antibiotic is commonly asked. The answer, in short, is that it isn't a question of either/or! but instead, whether a probiotic should be taken in addition to, or alongside, an antibiotic. The answer to this question is, in most cases, yes! 

Is it ever a question of probiotics OR antibiotics?

There are some conditions where those afflicted may prefer trying natural interventions first. Acne is a very common skin issue where antibiotics are often prescribed as a treatment by a general practitioner or dermatologist. In a 2011 literature review, it was determined that there is sufficient supportive evidence to suggest that gut microbes, and the health of the gastrointestinal tract itself, may be contributing factors in acne vulgaris³. You may like to read our FAQ about probiotics and skin health. However, this decision should always be made in line with a doctor’s consent.

Important tips for supporting general health whilst on antibiotics

• Eat fermented or prebiotic foods. These can help rebalance the gut microbiome and optimise gut health after a course of antibiotics.
• Avoid refined sugary foods, as these feed the harmful bacteria and yeasts which often overgrow due to antibiotic use.
• Avoid alcohol, even if not contraindicated with your course of antibiotics. Alcohol can also disrupt the gut microbiome and negatively impact immune function, which may hinder your body's efforts to fight infection.
• Ensure you complete your course of antibiotics. Unpleasant side effects can make it difficult to continue taking antibiotics but failing to complete the course can increase the risk of antibiotic resistance. 
• Eat a healthy diet. Don't let the antibiotics do all the work - include a selection of immune-boosting foods containing vitamin C and other antioxidants, including citrus fruits and green leafy vegetables.

Key takeaways: probiotics and antibiotics

• Antibiotics deplete the populations of friendly bacteria in the gut and may cause side effects such as diarrhoea, nausea, indigestion and low energy. It’s important to select probiotics to take with antibiotics, don’t wait until the course has finished.
• If taking Lactobacillus acidophilus Rosell-52, Lactobacillus rhamnosus Rosell-11 and Bifidobacterium lactis Lafti B94 then take them with breakfast. These strains can be taken at the SAME time as your antibiotic if this is also at breakfast-time.
• If taking a different probiotic supplement, like Bifidobacterium lactis Bi-07^® or Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM^® wait at least 2 hours after your antibiotics before taking probiotics.
• It is important to always follow the advice from your doctor, and always take and finish a course of antibiotics as prescribed. Taking probiotics alongside antibiotics may reduce digestive issues and enable you to finish a course, reducing the chances of antibiotic resistance.
• If you have already finished a course of antibiotics before being recommended a friendly bacteria supplement, better late than never; by all means take probiotics after antibiotics! For next time, you know you can take them during as well as after.
• It simply isn't a question of antibiotics OR probiotics - it's a question of antibiotics AND probiotics.

You may also wish to read our FAQ, At what time should I take probiotics?

References

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