Can You Take Probiotics with Antibiotics?
Quick Answer
Yes, and you probably should. Antibiotics wreck your gut bacteria. That's why 5-35% of people get diarrhea on them. Probiotics cut that risk in half. The trick: take them 2-3 hours apart so the antibiotic doesn't immediately kill the probiotic. Keep taking them for a week or two after you finish.
Key Points
- Cuts antibiotic diarrhea risk by ~50%
- Take 2-3 hours after each antibiotic dose
- S. boulardii is antibiotic-resistant (it's yeast)
- Keep going 1-2 weeks after antibiotics end
- This isn't controversial. GI docs recommend it.
Detailed Answer
Antibiotics kill bacteria. Good bacteria too. That's why your gut gets upset during a course. Probiotics help replenish what's getting wiped out.
The data is solid here: - Meta-analyses: probiotics reduce antibiotic diarrhea by about 50% - Best strains: Saccharomyces boulardii (it's a yeast, so antibiotics don't kill it) and Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG - Timing is everything: 2-3 hours AFTER your antibiotic dose, so there's less antibiotic in your system to kill the probiotic
Gastroenterologists recommend this routinely now. It's not some fringe wellness thing.
Don't stop when the antibiotic course ends. Keep taking probiotics for another 1-2 weeks while your gut recovers.
Evidence Quality
Multiple high-quality studies support this
Key Sources:
- reviewProbiotics for Antibiotic-Associated Diarrhea: Cochrane Review
- reviewS. boulardii Prevention of AAD: Meta-Analysis
- guidelineAGA Clinical Practice Guidelines on Probiotics
Related Questions
2-3 hours. If you take them together, the antibiotic kills the probiotic bacteria before they can do anything. Give it time to clear.
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