Antibiotics and gut flora?

Question

I've been prescribed Doryx to treat acne.

I know that prolonged antibiotic use (like I am about to begin) can kill the natural good flora and bacteria in your gut...

To supplement this I take an ultimate flora supplement that has like 15 different good bacterias killed by antibiotics

Will taking these flora supplements be in vain?

Because, when I take them, won't the antibiotic just kill them right away?

Answer 1

Not instantly.  Taking the supplement will help.

Eat active culture yogurt, too.  Can't hurt.

Answer 2

The narrow spectrum antibiotics for acne have very limited effectiveness against the gut bacteria, even in long term use.  Don't worry about it.

I have never had a patient on things like Doryx have a problem with depletion of their natural gut flora.  Sometimes people will have mild diarrhea, which is a direct side effect of the antibiotic, not because it is killing off your gut flora.

Answer 3

Sometimes taking Antibiotic will hurt the gut and your sitting on the queen. My Doctor always say take your Acidophilus (pill) you can buy in the drug store.

Worth the try!

Answer 4

Please, if you're not sure, don't answer.  The person who said that antibiotics have nothing to do with the gut is sadly ignorant of the facts on the subject.

Also, quackwatch.com is a prejudice site and only points out all of the botched research on topics.  They are definately the devil's advocate and do not represent the scientific community as a whole.  BEWARE OF YOUR BELIEFS,  always get a second and third opinion before you claim something as fact.

Yes, antibiotics kill bacteria.  Does it kill the "good guys" too?  you would have to do a search on the particular antibiotic and/or contact the drug co. for info. on which bacteria(s)  it kills.   OR  err on the side of caution and act as if it does kill the good guys.  Yes, over the counter, very inexpensive acidiphilosis.  There are also other pro-biotic formulas but you'd have to really look around.  The more different good guys you have the better.  They each can battle the bad guys (bad bacteria, viruses, fungi) in a different way.  YOU CAN NOT OVERDOSE.  Here is an anology I learned from a TV natural remedy show:  Think of your gut as a parking lot with say, 100 parking places.  If those 100 parking places are taken up by the good guys there is nowhere for the bad guys to park.  If some or all are open, it leaves you wide open, especially for antibiotic resistant bacteria and other microbes.  Personally, I would take the probiotic starting the day after I finished the antibiotic unless you are around sick people, hospital, nursing home etc.  If so, take the probiotic everyday.  Yes, probiotics are in yogurt and some dairy drinks and you can look on the package to find out how many differant good guys it has, however, It should always be a LIVE probiotic.  Also, there is some thought that the live guys would not be able to get past the stomach due to the acid, but, I feel that some must get through and it will also coat your throat and mouth and there is a great chance that they could enter the bloodstream very easily from there and systemically populate.

God bless with health and good luck  

Answer 5

I don't think antibiotics are related to gut flora. Antibiotics are related to open wounds like tooth roots needing to be pulled out or maybe a stomach ulcer.

Answer 6

What time of day do you have to take the antibiotics?  You should maybe take the supplements at a time that is after the antibiotics are into your system and working.  

If you take the antibiotic at say, 8am, you might want to take the other at noon or so, giving the drugs a chance to work their way through.  Another way to help out the supplements too, is to eat some yogurt.  It's loaded with good stuff that should help boost your natural  bacterial count.

Please err on the side of caution and take the supplements or have the yogurt.  Women get yeast infections all the time because of antibiotics.  We then have to get treatments for the infection, only to have another one and repeat the cycle later on.   If someone tells you that the flora won't be affected, they are mistaken.