Should I take Probiotics (specifically Lactobacilli Shirota Strain found in YAKULT) while taking Antibiotics?

Question

I'm taking up 500mg of Antibiotics (Amoxicillin) thrice a day for a week. After the 3rd day, Ive been feeling a little upset in the stomach... Ive read that Antibiotics not only "kill" harmful bacteria but also the good ones such as those found in GI tract responsible for properly digesting food. So I was wondering if I could drink Yakult while on Antibiotics... or would the antibiotcs just kill the shirota strain?

Answer 1

You don't have to worry about the antibiotics killing the probiotics.  Stomach acid is more of a threat.  Many probiotic products out there simply don't survive harsh stomach acids and then never do much good.  To compensate, they just pack more probiotics into each pill, but it doesn't help if it can't make its way into the intestines.

Probiotic+ is a product that offers a broad scope of probiotic strains as well as a special coating to help them get through the stomach and into the intestines, where they will work.  One a day should be more than enough to maintain a normal stomach while on antibiotics.

Answer 2

The rule is two hours apart. And absolutely take the probiotics while on antibiotics, it keeps the infection from coming back, not to mention, it prevents side effects from the antibiotics.

Answer 3

You're right about needing to take probiotics. I don't k now the particular probiotics you are referring to, but for years I always keep in my frig Acidophyllus, a type of probiotics which I purchase at the pharmacy or health food store. When I have to take antibiotics, or anyone in the family (for kids it comes in powder form to mix with food) I take 1 probiotic pill for every antibiotic pill, but not together (the antibiotic will counteract the probiotic effect), take the probiotic either an hour before the antibiotic or 2 hours after. There are some probiotics which are so strong that you need only one or two a day. That you have to ask at the store you purchase it at. Ever since I use probiotics I have no upset stomach with antibiotics and for women it's great cause it will prevent yeast infection, an occasional side effect of antibiotics. Also, when my stomach isn't right, nothing to do with antibiotics, I take probiotics for a while, like one a day for a month and it sorts everything out.

Good luck.

Answer 4

You're probably right about it killing the probiotics even though you're taking them, but I think its better to take it than not to take it, and everyone should take probiotics anyway for digestive health.