How do antibiotics affect the gut microbiome. What are the common gastrointestinal side effects of antibiotics. Which foods can help prevent antibiotic side effects. How do probiotics and prebiotics support gut health during antibiotic treatment. Which fermented foods contain beneficial bacteria. What foods should be avoided while taking antibiotics.

Understanding Antibiotics and Their Impact on Gut Health

Antibiotics are powerful medications designed to combat bacterial infections. While they are essential for treating many illnesses, they can also have significant effects on our digestive system. These drugs work by either killing bacteria or preventing their reproduction, which can disrupt the delicate balance of microorganisms in our gut, known as the microbiome.

The gut microbiome plays a crucial role in our overall health, influencing digestion, immune function, and even mental well-being. When antibiotics alter this balance, it can lead to various gastrointestinal side effects.

Common Gastrointestinal Side Effects of Antibiotics

• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Bloating
• Indigestion
• Abdominal pain
• Loss of appetite

These side effects, while uncomfortable, are typically temporary and subside once the course of antibiotics is completed. However, by making informed dietary choices, we can minimize these discomforts and support our gut health during and after antibiotic treatment.

The Role of Probiotics in Mitigating Antibiotic Side Effects

Probiotics are live microorganisms that can provide health benefits when consumed in adequate amounts. These “good bacteria” can help restore balance to the gut microbiome disrupted by antibiotics.

Can probiotics reduce antibiotic-related side effects? Research suggests that probiotics may be effective in preventing antibiotic-associated diarrhea and other gastrointestinal discomforts. While studies are ongoing, taking probiotics during and after antibiotic treatment appears to be a safe and potentially beneficial practice.

Timing Your Probiotic Intake

To maximize the effectiveness of probiotics, it’s important to take them at the right time. Since antibiotics can kill beneficial bacteria, including those in probiotic supplements, it’s advisable to take probiotics and antibiotics a few hours apart. This separation allows the probiotics a better chance of survival and colonization in the gut.

Probiotic-Rich Foods to Consider

• Yogurt with live cultures
• Kefir
• Kombucha
• Sauerkraut
• Kimchi
• Miso
• Tempeh

When selecting fermented foods, look for labels that indicate “live and active cultures” to ensure you’re getting the probiotic benefits.

Prebiotics: Nourishing Your Beneficial Bacteria

Prebiotics are substances that feed the beneficial bacteria in your gut. By incorporating prebiotic foods into your diet, you can support the growth and activity of probiotics, helping to restore balance to your microbiome during and after antibiotic treatment.

Natural Sources of Prebiotics

• Onions
• Garlic
• Bananas
• Chicory root
• Jerusalem artichokes
• Leeks
• Asparagus

Many food manufacturers also add prebiotics to their products. You may find them listed on labels as:

• Galactooligosaccharides (GOS)
• Fructooligosaccharides (FOS)
• Oligofructose (OF)
• Chicory fiber
• Inulin

Is it possible to consume too many prebiotics? While prebiotics are generally beneficial, consuming large quantities too quickly may cause gas or bloating. It’s best to introduce prebiotic-rich foods gradually, allowing your gut to adapt over time.

The Power of Fermented Foods in Gut Health

Fermented foods are an excellent source of beneficial bacteria and can play a significant role in maintaining gut health during and after antibiotic treatment. These foods undergo a process where microorganisms convert sugars into acids or alcohol, creating an environment rich in probiotics.

Choosing the Right Fermented Foods

Not all fermented foods contain live cultures. Heat and filtration processes can kill beneficial bacteria, so it’s important to select products that still contain active microorganisms. Look for labels that state “live and active cultures” to ensure you’re getting the probiotic benefits.

Fermented Foods to Include in Your Diet

• Miso
• Tempeh
• Kimchi
• Yogurt (with live cultures)
• Traditional salamis
• Certain cheeses (like aged cheddar, gouda, or blue cheese)
• Fresh, sour dill pickles

Remember that fermented vegetables stored at room temperature in jars, such as some sauerkraut or pickles, may not contain live cultures. Similarly, baked goods like sourdough bread do not retain live microorganisms after the baking process.

Maintaining Vitamin K Levels During Antibiotic Treatment

Antibiotics can affect the body’s vitamin K levels by eliminating bacteria that help produce this essential nutrient. Vitamin K plays a crucial role in blood clotting, and maintaining adequate levels is important during antibiotic treatment.

How can you ensure sufficient vitamin K intake while on antibiotics? Incorporating vitamin K-rich foods into your diet can help offset potential deficiencies caused by antibiotic use.

Vitamin K-Rich Foods to Include

• Kale
• Spinach
• Turnip greens
• Collard greens
• Swiss chard
• Parsley
• Mustard greens
• Brussels sprouts

These leafy greens and vegetables are not only rich in vitamin K but also provide other essential nutrients that support overall health during antibiotic treatment.

The Importance of Fiber in Post-Antibiotic Recovery

Fiber plays a crucial role in digestive health and can help restore beneficial bacteria in the gut after completing a course of antibiotics. However, it’s important to time your fiber intake correctly to maximize its benefits and avoid interfering with antibiotic absorption.

Timing Your Fiber Intake

Should you consume high-fiber foods while taking antibiotics? It’s generally advised to avoid high-fiber foods during antibiotic treatment, as they may affect how the stomach absorbs the medication. However, once you’ve completed the full course of antibiotics, incorporating fiber-rich foods into your diet can be highly beneficial.

Fiber-Rich Foods for Post-Antibiotic Recovery

• Artichokes
• Bananas
• Berries
• Beans
• Broccoli
• Lentils
• Nuts
• Peas
• Whole grains

These foods not only provide fiber but also contain various nutrients that support overall gut health and immune function.

Foods and Substances to Avoid During Antibiotic Treatment

While taking antibiotics, certain foods and substances can interfere with the medication’s effectiveness or exacerbate side effects. Being aware of these interactions can help ensure the success of your antibiotic treatment.

Grapefruit and Grapefruit Juice

Why should grapefruit be avoided during antibiotic treatment? Grapefruit and grapefruit juice can interfere with the body’s ability to break down and properly absorb certain medications, including some antibiotics. This interaction can lead to increased or decreased levels of the drug in your system, potentially affecting its efficacy or causing unwanted side effects.

Calcium-Fortified Foods

Some research suggests that foods fortified with high doses of calcium, such as certain orange juices, may interfere with the absorption of specific antibiotics. If you’re taking calcium supplements or consuming calcium-fortified foods, it’s best to consult with your healthcare provider about proper timing and potential interactions.

Alcohol Consumption

Is it safe to drink alcohol while taking antibiotics? In general, it’s advisable to avoid alcohol while taking any medication. While moderate alcohol consumption may not directly interfere with most antibiotics, it can exacerbate side effects and potentially hinder your body’s healing process.

Some antibiotics, such as Metronidazole and Tinidazole, have specific interactions with alcohol and should never be combined. These medications are commonly used to treat dental infections, vaginal infections, infected leg ulcers, and pressure sores.

High-Fiber Foods During Active Treatment

As mentioned earlier, high-fiber foods should be avoided while actively taking antibiotics, as they may interfere with the medication’s absorption. However, these foods can be gradually reintroduced once the course of antibiotics is completed.

By being mindful of these dietary considerations, you can help ensure the effectiveness of your antibiotic treatment while minimizing potential side effects and supporting your overall gut health.

What to eat on antibiotics: During and after treatment

Antibiotics are a type of medication that fight bacteria. They work either by killing bacteria or by stopping it from reproducing.

These drugs often cause gastrointestinal side effects, such as:

• nausea
• diarrhea
• bloating
• indigestion
• abdominal pain
• loss of appetite

These side effects may be uncomfortable, but they tend to pass quickly.

Eating the right foods can help to prevent bothersome side effects and encourage healing. In this article, learn which foods to eat and which to avoid while taking antibiotics.

A person has trillions of bacteria and other microorganisms living in their gut. The medical community refers to these organisms, collectively, as the gut microbiome.

Antibiotics fight bacteria, and they can upset the balance of bacteria in the microbiome.

The gut microbiome keeps the digestive system functioning and helps the immune system to defend against viral infection.

When antibiotics upset the bacterial balance, a person may experience side effects, such as nausea or diarrhea. Consuming probiotics and prebiotics during and after a course of antibiotics can help to restore the balance of bacteria in the gut.

Probiotics

Probiotics are live microorganisms commonly known as “healthy bacteria.”

They can help to reduce some of the side effects of antibiotics, such as bloating and diarrhea.

While research about probiotics and antibiotics is still inconclusive, studies suggest that taking probiotics is a safe way to prevent antibiotic-related diarrhea.

Antibiotics can kill the beneficial bacteria in probiotics, so it is advisable to take the two a few hours apart.

After finishing a course of antibiotics, taking a mixture of probiotics can also help to restore balance in the microbiome.

Prebiotics

Prebiotics are food for the beneficial bacteria that live in the gut microbiome.

Feeding the beneficial bacteria before and after taking antibiotics can help to bring balance back to the gut.

Some foods contain low levels of prebiotics, such as:

• onions
• garlic
• bananas
• chicory root
• Jerusalem artichokes

Manufacturers sometimes add prebiotics to foods, such as:

• yogurt
• infant formula
• cereals
• bread

Prebiotics may appear on food labels as:

• galactooligosaccharides, or GOS
• fructooligosaccharides, or FOS
• oligofructose, or OF
• chicory fiber
• inulin

Most prebiotics are dietary fibers. If a person consumes large quantities, they may experience gas or bloating.

Anyone who is considering adding prebiotics to their diet should do so slowly to allow their gut to adapt.

Fermented foods

Fermented foods are good sources of beneficial bacteria. All fermented foods contain microorganisms, but some heat or filtration processes can kill the beneficial bacteria.

Fermented vegetables, such as sauerkraut or pickles in jars and stored at room temperature, do not contain live cultures.

Microorganisms do not survive any baking processes, so they will not be present in foods such as sourdough bread.

Foods that contain these organisms often have “live and active cultures” on their labels.

Fermented foods include:

• miso
• tempeh
• kimchi
• yogurt
• traditional salami
• some cheeses
• fresh, sour dill pickles

Vitamin K

Antibiotics fight all kinds of bacteria, even those that help the body. Some bacteria produce vitamin K, which the body needs to make the blood clot.

To reduce the impact of antibiotics on vitamin K levels, people can eat:

• kale
• spinach
• turnip greens
• collards
• Swiss chard
• parsley
• mustard greens
• Brussels sprouts

Fiber

Fiber may stimulate the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut.

People should avoid high-fiber foods while taking antibiotics, as they may affect how the stomach absorbs the medicine.

However, once a person finishes the full course of antibiotics, eating fiber can help to restore the beneficial bacteria and promote proper digestion.

Foods that are rich in fiber include:

• artichokes
• bananas
• berries
• beans
• broccoli
• lentils
• nuts
• peas
• whole grains

Some foods interfere with the effectiveness of antibiotics.

These include grapefruits and grapefruit juice, which can stop the body from breaking down and correctly absorbing the medication.

Also, some research indicates that foods fortified with high doses of calcium, such as some orange juices, can interfere with the absorption of certain antibiotics.

Share on PinterestAlcohol can interfere with medication.

It is sensible to avoid alcohol while taking any medication. In most cases, moderate drinking will not interfere with antibiotics, but it may make the side effects worse.

A doctor will advise a person not to drink any alcohol if they are taking one of the following antibiotics:

• Metronidazole, which can treat dental infections, vaginal infections, infected leg ulcers, and pressure sores.
• Tinidazole, which also treats dental infections, vaginal infections, infected leg ulcers, and pressure sores, and clears bacteria called Helicobacter pylori from the gut.

Drinking alcohol while on one of these antibiotics can cause a serious reaction and the following symptoms:

• nausea
• abdominal pain
• hot flashes
• a fast or irregular heartbeat
• headaches
• dizziness
• drowsiness

People should avoid alcohol for a further 48 hours after finishing a course of metronidazole and for 72 hours after finishing a course of tinidazole.

It is vital to restore a healthful balance in the gut microbiome after taking a course of antibiotics. People can do this by eating probiotics, prebiotics, fermented foods, and fiber.

Probiotics and prebiotics can also help to reduce the side effects of antibiotics.

Some foods can interact with antibiotics, making them less effective. These include grapefruit and foods fortified with high doses of calcium, such as some orange juices.

What are the common side effects of antibiotics?

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Sep 13, 2022.

The most common side effects of antibiotics are upset stomach, diarrhea or soft stools, and nausea.

All medications have side effects and that includes antibiotics.
When used at the recommended dosage, antibiotics are considered safe.

Some antibiotics cause a rash, but this is not always a sign of an allergic reaction. Because antibiotics often kill off favorable bacteria as well as unwanted bacteria, an overgrowth of certain organisms that are naturally kept in check by bacteria, such as the yeast Candida Albicans, resulting in thrush, is not uncommon. An overgrowth of another bacteria, called Clostridium difficile, is also a possible side effect of antibiotics. Symptoms include severe watery or bloody diarrhea and stomach cramps.

Contact your health care provider if you are experiencing a bothersome side effect to an antibiotic. Do not stop the antibiotic without talking to your doctor first, unless the side effect is severe.

Rarely, severe allergic reactions can occur with antibiotics. Just how common severe allergic reactions are with antibiotics, in general, is not known, but they are generally rare. For example, the incidence of anaphylactic reactions to penicillin is 0.004 to 0.015%, which means that between 4 and 15 people out of every 100,000 who take penicillin have a severe allergic reaction. Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction include:

• 
  Difficulty breathing, wheezing, facial swelling (lips, tongue, throat, face)
• Nausea and vomiting
• Severe body-wide rash, that may consist of blisters, pustules, or is extremely itchy
• Shock.

Seek urgent medical advice if you are experiencing a severe allergic reaction.

For more information see Common Side Effects from Antibiotics, and Allergies and Reactions.

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Medical Disclaimer

С – new generation metabiotic

Table of contents

Microflora reaction
Impact of antibiotic therapy
How to start bowel treatment

Antibiotics have saved countless lives around the world and are essential for the treatment and prevention of a wide range of dangerous bacterial infections. However, the microflora after antibiotics is subject to their influence, which indicates the association of these drugs with a number of negative consequences for humans [1-5].

The reaction of microflora

The use of antibiotics can cause dysbacteriosis, that is, a violation of the normal composition and functions of the intestinal microflora. Broad-spectrum antibiotics, effective against many different bacteria, can affect up to 30% of the bacteria that normally inhabit the gastrointestinal tract [1].

Even a weekly course of antibiotics leads to the fact that the restoration of the microflora after antibiotics may take from 6 months to 2 years after the end of their intake [2].

The complex compounds contained in the antibiotic act on the causative agent of a bacterial infection, destroying the cell wall, damaging the nucleus. Viral diseases are not treated with antibiotics – a virus, unlike a microbe, has only RNA and DNA.

Influence of antibiotic therapy

The microflora changed under the influence of antibiotics cannot perform its vital functions, such as digestive, synthetic, etc. [3] The consequences of violation of these functions affect the entire body. Dysbiosis-mediated conditions include:

• diabetes
• obesity
• bronchial asthma

If the balance of microflora is disturbed, the risk of developing infectious diseases increases [1].

But the most common adverse reactions associated with the use of antibiotics are disorders of the gastrointestinal tract. Patients have irritable bowel, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea [4]. It is diarrhea that is the most common of the negative consequences of taking antibiotics; there is a special term for it – “antibiotic-associated diarrhea” [5].

Antibiotics cause 1 in 4 cases of drug-induced diarrhea [4].

Antibiotic-associated diarrhea is unrelated diarrhea, defined as 3 or more episodes of loose stools for at least 2 consecutive days, frolicking while taking antibiotics [4].

How to start treating the intestines

For the prevention and treatment of AAD, it is recommended to maintain and restore the balance of microflora with the help of special preparations [4].

There are drugs that affect the functions of the intestinal microflora – metabiotics. They contain analogues of the metabolic products of intestinal bacteria, which, almost in their entirety, can reach the goal. One of the metabiotics is a new generation drug Aktoflor-S.

Its action is aimed at stimulating the growth of its own beneficial intestinal microflora and its physiological activity, thus the drug helps prevent side effects of antibiotics and can be prescribed from the first day of their use [6]. Actoflor-s is easy to take, and its components do not create an additional microbial load on the microflora.

References:

1. Francino M. P. Antibiotics and the human gut microbiome: dysbioses and accumulation of resistances // Frontiers in microbiology. – 2016. – V. 6. – P. 1543

2. Jernberg, C. et al. Long-term ecological impacts of antibiotic administration on the human intestinal microbiota / C. Jernberg et al. // The ISME journal. – 2007. – Vol. 1, No. 1. – P. 56-66.

3. Guarner F, Malagelada J-R. Gut flora in health and disease. Lancet, 2003, 361: 512-9. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(03)12489-0.

4. Zakharenko S. M., Andreeva I. V., Stetsyuk O. U. Adverse drug reactions from the gastrointestinal tract and antibiotic-associated diarrhea in the use of antibiotics in outpatient practice: prevention and treatment // Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. – 2019. – T. 21. – No. 3.

5. McFarland, L. V. (2009). Evidence-based review of probiotics for antibiotic-associated diarrhea and Clostridium difficile infections. Anaerobe, 15(6), 274–280.

6. According to the instructions for use of the drug Actoflor-S.

Myths about antibiotics

Checking myths

24. 05.22

Timur Zarudny

figured out the myths about antibiotics

Author profile

There are many prejudices around antibiotic treatment.

Some believe that these drugs are needed to prevent complications in the treatment of colds, others necessarily drink probiotics after a course of antibiotics – to restore the microflora.

In fact, both are wrong. We tell you why and analyze other myths from the point of view of evidence-based medicine.

Go see a doctor

Our articles are written with love for evidence-based medicine. We refer to authoritative sources and go to doctors with a good reputation for comments. But remember: the responsibility for your health lies with you and your doctor. We don’t write prescriptions, we give recommendations. Relying on our point of view or not is up to you.

Myth No. 1

Antibiotics can be taken without a doctor’s prescription

Antibiotics may only be taken as directed by a physician. There are three reasons for this.

Antibiotics should be selected for a specific case. If you have been prescribed one drug for the treatment of angina, then it will not help against gonorrhea. Therefore, for proper treatment, it is necessary to establish a diagnosis.

In addition to the diagnosis, the choice of antibiotic depends on what you have already been treated with before and what individual contraindications are.

For some relatively mild illnesses like pharyngitis, sinusitis, and bronchitis, the doctor may not prescribe anything if the illness is likely to go away without antibiotics. That is, in such cases, the potential harm, albeit small, outweighs the benefits.

Self-treatment with antibiotics – ECDC

Proper dosage is important. Often, antibiotics are prescribed in a dosage exceeding the minimum required, sometimes several different drugs are used – all this is necessary so that the bacteria cannot adapt to the medicine and die for sure. It is not possible to choose the right treatment for yourself.

Possible bacterial resistance. The uncontrolled use of antibiotics accelerates the adaptability of bacteria to them, which leads to the emergence of diseases that have no cure. This is one of the most pressing health problems in the world.

6 infections that can become untreatable due to antibiotic misuse

Bacterial resistance to antibiotics develops largely because drugs are not taken correctly. As a result, bacteria mutate, giving them new genes that help destroy antibiotics. Such bacterial cells survive after treatment and begin to multiply actively.

New antibiotic resistance genes found – University of Gothenburg

Myth No. 2

Antibiotics are needed to prevent and treat colds and any infections in general

Antibiotics are a class of drugs that kill bacteria, certain fungi, or single-celled parasites, i.e. protozoa. They do not work against viral infections.

However, antibiotics may be prescribed to reduce the risk of infections associated with open fractures and postoperative wounds.

Antibiotics – MSD Manual

Antimicrobial prophylaxis in adults – Mayo Clinic

This approach does not work with SARS: the likelihood of catching a bacterial infection with a viral cold is much lower than infecting a wound with bacteria after surgery.

Antibiotics for the common cold and acute purulent rhinitis – Cochrane Library

At the same time, the possible harm from antibiotics in the case of SARS will be greater. For example, they can cause diarrhea or an allergic reaction. There is very little or no benefit from the medicine here, and side effects are likely.

However, some doctors and pharmacists advise taking antibiotics against SARS in order to prescribe at least some treatment. This is wrong, and this decision has many risks.

15 important questions for otolaryngologist Oleg Abramov

Myth No. 3

Antibiotics kill intestinal microflora and are generally harmful to health

Antibiotics do not only kill bacteria that cause infections, but also those that live in the body and help it function. Therefore, in some cases, side reactions may develop from taking antibiotics. With the correct selection of the drug, they are insignificant, the most likely is short-term diarrhea.

Microflora – MSD Manual

Probiotics are not needed for its treatment, because their effectiveness in restoring microflora is not proven and it is difficult to accurately determine what is contained in commercial products. At least seven studies found discrepancies between what was on the label and what was in the probiotic jar.

Antibiotic Associated Diarrhea – Mayo Clinic

Shaky Evidence for Probiotics – Statnews Magazine

The fact is that the microflora is individual for each person and depends on a large number of factors: diet, hygiene rules, health status. This means that there are no uniform standards for the content of bacteria in the intestines and it is impossible to know which bacteria a person needs. You can’t just come to the store, buy the right probiotic, replenish the composition of bacteria and be healthy – everything is much more complicated.

Should your children take probiotics? — Slate Journal

Use of probiotics to prevent antibiotic-associated diarrhea — Cochrane Study

While bowel problems persist, drink plenty of water, eat soft foods, avoid spicy or fatty foods, and cut down on foods that can make diarrhea worse or cause discomfort, such as grapes or prunes.

Then special diets are not needed – with a balanced diet, the microflora will restore itself. The main thing is to consume a sufficient amount of vegetables, fruits, sour-milk and fermented products.

15 important questions for gastroenterologist Alexey Golovenko

Other side effects of antibiotics are rare, because any drug is tested and certified, and is prescribed strictly according to indications.

Probiotics often cost more than a course of antibiotics, but their benefits are questionable. Source: “Ozon-ru”

Myth No. 4

You can stop taking antibiotics after the symptoms have disappeared.

Current guidelines advise you to finish your course even if you feel better. If you stop, then you may have to go through it again later: there is a risk that the medicine will not have time to cope with the infection to the end.

It also creates a risk of developing bacterial resistance to a particular substance, because some of the microorganisms will remain alive. This means that it can mutate, becoming resistant to the drug that tried to kill them.

Antibiotics: do you abuse them
? – Mayo Clinic

However, there is now an opposite opinion in the scientific community. Some researchers believe that too long a course of treatment can also lead to the emergence and spread of resistant strains. This may be due to the fact that the harmless microflora that lives on the human body and its surfaces dies and is replaced by mutated strains.

What to do if the course is over – BMJ

There is no consensus on this yet, so it is most logical to follow the course prescribed by your doctor. Feel free to voice your doubts about whether you need a long course of the drug. A competent physician must explain his appointments and justify the duration of the appointment.

Why we should expect scientists to disagree about antibiotic resistance – The Conversation

Myth #5

Antibiotics are dangerous for children

In general, the same rules apply for children as for adults: antibiotics should be used only when indicated.

Does your child need antibiotics – Mayo Clinic

If the drug is prescribed correctly, it will not harm the child. On the contrary, antibiotics are often vital to deal with dangerous infections.

Antibiotic use in children under two years of age in eight countries around the world – Bull World Health Organ

Just a doctor should prescribe antibiotics only when they are needed:

1. if the infection is unlikely to go away without antibiotics;
2. if there is a high risk of infecting other people without treatment.
3. if treatment without antibiotics takes too long or there is a high risk of serious complications.

There is WHO guidance on which antibiotics to use for common infections and which to keep for difficult cases. This approach allows you to use the safest drugs first and reduce the risk of developing bacterial resistance.

When antibiotics are used – NHS

Antibiotic list – World Health Organization

Antibiotics are most commonly abused in South East Asia. If you are traveling with an infant, keep this in mind and get a second opinion if needed.

Myth No. 6

Antibiotics in injections work better than in pills

Historically, the difference between injections and tablets has been the bioavailability of the drug. Bioavailability is the ability of a drug to be absorbed by the body. The higher – the more active substance passes into the body. For example, the bioavailability of the drug via injection was 90%, and tablets – 60%.

Pills or Injections – NPS Medecinewise magazine They say you can’t split pills. Is it true?

True, the injections were still not all right: they are painful, require the participation of a medical officer, there is a risk of infection through the needle.

The bioavailability of modern antibiotic tablets has increased simply because technology and pharmaceuticals have advanced.

Intramuscular injections are now needed in exceptional cases. For example, for a small number of drugs that are difficult to release in the form of tablets due to the fact that they are digested in the stomach. They are also necessary in difficult situations – with life-threatening infections like sepsis, when the drug needs to be administered as quickly as possible, or when a person cannot take a pill, for example, is unconscious.

They say that tablets cannot be divided into parts. Is it true?

In standard situations, antibiotic tablets are easier to use and much safer.

It is believed that antibiotic tablets can harm the stomach, but this is not true. We know that antibiotics can cause diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and stomach pain, but these side effects are short-term. At the same time, both tablet and injectable forms have such side effects.

Side effects of antibiotics – NHS Journal

Myth No. 7

Antibiotics lower immunity

There are suggestions that antibiotics can interfere with the cells of the immune system, but there is no reliable evidence for this: there are only a few studies conducted on animals.

Antibiotics alter the infectious microenvironment and may reduce the ability of immune cells to kill bacteria – Uyss University Journal

Antibiotic-induced changes in the body’s metabolic environment inhibit the effectiveness of drugs and alter immune function – Cell Host and Microbe

By this logic, antibiotics reduce the body’s resistance to infections. However, there are people with congenital immune disorders who constantly take antibiotics to maintain protection against bacterial infections. If drugs further worsened the functioning of the immune system and reduced resistance to bacteria, then such people would not be able to avoid diseases.

In general, some effect of antibiotics on immunity is possible, although it has not yet been reliably confirmed. This is another reason why they should be prescribed only according to indications.

Doctors avoid treating relatively mild bacterial infections like bronchitis with antibiotics because the potential risks outweigh the benefits. On the other hand, antibacterial drugs should not be abandoned for infections of moderate and high severity, such as pneumonia, pyelonephritis, some otitis media, and others. The harm and danger of such diseases will far exceed the expected damage from the drug.

How to increase immunity

Myth No. 8

The meat of animals fed with antibiotics is dangerous

Animals raised for food are indeed being fed antibiotics to treat bacterial infections and reduce their mortality.

But this is a controlled and researched process, which is monitored by special services. Before the animal is sacrificed, a withdrawal period is introduced to ensure that all antibiotic residues are eliminated from the animal. After that, the controlling services check all the meat for unwanted compounds.

Antibiotics in food: should I be concerned? — Healthline 9 magazine0005

Russia tightens control over antibacterial drugs in animal husbandry — Veterinary and Life magazine

That is, antibiotics from meat do not enter the human body in such quantities as to affect the microflora or cause resistance of human bacteria to any drugs.

However, there are some risks associated with the use of antibiotics in animals. Their use contributes to the fact that in animal food there may be bacteria that have acquired resistance to antibiotics. In addition, such microorganisms can enter the environment when raising animals.

Animals, like humans, have a lot of bacteria that are normally completely harmless. However, if they become resistant to antibiotics, they can become dangerous, and theoretically they can transfer resistance genes to other bacteria, including pathogens.

Is it true that eating fried meat is dangerous to health?

Antibiotics used in animals are tested for the ability to induce resistance in microorganisms, but risks remain. Because of this, WHO recommends against the use of antibacterial drugs in healthy animals to prevent infections, but such measures have not yet been taken.

Animal Antibiotic Use Review – Public Health Reports

Minimize exposure of animal products to bacteria in food:

• Practice good hygiene: wash hands thoroughly before eating, clean kitchen surfaces, utensils;
• use different cutting boards for meat and other products;
• ensure that food is cooked correctly, in particular that the meat is well fried or cooked.

Antibiotics in food-raised meat – Mayo Clinic

4 steps to safer food preparation – CDC

Meat should also be purchased from trusted places where it passes veterinary control. This reduces the risk that the meat will contain antibiotics and dangerous infections.

Farm animals in private holdings where control is neglected can be raised without following the rules. For example, farmers may use antibiotics because they increase weight gain in livestock, fail to test meat before selling, and fail to meet their withdrawal deadline. At the same time, such products can be positioned as environmentally friendly.

Antibiotics: what are the differences and how to take them

Myth No. 9

Antibiotics are incompatible with alcohol

Moderate alcohol consumption does not reduce the effectiveness of most antibiotics, but may slow recovery from illness and cause a number of side effects such as dizziness, upset stomach and drowsiness.

Antibiotics and Alcohol – Mayo Clinic

However, there are antibiotics that will work less well when taken with alcohol. These are, for example, erythromycin and doxycycline – these drugs will be processed faster by the body, as a result, they may not have time to act.