Rpmljm,
I think CalGal has explained you should take probiotics concurrent with antibiotics, go ahead and take some whilst doing the antibiotics. I do not know about the diff kinds of probiotics, if you heard Florastor works best with the antibiotic you're on, sure, take it, and you can go ahead and take the Culturelle, too. Also, ordinary Acidophilus milk or Activia yogurt, while not as strong as some you get in the store, they do have probiotics in them and are better than nothing.
GG
I just came across this thread while researching. I just started taking Xifaxan for IBS-D. My Dr. also suggested probiotics. My problem is that it's Saturday and I can't get the Dr. until Mon. and I don't know if I should take both at the same time or if I should wait until I finish the antibiotic in 2 weeks and then begin the probiotic. Can anyone there answer that for me? I also heard somewhere that Florastor is the only one that will work with the Xifaxan. Is that so? I got Culturelle yesterday.
Thanks so much!
Ggreg, we did hi-jack this, and I, too, am sorry for that. But the more information all of us exchange the better off our health is going to be.
CalGal,
And sorry I hijacked this thread. Thank you for edu-bi-cating me, I understand the role of probiotics much better now. I don't want to give out bad advice. Funny thing is, it coincides with me taking antibiotics recently, first time since 1990s, for a very scary breast issue, so I'm glad to know it's okay to take acidophilus with antibiotics... I invariably have a hard time with antibiotics and can't wait to get acidophilus in me after.
GG
What's wrong with discontinuing probiotics for two weeks?
P.S. William you may also want to look at the studies using VSL#3 in pouchitis. It's a form of probiotics that has been used very successuflly in U.C. and pouchitis. Studies were posted in various forms and I believe you can access them using medscape.com. You have to sign in and query the search function, but it's a good site with a lot of info.
I'd like to disagree with the previous answer. Yes, the antibiotics will kill off good and bad flora in the GI tract. They will also kill off the probiotics if the antibiotics and probiotics are taken together. Many are suggesting probiotics be taken concurrently with taking any form of antibiotics as long as they are taken at least 2-3 hours after taking the antibiotics, and the course of treatment with probiotics should be taken long after the antibiotics are discontinued.
Not detrimental, but antibiotics kill all bacteria, both "good" and bad, so your balanced intestinal flora will be disturbed. But it is best not to take probiotics whilst taking antibiotics, it can make you feel sick to your stomach. Wait until you take the very last pill in your 14-day course of antibiotics, and then you can go back to your probiotics thing, which will help your digestion go back to normal.
Yes, you're washing some money down the GI tract by trying to keep up the amount of 'good bacteria' in the colon while using the antibiotics, but C. diff can get out of control very rapidly since the thought is everyone has it in their GI tracts and it's only kept in check by the balance of decent bacteria we normally carry.
Cipro is in the category (as are many antibiotics, unfortunately) known to be implicated in the development of C. diff. With that in mind and with the presence of U.C...............?