I took probiotics twice a day and the abx twice a day, so I would take the probiotics as soon as I had something in my stomach at breakfast and at dinner, then wait one to two hours, and take the abx.
If you need food in your stomach to take each one, then try having a little snack with the probiotics and then the abx with the meal, or the probiotics with the meal and a little dessert with the abx. Yogurt or bread/crackers and cheese always worked for me. Some meds do better or worse with specific kinds of good, like fatty food helps some meds be absorbed, but it depends on the meds.
Safest thing to do, call your dr's office and ask. Or a pharmacist might be able to tell you.
How can I take my probiotic before bed if I have to take my last dose of abx at night time? I think it would be best to take them at lunch...
I'm not sure what probiotic I'm on. I think it's bacterial kind. I'll check though.
Thanks!
There are two kinds of probiotics: one is bacteria-based (Lactobacillus etc) and the other kind is yeast-based (Saccharomyces boulardii is the yeast; one brand name is Florastor).
Antibiotics will kill the Lactobacillus probiotics (which is why you should take them not at the same time as the abx -- I like to take mine an hour or two before the abx). Antibiotics do no kill the yeast probiotics. Different drs prescribe/advise differently on this point. Both have their uses.
If you take the yeast-based probiotics, let your dr know if you get a yeast infection (vaginal, mouth, skin, whatever), because the yeast infection can team up with the probiotics and cause problems. Not often, but fyi. (It happened to me, but only after a very long time of taking them, and I also accidentally was taking too much of them. Quite rare for this to happen.) The advantage to the yeast-based probiotics is that they are supposed to be a strong defense against C. difficile intestinal infection, which is very serious, and that's why the drs recommend probiotics.
It's your doctor's call which you take, bacterial or yeast-based.
Oh, and P.S., I have the most tweeky stomach out there, and am on some serious abx and other meds. Zero, I mean zero tummy issues. I believe it is indeed the probiotics.
I have had abx in the past (unrelated to Lyme disease) and after just one day I was in so much gut pain. (No probiotics.) They work. And I also never knew that 70% of your immune system is in your gut. So keeping it happy is a really good thing all around!
Hi,
My dr. has advised me to take my probiotic as far away from the abx as possible; I take mine right before I go to bed.
God bless you, Amy
These conditions do cause similar symptoms. I was tested for some of them. I think if the diagnosis is questionable or unsure testing is recommended. Also add mycloplasma to the list. This one has been the suspected cause in CFS/FMS which as you know are similar to lyme or caused by lyme. The doctor ordering them should have the knowledge to interpret them though because it is hard to understand the results.
Stonybrook is a recommended lab by some LLMD's or so I have read.
As far as probiotics go (including yogurt) , they should not be taken within 2 hours of taking the antibiotic or the antibiotic will kill the good bacteria in them.