LymeNet Flash: Antibiotics and dairy products

This is topic Antibiotics and dairy products in forum Medical Questions at LymeNet Flash.

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Posted by notime2work (Member # 6092) on :

I have seen a couple of posts that say not to eat dairy products or use whey protein at the same time as antibiotics, but haven't been able to find out why.

My doxy bottle doesn't say anything about it, and I haven't been able to find the info in my dr's handouts.

Is it all antibiotics or just some??

Help!! I'm so-o-o-o confused!

Posted by riversinger (Member # 4851) on :

Hi!

Dairy products, antacids, supplement, and other things with high levels of calcium or magnesium will bind with most antibiotics, causing you to have poor absorption.

Unfortunately, the handouts with the meds aren't always correct. My doxy bottle said, NO DAIRY and TAKE WITH FOOD OR MILK. Huh!

Take these things two hours before or after you antibiotics and you'l be safe.

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Sonoma County Lyme Support
[email protected]

Posted by circuspeanut (Member # 6154) on :

I often take my Flagyl etc with milk, and have experienced no digestive problems. I think it's an absorption issue for certain antibiotics only:

Calcium may reduce the absorption from the gut of the following medicines:
- tetracycline-type antibiotics, eg tetracycline, doxycycline, minocycline
- some quinolone-type antibiotics, eg ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin

I strongly doubt it's fatal, but perhaps something to avoid when you remember, if you're taking one of the above abx.

Posted by riversinger (Member # 4851) on :

My cephlasporin (Omnicef) and macrolide (Zithromax) also are not to be taken with cal/mag. In fact, Zithromax has best absorption when taken without any food at all. I've been on so many, it's just easier to avoid dairy with all of them.

Flagyl is not usually considered an antibiotic, but an anti-parasitic, and doesn't seem to have the same absorption issues.

------------------
Sonoma County Lyme Support
[email protected]

Posted by Aniek (Member # 5374) on :

I know people on this board disagree, but my LLMD said if you are on abx for a long period of time, then the absorption issue isn't as important.

In general, I try to take my vitamins and minerals 2 hours away from abx, and I try not to eat dairy with my abx. But my LLMD wants me to eat with the abx, in order to protect my stomach and digestive system.

Posted by notime2work (Member # 6092) on :

Thanks for the info. I guess I'm going to have to rearrange ALL my eating/supplement schedule!

I've been taking most of my vitamins (incl. cal/mag) with meals because some need to be taken with food for absorption. And I have a couple that have upset my stomach in the past when taken on an empty stomach.

Also have been taking abx with food due to stomach irritation. I don't drink milk, but do eat cottage cheese and make smoothies with whey protein, so I guess I'm going to have to modify when I eat them.

Sometimes between the abx and supplements, it seems like all I do is take handfuls of pills, and I still don't know when to take everything!