She says to not take probiotics while on antibiotics, and has (had) put me on 3 months of doxy with flagyl.
Her theory is that the probiotics make the antibiotics less effective because they have to kill the gut fauna too...
Makes no sense to me.
This is the llnd that I just stopped seeing, and went back to my original llnd who lives further away, but is treating me for babs. (the other one didn't believe I had babesia because the fish test was negative).
Posted by tickle (Member # 36441) on :
When I say she wanted me to not take the probiotics with the antibiotics, I mean none at all. Not during the entire course of treatment of abx.
Posted by MichaelTampa (Member # 24868) on :
Hard to believe someone would be recommending this. Are they on drugs? Do they have a good track record?
Posted by tickle (Member # 36441) on :
I think she has no track record. I feel outrage at the money I wasted with her. Gah!!
I booked my initial appointment with her because what I heard on the phone sounded good! I guess there are more than a handful of us who have kissed a few toads (gone through some less-than-credulous llnds) before finding the right one.
Note to self: Just because somebody claims to be an LLND does not mean they have the knowledge or background to treat lyme.
Posted by randibear (Member # 11290) on :
good heavens...no wonder you left her.
i've never ever heard of that.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- It is true that, as long as someone is taking antibiotics, that the probiotics don't stand as much of a chance of helping - even if taken hours apart - as in someone not taking any antibiotics.
However, although the effect may be reduced, they are still absolutely essential
and I cannot imagine treatment on antibiotics for anything, for any amount of time, without at least giving it probiotics some kind of chance to help our guts out - even if a short time frame a couple times a day.
I also cannot imagine taking antibiotics without also take some kind of anti-fungal herb such as Berberine, Allicin, or Olive Leaf Extract. These also need to be separate from both antibiotics and from probiotics. -
Posted by AuntyLynn (Member # 35938) on :
Antibiotics kill the probiotics just as they kill the bugs. But that's no reason NOT to take them! Because otherwise, your gut will be STRAFED by the abx!
When I needed to take a BOMB of Amoxy to go to the dentist, I would take Bio-K the day BEFORE I would take the Abx - then THROUGHOUT the following week. Made a world of difference - because I didn't need to run to the gyno 2 weeks later (as I had for YEARS when OTC yeast preps were all "prescription!").
OK I'm dating myself.
Both Dr. S and Dr. F insisted that their IV study patients MUST take probiotics COINCIDENTALLY with their IV abx! (To avoid C-DIFF!)
Good thing you left this clown. Where did she get her degree? Cracker Jacks box?
Posted by Catgirl (Member # 31149) on :
You just don't want to take them at the same time. Take them apart from each other (at bedtime or a couple of hours after abx).
If you don't take them you could get c diff or yeast.
I think you made a wise choice going back to your original doc.
Posted by randibear (Member # 11290) on :
thanks aunty for mentioning c diff.
i'd say you were setting yourself up for it if you don't take the probiotics.
when i got it, i was not taking enough. believe me, it's no walk in the park.
Posted by seibertneurolyme (Member # 6416) on :
Hubby had one LLMD tell him to take 6 s.boularrdi daily (he had been taking 4) and to not take probiotics while on IV clindamycin and oral quinine. We knew better and just ignored the advice about no probiotics.
Hubby did increase the s. boularrdi and has stayed on that higher dose for over a year while on multiple antibiotics. He also takes reuteri and is now taking goldenseal (took oregon grape root tincture in the past). You need to be on multiple strains of good bacteria and sometimes it is a good idea to switch brands or formulas from time to time.
If you have diarrhea then you are probably not taking enough or the right strains of good bacteria.
Bea Seibert
Posted by WPinVA (Member # 33581) on :
That sounds more like the IDSA point of view. The ID doctor I saw early on told me to stop taking my probiotics because they are expensive and useless.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
quote:Originally posted by tickle: When I say she wanted me to not take the probiotics with the antibiotics, I mean none at all. Not during the entire course of treatment of abx.
_Wow... she must REALLY be green!! Totally crazy!
Most naturopaths preach using probiotics for just about everyone!
Posted by tickle (Member # 36441) on :
LoL
I love the comments. You all have validated my feelings about this 'doctor'. She's a clown, and a crackerjacks box is likely where she got her degree, for sure.
Thank heavens I left her. I figure that the abx gets into your bloodstream and hopefully the tissues, where they do their work. Any that travel through your gut do kill off beneficial bacteria, which is why we want to keep on adding them during treatment.
I don't see how the presence of gut fauna can do anything to limit the activities of the antibiotics, though. She's likely not the sharpest knife in the drawer.