Digestive Health Diarrhea Antibiotics and Diarrhea Antibacterial drugs may disrupt healthy gut flora Print By Amber J. Tresca Updated December 06, 2018 Show Article Table of Contents Antibiotics and Gut Flora Treatment Role of Probiotics Antibiotic Resistance View All Back To Top More in Digestive Health Diarrhea Daily Care Bloating & Gas Exams & Procedures Celiac Disease Constipation Inflammatory Bowel Disease Irritable Bowel Syndrome More Digestive Diseases Peptic Ulcer Disease Heartburn SIBO Gallbladder Disease Hemorrhoids View All Have you ever taken antibiotics for an infection, only to end up with severe diarrhea? It may not have been a bug or something you ate; it could have been a result of an adverse effect of an antibiotic. The good news is that, in most cases, diarrhea will clear up when the course of antibiotics is over and a regular diet is resumed. If it doesn't, your doctor may be able to prescribe treatment to get the bacteria in the digestive tract back in harmony. Antibiotics and Gut Flora Normally the large intestine maintains a delicate balance with the billions of bacteria that live inside it. Most of these are the "good bacteria" and they both aid in digestion and fight off the "bad bacteria" (the intestine has some of those, as well). Antibiotics work by killing off bacteria but cannot distinguish between "good" and "bad" bacteria. If the natural balance of the gut flora is disturbed, the "bad" bacteria can sometimes predominate and trigger loose stools and diarrhea. Antibiotic-associated diarrhea is more common when: More than one antibiotic is prescribedAn antibiotic is used for an extended period of timeAn antibiotic is taken at a higher doseA powerful broad-spectrum antibiotic is used Occasionally, even a mild, narrow-spectrum antibiotic can cause bowel changes. Clostridium Difficile: One of the more common "bad" bacteria is called Clostridium difficile. While it is typically controlled by beneficial bacterial flora, antibiotics can sometimes strip the body of those protections. If this happens, C difficile can begin to multiply and produce a toxic substance that causes diarrhea. This is a serious condition and can result in a range of possible problems including C difficile-associated diarrhea, pseudomembranous colitis (PMC), and a life-threatening emergency known as toxic megacolon. Treatment Generally speaking, antibiotic-associated diarrhea will improve once the course of antibiotics is completed. Sometimes it may be necessary to switch to another antibiotic if the symptoms are intolerable. To prevent dehydration, drink plenty of water (around eight to ten 8-ounce glasses per day) with an occasional sports drink to maintain electrolyte levels. Chicken and beef broth help to replace sodium, while fruit juice and soda pop help replace lost potassium. Because the diarrhea is actually clearing the body of the infection, doctors do not usually prescribe antidiarrheal medications unless there is no other choice. If a C difficile infection is confirmed, the antibiotics metronidazole and vancomycin may be prescribed to kill the bacteria and restore the normal digestive flora. Prevention efforts would be needed to avoid the spread of infection. This includes good hand-washing practices and the disinfecting of any surface or object that may have been accidentally contaminated with stool. Role of Probiotics Studies have shown that replacing the good bacteria in the gut can also be helpful in treating diarrhea. Lactobacillus is a bacteria that is found in some yogurt and in acidophilus milk. Always look for yogurts with live active Lactobacillus cultures. Lactobacillus can also be taken in a pill form. Takeaway: According to research from Imperial College London, the use of multiple probiotics (namely Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, and Streptococcus thermophilus) may help prevent antibiotic-associated diarrhea, especially in people over 50. Ask your doctor which probiotic may be helpful in replenishing bacteria in the gut after taking antibiotics. Antibiotic Resistance It is important to follow your doctor's instructions when prescribed a course of antibiotics. Set up reminders on your cell phone so that you don't miss a dose. If you do, take the dose immediately but do not double-dose to catch up. Doing so may increase the risk of diarrhea and other drug side effect. Most importantly, always finish the entire course even if you feel better. Takeaway: Stopping antibiotics before an infection is cleared allows resistant bacteria to persist and multiply. If the infection reoccurs, the mutant strain may be fully or partially resistant to the antibiotic, making it all the more difficult to cure. A Word From Verywell There is no doubt that antibiotics do so much good by clearing infections that used to end people's lives. However, antibiotics need to be used responsibly and with care. In some cases, doctors will recommend that probiotics be added to your diet while taking antibiotics. Hand-washing can prevent further spread of infection, especially among those who are ill or in hospital. Severe diarrhea should never be ignored or self-treated with anti-diarrheal drugs. Doing so can make the underlying infection more difficult to treat and may result in constipation, which can be no less distressing. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Gas pain? Stool issues? Sign up for the best tips to take care of your stomach. Email Address Sign Up There was an error. Please try again. Thank you, , for signing up. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Schroeder MS. "Clostridium difficile-Associated Diarrhea." American Academy of Family Physicians 01 Mar 2005. Bartlett JG. "Clinical practice. Antibiotic-associated diarrhea." N Engl J Med Jan 31 2002. Hickson, M.; D'Souza, A.; Muthu, N. et al. Use of probiotic Lactobacillus preparation to prevent diarrhoea associated with antibiotics: randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial. BMJ. 2007:335(7610):80. DOI: 10.1136/bmj.39231.599815.55. Beniwal RS, Arena VC, Thomas L, Narla S, Imperiale TF, Chaudhry RA, Ahmad UA. "A randomized trial of yogurt for prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhea." Dig Dis Sci Oct 2003. Continue Reading