Antibiotics used to treat bacterial infections have saved millions of lives over the centuries. However, their action is usually not selective and in the process of killing harmful bacteria, they also affect some healthy flora crucial for your gut. By disrupting the balance of gut microbiota, antibiotics can also cause reflux of food and acid into the oesophagus causing symptoms such as heartburn.
In this blog, we’ll discuss how antibiotics can affect your gut and cause acid reflux. With this, you can learn how to keep a balanced gut flora after antibiotic treatment and fix acidity issues.
The gut, particularly the intestines contain several microorganisms, including bacteria (both good and bad) that help in the digestion process.
Antibiotics that are used to treat bacterial infections in the body, unfortunately, cannot differentiate between the good and bad bacteria present in the gut and produce negative results such as1:
The microbial population of an infant’s gut has a significant impact on the child’s overall health. Decreased gut microbiome diversity can be associated with an increased risk of allergic and autoimmune diseases. Antibiotic treatment in infants has been found to reduce both the number as well as species of gut bacteria. Gut microbiota may take weeks to months to recover, and in some cases, certain species may not fully return without intervention2.
Rebuilding gut bacteria is crucial to minimise the negative effects of using antibiotics. You can speed up the process of healing the gut with antibiotics in several ways:
Prebiotics are the nutrients in certain food items that act as a “food source” for gut microbes. They induce the growth or activity of beneficial bacteria such as Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli, thereby improving gut health. Examples include carbohydrates such as fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) and galacto-oligosaccharides3.
Probiotics contain live bacteria and yeasts that are vital for gut health. Depending on the type of microbial strain utilized, probiotics can have variable beneficial properties4. You should take them as suggested by your doctor as the ideal dose depends on the specific condition being treated (e.g., vs. IBS).
Fermented foods are naturally rich in probiotics. They are an excellent approach to proper gut health post-antibiotic use. Ideally, fermented foods such as yoghurt, kimchi, kefir, sauerkraut, should be a part of a regular diet5.
Fruits and veggies are naturally rich in prebiotics (also important for gut microbiome). Bananas, sweet potatoes, and other tubers are fresh and readily available sources of prebiotics.
Exercise is not only important for helping you to stay in shape but is also crucial in improving the condition of your gut wall. It promotes the growth of bacteria and enriches the diversity of the microbiome. It protects your system from colon cancer and gastrointestinal disorders6.
Stress releases certain hormones in your body that in turn have an impact on the nature of your microbiome damaging the diversity. Gut-brain axis is bi-directional and the altered gut microbiome can affect regulation of certain neurotransmitters thus intensifying the stress7.
Antibiotics kill good bacteria in gut, this is linked to development of obesity, asthma and irritable bowel syndrome. Hence antibiotics must be cautiously and only used when absolutely necessary.
Lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking, avoiding alcohol, proper diet and regular exercise can help deal with symptoms of heartburn. However, if these are persistent, some medications may be prescribed by doctors to help relieve acid reflux. These include:
Persistent heartburn (>2 days/week) may indicate GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease). Always consult your doctor if you have persistent digestive symptoms after antibiotic treatment as they will recommend the right medication and dosage based on your health condition.
It has been found that most gut bacteria will resume levels prior to that of taking the antibiotics course in about two months. However, one should make a note the full diversity and original composition may not completely return9.
Antibiotics can disrupt the balance of gut flora, potentially leading to acidity issues or other digestive discomforts. It’s important to restore the gut microbiome after antibiotic treatment. This can be achieved through dietary changes, such as consuming prebiotic and probiotic-rich foods or supplements, and lifestyle modification, such as regular exercise and stress management. If you experience persistent or severe digestive issues after taking antibiotics, it’s crucial to consult with a healthcare professional for guidance and appropriate treatment.
Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.
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