Can anti biotics lower your immune system?

lexislove

I really didn't know where to post this question. This seems like a reasonable spot.

Feb 14th, I started Clindamycin 150mg 3x a day for an infection I developed after my implant swap. I just finished on Friday. So I was on them for a little more than 6 weeks.

Since being on the anti biotics, I have been sick 2x. I still am having a sore throat (morning/night) stuffy nose and flemmy(sp?) cough. Still!!!

I feel rundown. Last night I layed in bed and was frozen. No energy ect...I have never been sick like this for this long. The only thing I can think of to as why...would be the anti biotics.

Has anybody else noticed the same? I'm getting frustrated. And now...of course with my cough...the mind starts spirling to the obvious.

Anonymous

Yes, because antibiotics kill off all the good intestinal bacteria that helps digest nutrients. Probiotics contain these healing bacteria. I took a liquid brand until I heard  about Floristor on this or another group. You can google it. You probably need to take them a month until your body starts growing its own beneficial bacteria back.

Some people take home made kefir as a substitute or buy it in the store. Same principle, I think. Others would know more about kefir.

lexislove

Lucy,

Thank you for response. It makes sense.

 I don't have the time or energy, to google my symptoms ect so I posted my question on the board. Since a lot of us have been on anti biotics at one time or another, I knew someone could help me. I will google Floristor though!

I actually have some healthy pro biotic pills from my natural path, about half a bottle. I'll start taking them.

3monstmama

yes, definitely.  Thats one of the big reasons you shouldn't take antibiotics unless absolutely necessary.  And if you take too many antibiotics, your immune system can become so weakened that it can't fight off anything.

In addition to Kefir and naturally fermented yogurt [Nancys, for example, has probiotics], there is a really taste juice blend [Good Belly] with LOTS of Probiotics.  The black current and the mango were the most popular flavors in our household.

kcshreve

It's not unusual to have a candida issue post-antibiotics.  To balance this, there are candida cleanses.  At my last surgery, I finished up my round of antibiotics, went immediately into a candida cleanse for 3 weeks, and did probiotics at opposite times of the day.  It was a lot of effort, but I did end up feeling pretty good.  Maybe you can talk to your naturopath about what he would think of something like this for you?

thenewme

Lexislove, I have to disagree.  Clindamycin does have side effects (check out www.rxlist.com), but it sounds like you have something else going on.  Clindamycin kills bacterial infections, so you could still have the flu, allergies, a cold, or any number of other things.  It sounds like you have extreme fatigue, congestion, cough, and fever - not typical symptoms of antibiotic use, but most likely not mets either.

Have you mentioned these to your doctor?  

lexislove

Hi all.

I have not brought it up with my doc.....but since my post...Im feeling better. Last night I slept through the night! Not once, did I wake up to use the washroom or get something to drink. I have not slept through the night in a very long time. Pre BC.

I also noticed today, I have hardly coughed and have not needed to blow my nose once. SO I think, and hope, things are turning around.

I think I have just been really fatigued. Im constantly running around..helping my husband with his business, household chores, pre school, dance and art classes. You know what I mean? I think what I need is some white sand and a taco in one had...and a Carona in the other.lol.

Yazmin

And lexislove, I think I am LIVING PROOF that antibiotics can lower your immune system. In 1987, I was put on a strong antibiotic (can't remember its name for the life of me), for a problem with my tonsils.

What started as likely a small problem became a HUGE problem, I ended up with something one french doctor called "antibiotics fever". Felt absolutely crappy for over 6 (SIX) months. No energy, barely able to get out of bed, constantly exhausted, lost a lot of weight, etc... I did wonder if I was going to survive.

And yes, I often wonder if the accumulated effects of all those heavy-handed treatments (since most of us started being "treated" in our early childhood), plus all kinds of vaccinations and plus dozens of X-rays for any little thing....... may all have contributed to our becoming more susceptible to breast cancer at this particular point in our lives. 

asschercut

I'm not sure if all antibiotics are hepatotoxic, but some are. And antibiotics like staphylex (which l was prescribed) if taken for more than 14 days can cause severe liver damage.

I read this and thought, what on earth???CAUTION: Severe cholestatic hepatitis has been reported with this drug.

I felt well, didn't have a temperature...kind of scratched my head at my oncs prescription, as did my doc, who was also iffy. l took a punt and decided to take my probiotics-Polyback8 , passiflora also a probiotic superfood, and high strength 30+ Manuka honey, which l normally take anyway. Lucky I went with my gut instinct because it turned out I didn't even have an infection. And if I had taken staphylex for the duration of rads, which is what was prescribed...l would have ended up with severe liver damage.

I spend so much time, money, and effort growing fruit and vegetables, exercising and taking supplements to keep myself healthy and my liver detoxed. Taking antibiotics is something that frightens me, and a drug l would only take for a short period of time if l were seriously ill. I haven't taken antibiotics since l was a child and thankfully my children have never needed to take them.

Probiotics = for life

Antibiotics = against life

Victoria

ebarry

lexisolve...In the last 3 months I've had the same symptoms. I've been on antibiotics twice to rid myself of infections. Since most of our immunity is in the stomach or gut, we kill it with antibiiotics and make ourselves vulnerable to a relaspe or other infections. But, I had to take antibiotics to kill the bacteria. Catch 22 situation.

I just read this article (http://www.greenwillowtree.com/Page.bok?file=deadly.html)  that I'm not sure what I feel about it. It says that fungi in our bodies is the major causes of us feeling ill. That although we get over infections, the bacteria hides in fungi waiting for our immune system to lower, and reinfects us. Not sure, but probably viruses as well. The writer writes that most illnesses is a progression of what happens in the gut in regards to fungi growth. There seems to be a lot of truth in it.

Nan56143

dear ebarry,

You and I are apparently reading from the same web sites, as my friend posted this. My daughter was just instructed to take a probiotic to clear her system, and my friend takes a probiotic also. Sad that conventional doctors do not instruct us to take this after taking antibiotics. Why can't conventional docs work side by side with naturopaths/anti-aging/holistic docs?

Victoria...you are one smart woman!!

seaotter

From what I have read you should take probiotics 3 hours after an antibiotic or the antibiotic will not work. They have to work separately.

Patty

ebarry

seaotter, interesting, my naturalpathic doctor said the same thing. She suggested I take a probiotic two hours after every antibiotic. Problem, I hardly remember to take the antibiotics three times a day.

seaotter

lol I know that is very hard!!!!

Patty