Effective Use of Antibiotics — The Dos and Don’ts

Physicians prescribe antibiotics to treat infections caused by bacteria. These include urinary tract infections, strep throat, and whooping cough. They also prescribe antibiotics to treat diseases caused by bacteria like pneumonia and to manage the risk of infection in people undergoing surgery or cancer therapy.

While antibiotics are needed to treat infections, they do have their drawbacks. One of them is that they impact the natural balance of the microbiome in the human gut. Second is that they may cause effects like diarrhea, nausea, rashes, and yeast infection. To optimize the efficiency of antibiotics while reducing the likelihood of adverse effects, patients should watch what they eat while on the medication.

Certain foods interfere with the efficacy of antibiotics, hence patients should avoid them when undergoing treatment. These include calcium-rich foods like dairy, cheese, butter, tofu, and kale. Antibiotics such as fluoroquinolones and tetracyclines bind to calcium, limiting their absorption in the body. It is best to only take antibiotics two hours before eating such foods or six hours after. Fortified foods like orange juice, non-dairy milk, and breakfast cereal are also high in calcium.

Other foods to avoid while on antibiotics are high-acid foods like citrus fruits, chocolate, soda, and orange and grapefruit juices. Their high acidity will interfere with antibiotic absorption. Alcohol is not recommended with antibiotics like metronidazole and tinidazole as it may worsen their side effects. Caffeine is also on the avoid list, as antibiotics may enhance its diuretic effects.

On the flip side, there are foods that patients should take while on antibiotic treatment. These are generally prebiotic foods that support the growth of healthy bacteria in the gut. Such foods include broth-based soups like ramen, chicken noodle, and miso. Others are onions, garlic, artichokes, and chicory root. These vegetables are also high in fiber, which supports the growth of healthy bacteria.

Individuals taking antibiotics should further consider taking probiotics. These are foods rich in healthy bacteria. They include kimchi, sauerkraut, kombucha, and fermented vegetables. Probiotic supplements are also an option. Studies have shown that probiotics can reduce the side effects of antibiotics, including diarrhea and bloating.

In addition to watching what they eat, patients should take antibiotics exactly as prescribed by their doctors to maximize their effectiveness. If they miss a dose, they should take it immediately upon realizing it, unless it is only three hours to their next dose. Patients should space out their doses to ensure a consistent amount of it is in the body at any time. Taking doses too close together is like taking a double dose, and will likely increase any side effects of the drug.

If a patient is supposed to take antibiotics with food, they can do so during meal hours or after snacking. If they should take the drugs before meals, they should take them two hours after eating and at least an hour before the next meal.

Once a patient starts taking a course of antibiotic treatment, they should complete it, even if they feel better. Patients should never save antibiotics for later use or share them with others. If a person has trouble swallowing antibiotic pills, they can consult their doctors about the options available to them. They should not chew or crush antibiotics before checking with their doctor or reading the information provided with the drug, since certain antibiotics are not meant to be crushed.