Title: How to Reduce Side Effects of Antibiotics | UPMC HealthBeat
Headings: How to Reduce the Side Effects of Antibiotics
Living and Wellness
How to Reduce the Side Effects of Antibiotics
Take Antibiotics as Directed
Never Miss a Beat!
Take All of the Antibiotic Prescription
Abstain from Alcohol
Take a Probiotic
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Content: Never Miss a Beat! Take All of the Antibiotic Prescription
You should finish the entire prescribed course of antibiotics, even if your symptoms clear up. If you stop taking the medication mid-course, the infection could linger and the bacteria may become resistant, setting you up for more problems. Abstain from Alcohol
Antibiotics and alcohol can cause similar side effects, which are compounded when you take them together. Some medications, such as metronidazole (Flagyl) and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim) can trigger more severe reactions when taken with alcohol, including: Flushing
Headaches
Nausea and vomiting
Increased heart rate
Take a Probiotic
Many antibiotics can cause soft stools or diarrhea. That’s because they may kill some “good” bugs along with the bad, throwing off the delicate balance of bacteria in your gut. Research has shown that people who take probiotics are 42 percent less likely to develop diarrhea than those who don’t take these beneficial bacteria. Although more studies are needed, it can’t hurt and might help to take a probiotic supplement, as well as to eat probiotic foods like yogurt and sauerkraut. Connect with UPMC
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Contact your physician if you develop more serious side effects of antibiotics, including: