To treat colds, we are often forced to take antibiotics. What side effects can they have and how to avoid them?

After prolonged use of antibiotics, almost all people experience changes in the composition of the intestinal microflora. Their severity depends on which drug was used and on the individual characteristics of a person.

In some cases, all the unpleasant sensations go away on their own. It is enough to enrich the diet with fruits, vegetables and dairy products.

But often the recovery is delayed. Then colonization of the intestine with bacteria contained in drugs or biologically active food supplements is required. Such remedies are called probiotics. Some of them can be taken immediately, from the first day, others are designed to restore microflora after the end of the course of antibiotics. This information can always be found in the instructions for the purchased product.

Such funds are especially needed for those who have already had episodes of intestinal dysbiosis or if the course of antibiotic treatment lasts longer than 10 days. Probiotics should be used at least two weeks after the end of the course of antibiotics. Well, the most complete restoration of intestinal microflora is observed after a 4–5 week course.

When choosing drugs, you need to consider their composition. The more diverse the composition of bacteria and the more it is closer to the bacteria that constantly live in our intestines, the better.

The doctor advised me on new ecoantibiotics. Are they much better than usual and cause fewer side effects? – Patient.

The composition of the so-called “ecoantibiotics” includes the prebiotic lactulose, which is a kind of top dressing for beneficial bacteria. It is a good stimulant for the growth of bifidobacteria – the main representative of the intestinal microflora.

In general, prebiotics are recommended to be used during the course of antibiotics, and together with probiotics during the recovery period. But it’s not necessary to buy an “ecological product” for this.

The same or even better effect can be achieved by applying prebiotics in a separate course. The advantage of this approach is the individual selection of a prebiotic agent. It is no secret that some people develop laxative stools and increased flatulence as a result of taking lactulose.

Prebiotics, by the way, can be obtained from food. You need to adjust your diet. It is desirable that dairy products with “live” bacteria are daily present. Food must necessarily contain a sufficient amount of protein, “hard” diets are unacceptable.

Is it true that after a course of antibiotic treatment everyone needs to enrich their body with vitamins? – Patient.

Hypovitaminosis is often a consequence of diseases. Indeed, with infections, the need for vitamins often increases, and due to poor appetite, it is not possible to fully eat.

But theoretically, some vitamins may also be lacking after antibiotic therapy, since many vitamins are synthesized by beneficial bacteria in the large intestine. And part of these bacteria, due to taking antibiotics, can die.

Of course, it is better to restore the body after colds with the help of natural vitamins from fresh vegetables, fruits, herbs and unrefined cereals. But in winter we may miss such vitamins. In such cases, you can use pharmacy drugs.

By the way, when taking them, you still need to give preference to natural, minimally processed foods without preservatives. Cook frozen vegetables more often. It is proved that there are more vitamins in them than in those that are brought to us from other countries in winter. Refuse prepared foods that have stood in the refrigerator for more than 12 hours. After all, vitamins in such food are already very few.

I had hepatitis in childhood, the consequences of which, according to doctors, are still affecting. But sometimes I have to take antibiotics. How to protect the liver from them? – Patient.

Not all antibiotics have a negative effect on the liver. Therefore, be sure to tell your doctor about your problem. He will try to find you the least toxic drug for the liver. He will also advise hepatoprotective drugs that will reduce the harm of antimicrobial agents. Usually in such cases, take herbal preparations, essentials or other, more powerful means.

If you took antibiotics for more than a week, be sure to do a biochemical blood test for the so-called “liver” tests. If there are deviations in it, perhaps the course of taking hepatoprotectors will have to be extended to 2-3 months.

Instead of 5-7 days recommended by a doctor, I have already been cured with antibiotics in 3 days. And no complications arose. Why can not interrupt the course of antibiotics when it got much better? – Patient.

You are just lucky. Interruption of the prescribed course of antibiotics is dangerous for several reasons. The body can not completely get rid of germs. In this case, either a new round of the disease sets in, or the infection becomes chronic, “hides” and begins to multiply under the new influence of adverse environmental factors.

And if, for example, you do not cure a sore throat, complications from the heart and kidneys are possible. But the biggest danger is that insufficient treatment duration increases the likelihood of resistant bacteria. And this means that the next time the antibiotic may not work at all.