by EBSCO CAM Review Board

See also Amoxicillin ; Cephalosporins ; Ethambutol ; Fluoroquinolones ; Isoniazid ; Nitrofurantoin ; Rifampin ; Tetracyclines ; Trimethoprim/Sulfamethoxazole

There are an enormous number of antibiotics in use today. Issues common to antibiotics in general are discussed below.

Some of the drugs that fall into this family include

  • amoxicillin (Amoxil, Trimox, Wymox)
  • amoxicillin/potassium clavulanate (Augmentin)
  • ampicillin (Omnipen, Principen, Totacillin, Marcillin)
  • azithromycin (Zithromax)
  • bacampicillin (Spectrobid)
  • carbenicillin indanyl sodium (Geocillin)
  • chloramphenicol (Chloromycetin Kapseals)
  • cinoxacin (Cinobac)
  • clarithromycin (Biaxin)
  • clindamycin (Cleocin)
  • clofazimine (Lamprene)
  • cloxacillin sodium (Cloxapen)
  • colistin sulfate (Coly-Mycin S)
  • dapsone
  • dicloxacillin sodium (Dycill, Dynapen, Pathocil)
  • dirithromycin (Dynabac)
  • erythromycin (E-Base, Ilosone, EryPed, E.E.S., Ery-Tab, E-Mycin, Eryc, Erythrocin, PCE )
  • fosfomycin tromethamine (Monurol)
  • kanamycin (Kantrex)
  • lincomycin (Lincocin)
  • metronidazole (Flagyl, Protostat)
  • nafcillin sodium (Unipen)
  • nalidixic acid (NegGram)
  • neomycin (Neo-Tabs, Mycifradin, Neo-fradin)
  • novobiocin (Albamycin)
  • oxacillin sodium
  • paromomycin (Humatin)
  • penicillin V (Pen Vee K Beepen-VK, Penicillin VK, Veetids)
  • troleandomycin (Tao)
  • vancomycin (Vancocin)
  • and others

 

Vitamin K

Vitamin K plays a crucial role in blood clotting and also seems to be important for proper bone formation.

There are concerns that antibiotic treatment might reduce levels of vitamin K in the body. However, this effect seems to be slight, and only significant, if at all, in individuals who are already considerably deficient in vitamin K. 1–4

Acidophilus and Other Probiotics

One common side effect of antibiotic therapy is diarrhea (about 25 to 30% of people taking antibiotics report this problem). It is primarily caused by the antibiotic killing many of the bacteria that normally live in the intestines. Changes in bacteria can also cause yeast infections. However, if you take "friendly" microorganisms such as Saccharomyces boulardii , L.acidophilus , or Bifidobacterium longum at the same time you start antibiotics, and continue for some time afterward, you may be able to reduce the risk of these complications. 5–20 .

References

REF1 Cohen H, Scott SD, Mackie IJ, et al. The development of hypoprothrombinaemia following antibiotic therapy in malnourished patients with low serum vitamin K 1 levels. Br J Haematol 68: 63–66, 1988.

REF2 Conly J and Stein K. Reduction of vitamin K 2 concentrations in human liver associated with the use of broad spectrum antimicrobials. Clin Invest Med 17: 531–539, 1994.

REF3 Shearer MJ, Bechtold H, Andrassy K, et al. Mechanism of cephalosporin-induced hypoprothrombinemia: relation to cephalosporin side chain, vitamin K metabolism, and vitamin K status. J Clin Pharmacol 28: 88–95, 1988.

REF4 Goss TF, Walawander CA, Grasela TH, et al. Prospective evaluation of risk factors for antibiotic-associated bleeding in critically ill patients. Pharmacotherapy 12: 283–291, 1992.

REF5 Fuller R. Probiotics in human medicine. Gut 32: 439–442, 1991.

REF6 Elmer GW, Surawicz CM, and McFarland LV. Biotherapeutic agents. A neglected modality for the treatment and prevention of selected intestinal and vaginal infections. JAMA 275: 870–876, 1996.

REF7 Catanzaro JA and Green L. Microbial ecology and probiotics in human medicine (Part II). Alt Med Rev 2: 296–305, 1997.

REF8 Gorbach SL. Lactic acid bacteria and human health. Ann Med 22: 37–41, 1990.

REF9 Gotz V, Romankiewicz JA, Moss J, and Murray HW. Prophylaxis against ampicillin-associated diarrhea with a lactobacillus preparation. Am J Hosp Pharm 36: 754–757, 1979.

REF10 Colombel JF, Cortot A, Neut C, et al. Yoghurt with Bifidobacterium longum reduces erythromycin-induced gastrointestinal effects. Lancet. 1987;2:43.

REF11 Vanderhoof JA, Whitney DB, Antonson DL, et al. Lactobacillus GG in the prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhea in children. J Pediatr . 1999;135:564–568.

REF12 Tankanow RM, Ross MB, Ertel IJ, et al. A double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the efficacy of Lactinex in the prophylaxis of amoxicillin-induced diarrhea. DICP . 1990;24:382–384.

REF13 Surawicz CM, Elmer GW, Speelman P, et al. Prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhea by Saccharomyces boulardii: a prospective study. Gastroenterology . 1989;96:981–988.

REF14 McFarland LV, Surawicz CM, Greenberg RN, et al. Prevention of Beta-lactam-associated diarrhea by Saccharomyces boulardii compared with placebo. Am J Gastroenterol . 1995;90:439–448.

REF15 Arvola T, Laiho K, Torkkeli S, et al. Prophylactic Lactobacillus GG reduces antibiotic-associated diarrhea in children with respiratory infections: a randomized study. Pediatrics . 1999;104:e64.

REF16 Siitonen S, Vapaatalo H, Salminen S, et al. Effect of Lactobacillus GG yoghurt in prevention of antibiotic associated diarrhoea. Ann Med . 1990;22:57–59.

REF17 Wullt M, Hagslatt ML, Odenholt I. Lactobacillus plantarum 299v for the treatment of recurrent Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhoea: a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Scand J Infect Dis . 2003;35(6-7):365-7.

REF18 Beniwal RS, Arena VC, Thomas L, et al. A randomized trial of yogurt for prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhea. Dig Dis Sci . 2003;48:2077-82.

REF19 Correa NB, Peret Filho LA, Penna FJ et al. A Randomized Formula Controlled Trial of Bifidobacterium lactis and Streptococcus thermophilus for Prevention of Antibiotic-Associated Diarrhea in Infants. J Clin Gastroenterol . 2005;39:385-389.

REF20 Kotowska M, Albrecht P, Szajewska H et al. Saccharomyces boulardii in the prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea in children: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Aliment Pharmacol Ther . 2005;21:583-90.

Revision Information

  • Reviewer: EBSCO CAM Review Board
  • Review Date: 12/2015
  • Update Date: 12/15/2015