Can antibiotics cause stomach pain?
Yes, antibiotics can cause stomach pain as a common side effect.
This discomfort is usually due to irritation of the stomach lining or disruption of the gut microbiome.
You can experience cramps, bloating, nausea, or diarrhoea during such an impact.
While antibiotics are essential for treating infections, they can upset your digestive system.
Our detailed article will explain why antibiotics cause stomach pain and how to manage these symptoms.
Also, discover tips that can help protect your gut health during treatment.
Do antibiotics cause intestinal problems?
Antibiotics were once considered the miracle weapon against all types of bacterial infections.
But today, they have become a matter of discussion. Sometimes, doctors prescribe antibiotic drugs even when not required to treat several diseases.
Although the positive effect of antibiotics is noticeable, free, frequent or long-term use can harm the required microorganisms in your body.
When you use antibiotics frequently, it starts causing issues in your stomach and intestines.
Some main symptoms include stomach pain, abdominal pain, flatulence, and other intestinal issues.
After taking antibiotics, your intestine might lack essential bacteria, affecting its overall health.
Which Antibiotics Are Most Likely to Cause Stomach Pain?
Some antibiotics commonly cause gastrointestinal (GI) side effects like stomach pain, nausea, or diarrhoea.
These effects occur because antibiotics can disrupt the balance of good bacteria in your gut.
| Antibiotic | Common GI Symptoms |
|---|---|
| Amoxicillin | Nausea, diarrhea, stomach cramps |
| Clindamycin | Severe diarrhea, abdominal pain, colitis |
| Doxycycline | Nausea, vomiting, acid reflux, stomach upset |
These symptoms are usually mild but can become bothersome.
Taking antibiotics with food (if allowed) or as advised by your doctor may reduce discomfort.
How long does stomach pain last after taking antibiotic pills?
The pain might last a few days and hardly last completely while taking antibiotics.
If the pain is mild, follow the doctor's measures to treat stomach aches.
On the other hand, if the pain is severe, then stop taking the dose and contact your gastroenterologist quickly.
To decrease the side effects of antibiotics and stop stomach pain, you must keep all your good bacteria safe.
Are There Underlying Factors That Increase Stomach Pain Risk?
Certain conditions and factors can raise your risk of stomach pain when taking antibiotics.
People with IBS, acid reflux, or a history of sensitive digestion may experience more discomfort.
However, Older adults often have reduced gut health and slower immune response, which makes them more vulnerable to gastrointestinal side effects.
Additionally, interactions with other medications such as NSAIDs or steroids can irritate the stomach lining and worsen symptoms.
Maintaining a balanced diet and supporting your digestive sensitivity with probiotics may help reduce stomach pain.
Always inform your doctor about existing conditions and medications before starting antibiotics.
How do you deal with stomach pain when taking antibiotics?
Here are some ways that can help you deal with stomach pain while taking antibiotics:
Yoghurt
Consuming yoghurt is the best way to reduce the side effects of antibiotics on your stomach. It is prepared by milk fermentation and contains various live enzymes that further aid in digestion and offer a restorative environment to your gut flora. Cheese, tempeh, and salami are other fermented food items that contain good bacteria. But before purchasing them, check their label and buy the one with the live and active culture label.
Probiotics
Probiotic supplements work similarly to yoghurt. They can be found in pill form or in beverages and are helpful immediately. If you feel sick after taking antibiotics, take a probiotic dose during the treatment course.
Fibre
Eating fibre is considered a healthy way to aid the growth of beneficial bacteria. However, avoid consuming high-fibre-rich foods while undergoing ongoing antibiotic treatment, as this can affect the absorption of your medication.
After completing your antibiotic treatment, you can start eating fibre-rich food items such as beans, broccoli, lentils, combating harmful gut bacteria and promoting only beneficial bacteria, ensuringhating harmful gut bacteria and favours only good bacteria, assuring a healthy stomach.
In different forms, you can add garlic to your menu either by cooking or just adding in raw chopped pieces. Some other food items that contain low levels of prebiotics are onions, bananas, and chicory root.
Vitamin K
Another unfavourable effect antibiotics can have on your body is alleviating vitamin K levels.
You need to know that vitamin K aids your body in recovering from cuts and wounds by assisting blood clot formation. To maintain vitamin K levels, ensure you eat parsley, spinach, collards, and kale.
While adding some food items to your diet, certain items must be avoided during your antibiotic treatment.
Take it with or without food.
Before starting your treatment, you must check the label on your antibiotics. Does it suggest taking them with food or on an empty stomach only?
In either case, it is important to follow the directions strictly. Some antibiotics are absorbed much better when taken on an empty stomach. So, do not limit their effectiveness.
However, if the label says to take your antibiotics with food to ease stomach problems, then follow the recommendation.
Also, it is necessary to drink plenty of water to avoid the problem of dehydration. You can also use rehydrating beverages high in electrolytes if required.
Avoid the consumption of alcohol and caffeine if both items are making your diarrhoea worse. Remember, alcohol might cause serious reactions when taken with antibiotics. It is always better to eat a balanced diet during antibiotic treatment.
It is always better to take caution to save yourself from unpleasant side effects.
Take the right amount of antibiotics every day.
When it comes to taking antibiotics, be precise and do not overdose, underdose, or double dose. Though overdosing might have less effect on the bacterial infection you are trying to fight; overdosing can increase the power of the medication and lead to various problems like an upset stomach.
Remember, your prescription will be written only for the time the antibiotic takes to fight off the bacterial infection. If you fail to take antibiotics as prescribed, bacteria left in your body can start spreading the disease again. It might also be possible that antibiotics do not work properly when you take them next time.
Therefore, following the above points can help you to avoid stomach pain while taking antibiotics.
Conclusion:
Antibiotics play a vital role in combating bacterial infections but may also disrupt the balance of beneficial gut bacteria. Due to this imbalance, you can face problems like stomach pain and other gastrointestinal issues. You must be aware of these potential side effects and take steps to manage them. You can take probiotics, yoghurt, fibre, garlic, and vitamin K into your diet to prevent the side effects of antibiotics. Following your doctor's advice, stay hydrated to help your body alleviate discomfort quickly. Maintaining a balanced diet and taking dosage as prescribed can minimize the adverse effects on your gut health while benefiting from the antibiotic treatment.
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