Should probiotics be taken while on an antibiotic?

June 19, 2012 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I am taking ampicillin for an infection in my tooth, three times a day. Should I suspend taking my daily probiotic supplement? Will the ampicillin kill the probiotic bacteria?

DEAR READER: Antibiotics are equal opportunity destroyers. They don’t differentiate between the good and the bad bacteria within our systems. As a result, anyone taking an antibiotic is at an increased risk of developing a yeast infection somewhere in the body. This is because bacteria and yeast help keep the other in check ensuring that one doesn’t grow out of control causing infection.

For that reason alone, many physicians and health care professionals urge anyone on antibiotic therapy to increase his or her intake of yogurt and other cultured dairy [Read more...]

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Antibiotic not to blame for high blood pressure

January 31, 2010 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I am an 80-year-old woman in good health. I am not overweight, walk at least two miles every day, and my blood pressure is normally within the accepted range.
I had foot surgery for a hammertoe and got a small infection in it. The doctor gave me the antibiotic cephalexin, and my foot healed well. Three weeks after taking the antibiotic, I developed a twitch in my left eye, and the following day, the left side of my face was twitching and felt strange. I went to my primary-care doctor to find out what was happening, and he told me that my blood-pressure medicine was not working. He increased the dosage from 25 milligrams to 50 milligrams per day. I told my doctor that I thought it was a reaction to the cephalexin, but he said that it couldn’t be from the drug because too much time had passed from when I last took it to when my symptoms began. [Read more...]

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Daily Column

November 7, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I am 64 years old in good health but take five medications.

About two months ago I got a cold and was given a Z-pack. It didn’t help so I was given Levaquin. Now I cannot smell or taste. How can I bring these senses back?

DEAR READER:
I would first like to comment on your cold treatment. A cold is caused by one of more than 100 different viruses. Antibiotics can only treat bacterial infections and therefore should not be given to individuals with colds or other viral infections.

Now to your senses of smell and taste. Some individuals can experience a loss of these with trivial colds. It can also be the result of various medications. If they have not returned within six months, I recommend you make an appointment with your physician to discuss your meds and what the side effects are. [Read more...]

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Daily Column

September 25, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I woke up deaf in both ears, after having a hysterectomy. I went to my doctor threes days in a row and begged, pleaded and cried to have a penicillin shot. He kept saying no but eventually caved in. The morning after the shot, my hearing was back to normal. I immediately called and thanked him. A few days later, I received a letter in the mail stating that he could no longer be my doctor because I wouldn’t take his advice and that I should see an ear-nose-and-throat specialist for any future ear problems.

I want to know why doctors no longer give penicillin shots when they work. I was right and it helped my hearing but my doctor made me change to another physician anyway. I am not a doctor, but know that this shot can help many people, has helped many people and works right away on lots of ailments. [Read more...]

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Antibiotics not needed before dental work

February 19, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I am 69 years old and in fairly good health.

Three years ago my doctor prescribed clindamycin to be taken before dental procedures. I have since switched doctors and now my new doctor says this is not necessary. I am willing to discontinue using the antibiotic but am wondering if 1.) use in the past has any harmful effect and 2.) how do I get the dental staff convinced I don’t need it?

DEAR READER: For many years dentists and physicians have been routinely prescribing one or two doses of antibiotics prior to dental work if the patient has heart disease, stents or deformed heart valves. Recent studies have shown that such antibiotic coverage is not particularly useful in helping patients to avoid heart infections, so antibiotic therapy is now only recognized as appropriate in certain instances. Your doctor can advise you in more detail.
[Read more...]

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