There’s a chance that you will have a negative reaction.
Antibiotics—The Necessary Evil
For five days following the prescribed antibiotics, I experienced prodromes that had my doctor and me in a quandary. My prescription was nearly switched until we figured out the reason. Perhaps it has happened to you too. Shortly after taking antibiotics for one ailment, a crop of other symptoms pop up. Is it an adverse reaction to the medication or could the prescribed drug be depleting essential nutrients?
What Are Antibiotics?
Antibiotics are selective poisons that kill single-cell organisms called bacteria that our immune systems fail to ward off. Microbes either adapt or die; this is known as ‘selective pressure.’ If a bacterial species acquires resistance to an antibiotic, it survives the treatment. This resistant bacteria can spread at a rate of 16 million cells within 8 hours. [1,2] To prevent the proliferation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, it is important to persevere the entire prescribed treatment.
What Causes Unpleasant Antibiotic Side Effects?
As is the case with other allergies, one who is sensitive to mold may experience symptoms that are exacerbated by antibiotics derived from penicillin. There are several reasons why taking an antibiotic that is supposed to make us feel better, actually might make us feel worse:
- Allergic reaction to the antibiotic prescription
- Anticipated (common) side effect of medication or illness
- Antibiotics are not targeting the correct bacteria
- Bacteria is resistant to prescribed drug
- Vital nutrients are depleted (perhaps by antibiotics)
The book, Drug-Induced Nutrient Depletion Handbook by Ross Pelton, Ph.D., C.N. et al. provides a basis for listing categories of antibiotics that deplete specific vitamins and minerals. For example, penicillins, aminoglycosides, cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones, macrocodes, sulfonamides deplete Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacteria bifidum (bifidus), vitamins B1, B2, B3, B6, B12, K, biotin, inositol. Calcium magnesium and iron are also reduced. [3]
People who have been vegans or vegetarians for more than 2 years and those with malnutrition who may already have low levels of B-vitamins can experience tiredness and weakness. Sometimes more serious symptoms like cardiovascular disease, and gastrointestinal and nervous system problems manifest themselves.
Fusidic acid is an antibiotic derived from the fungus Fusidium coccineum. It became available for clinical use in the 1960s. The drug is licensed for use as its sodium salt sodium fusidate, and it is approved for use under prescription in South Korea, Japan, Canada, the EU, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, India, and Taiwan.
An important clinical use of fusidic acid is to combat methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Don’t use fusidic acid on its own in low dosages to treat S. aureus infections. However, it may be possible to use fusidic acid in higher doses as monotherapy.
There is a strong association between Fucidin topical preparations (skin creams and eye ointments) containing fusidic acid and antibiotic resistance. Sufficient evidence of safety among pregnant women is lacking. [4,5]
Other antibiotics can deplete vitamin D, leading to osteoporosis and hearing loss over time. Zinc depletion lowers immunity and slows wound healing. In my case, it was an allergic reaction to the key antibiotic ingredient.
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To support the writing of useful articles about prescriptions, ClinicalPosters sells human anatomy charts, scientific posters, and other products online. You may sponsor specific articles or remit a small donation.
ClinicalPosters sells human anatomy charts, scientific posters, and other products online to offset expense of the writing useful articles about prescriptions. Slide extra posters into DeuPair Frames without removing from the wall.
ClinicalPosters sells human anatomy charts, scientific posters, and other products online. You may remit a small donation.
You can support the writing of useful articles about prescriptions by sponsoring specific articles or remitting a small donation. Visible content is optimized for device size.
