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ConsumerLab.com Answers
Supplement Interactions with Antibiotics
Question: Are there any supplements I should avoid when taking an antibiotic? Are there any that may be helpful? Answer: Antibiotics can be affected by the supplements you take, and they can affect your ability to absorb certain vitamins and minerals.
The interactions will depend on the type of antibiotic you are taking. You can search for the specific antibiotic you are taking by name in the Drug Interactions section of our ConsumerLab.com.
Some of the most common antibiotics are listed below, followed by the supplements with which they can interact. Use the links for more details:
Amoxicillin (Amoxil, Trimox, Wymox): Bromelain, vitamin K
Tetracyclines (doxycycline (Bio-Tab, Doryx, Doxy-Caps), tetracycline hydrochloride (Achromycin V, Panmycin etc.):Calcium, magnesium, iron and zinc, Dong Quai, St. John's Wort, citrate (i.e. potassium citrate)
Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim, Cotrim, Septra, Sulfatrim): Folate, PABA (para-aminobenzoic acid), potassium, white willow, St. John's wort
Interestingly, some of the supplements noted above (folate and vitamin K) may, at times, be helpful when taking certain antibiotics, as can probiotics.
I developed terrible side effects to Ciprofloxacin, which is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic. I was an healthy young athlete before taking it and now can't even walk without excruciating tendon pain in my Achilles‘ tendon. Be aware that this can potentially happen to anyone taking a fluoroquinolone antibiotic and that there are numerous other side effects associated with them like depression and even suicide.
A quick search on the internet will reveal the dangers of all the quinolone antibiotics and the thousands of people who have had life-altering complications from being prescribed them. One of the most common side-effects is tendon blowout. It can even happen many months or longer after completing the antibiotics. It seems many doctors are unaware of the serious and numerous incidences of these complications from these drugs. Unfortunately, my wife and I both had serious injuries after taking Cipro which prompted my research on the product. I would recommend anybody refuse to take them and request an alternative antibiotic if a quinolone is prescribed by their doctor.
Don't ever take Cipro and tell everyone not to! I took it and lost ALL taste and smell for 4 months- and it came back ever so slowly! It has untold random and unpredictable side effects. You cannot imagine that unless you experience it- plus all sense of taste gone due to on smell ability!
It is cautioned that anyone taking antibiotics should stop their "proteolytic systemic enzymes" until the full course of antibiotics have been completed.
Hi Heather - As noted above, bromelain (and potentially, other proteolytic enzymes) may increase the efficacy of antibiotics. However, this may require an adjustment in dose, so it may be best to avoid the combination.
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This CL Answer initially posted on 5/31/2016.
Last updated 8/21/2019.
ConsumerLab.com members may submit questions to CLAnswers@ConsumerLab.com. We read all questions and try to answer those of popular interest.
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