HealthCareMagic is now Ask A Doctor - 24x7 | https://www.askadoctor24x7.com

Can Oxytetracycline, Lymecycline, Trimethoprim, Cephalexin And Clarithromycin Be Taken For A Long Duration?

Posted on Wed, 16 Dec 2015

Question: Can long term (3years for acne) antibiotics cause any permanent damage to my gut? I am now off them. I have been on oxytetracline for a year, lymecycline for for 6 months or more approx trimethoprim for about 9 months, cephalexin combined with the trimethoprim for about 6 months and lastly clarithromycin for about 6 months.

Will my gut recover?

Answered by Dr. Nishad BN (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Yes, This can cause dysbacteriosis.

Detailed Answer:
Hi

Thank you for asking HCM.

I have gone through your query. Such long term antibiotic therapy can cause dysbacteriosis in gut. Using probiotics along with it will be helpful to balance if you need it to take longer.

You can also recover your normal gut flora by taking probiotics. Probiotics like bifidobacter and saccharomyces boulardii is helpful for this. Taking yogurts and kefir is good also. In that way you may recover completely within 6 weeks.

Hope this may help you. Let me know if anything not clear.
Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj

Follow up: Dr. Nishad BN (51 minutes later)

I have stopped taking antibiotics now, and I am now taking around 50 billion CFU probiotics a day. Do I have anything to worry about regarding my intestine health, can it predispose me to any other diseases such as IBD or any other XXXXXXX issues? It's really worrying me. and will my body definitely recover from the long term antibiotic use?

Answered by Dr. Nishad BN (17 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
If you didn't had IBD then nothing to worry.

Detailed Answer:
Welcome again.

If you didn't had any IBD before then nothing to worry. If you already having IBD then it can worsen it. Otherwise nothing to worry.

Take healthy balanced diet. As you taking probiotics the flora will get normalized also.

Let me know if anything not clear. I am happy to help you.
Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T

Follow up: Dr. Nishad BN (26 minutes later)

so after it normalises (you say 6 weeks taking probiotics etc?) do I have to worry about taking probiotics or can I just discontinue use and just have a healthy diet to keep the flora balanced? Thank you

Answered by Dr. Nishad BN (5 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Probiotics you can discontinue after 6 weeks.

Detailed Answer:
Welcome again.

Thank you for your follow up.

You can discontinue probiotics after 6 weeks. After that you can follow a healthy diet. You don't need take probiotic supplements for long time. Taking natural probiotics like yogurt, curd or kefir , bananas etc daily will help you to maintain a normal flora after this.

Let me know if anything not clear. I am happy to help you.
Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T

Follow up: Dr. Nishad BN (14 minutes later)

So was it generally safe to take antibiotics for so long?

Answered by Dr. Nishad BN (9 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
It is not safe to take for long time.

Detailed Answer:
Welcome again.

Thank you for your follow up query.

It is not safe to take antibiotics for long time. Long time antibiotics are given when the benefits out weighs risks. Acne is not such a problem that you can go for long term antibiotic therapy. Better avoid it. While taking antibiotics your kidney and liver have to work extra to detoxify it also. So we won't know when it will cause a damage to these. Long term dysbacteriosis also can gives b complex or b12 deficiencies.

Hope this may help you. Let me know if anything not clear.
Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T

Follow up: Dr. Nishad BN (46 minutes later)

But now that I am off the antibiotics, can I fix the damage that has been done?

Answered by Dr. Nishad BN (3 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Yes you can.

Detailed Answer:
Welcome again.

Thank you for your follow up.

You can get a blood and urine routine , blood urea & creatinine, liver function test to make sure there is no damage occurred. You can fix it if there is any.

Let me know if anything not clear. I am happy to help you.
Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee

Follow up: Dr. Nishad BN (26 minutes later)

There has been a link between bad gut health and mental illness, studies that I have seen, what is your opinion of this? could bad gut health increase or cause anxiety for example?

Answered by Dr. Nishad BN (30 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Yes it can cause.

Detailed Answer:
Welcome again.

Thank you for your follow up.

Yes bad gut health can cause anxiety and depression. One of this reason is low availability of B12 vitamin which causing b12 deficiency. Another reason is dopamine. Excess dopamine build up can give stress and anxiety. One more reason is increase in cortisol levels.

Probiotics helps to clear this problem.

Hope this may help you. Let me know if anything not clear.
Thanks.

Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee