What can be from antibiotics. Effects of treatment and recovery from antibiotics

Sometimes the use of antibiotics leads to serious disturbances in the functioning of organs and systems. To prevent this from happening, it is important to know in what situations you should refrain from taking antibiotics or ask your doctor to choose the most benign drug.

- drugs, without which you can not do in the fight against dangerous bacterial diseases. But in some cases, taking antibiotics can be harmful to health, causing serious disorders in the body.

Antibiotic (antibioticum) translated from Latin means "against life."

The first antibiotic (penicillin) obtained from mold had a narrow spectrum of activity and was safe for human health. However, modern antibiotics of a new generation kill all bacteria without exception that are in the body, including beneficial ones. After taking them, the microflora is disturbed, and the immune system is greatly weakened.

So that taking antibiotics does not worsen the patient's condition, it is important not only to observe the correct dosage, but also to have an idea about the possible consequences of treatment.

Antibiotics - benefits and harms, side effects

Antibacterial drugs are effective for:

• treatment of infectious diseases of the nasopharynx
• severe diseases of the skin (furunculosis, hydradenitis) and mucous membranes
• bronchitis and pneumonia
• infections of the genitourinary system
• severe poisoning

Often, antibiotics are used thoughtlessly and uncontrollably. There will be no benefit from such a “treatment”, but you can harm the body. Antibacterial drugs are absolutely ineffective in the treatment of viral diseases. For example, using them for the treatment of acute respiratory viral infections, influenza only adds to the burden on the body and makes it difficult to recover.

Side effects of antibiotic therapy:

• dysbacteriosis
• allergic manifestations
• toxic effect on the liver, kidneys, ENT organs
• development of microbial resistance to antibiotics
• intoxication of the body resulting from the death of microbes
• violation of the formation of immunity
• high chance of recurrence after antibiotic treatment ends

IMPORTANT: Long-term use of antibiotics will necessarily have side effects, the main of which is harm to the intestinal microflora.

Video: Antibiotics benefit and harm

How do antibiotics affect and act on viruses and inflammation?

Virus- a protein structure containing inside nucleic acid. The viral envelope proteins serve as protection for the preservation of hereditary gene information. During reproduction, viruses reproduce copies of themselves, also equipped with parental genes. In order to multiply successfully, viruses have to make their way inside healthy cells.

If you try to act with an antibiotic on a virus-infected cell, nothing will happen to the virus, because the action of antibiotics is aimed solely at preventing the formation of a cell wall or suppressing protein biosynthesis. Since viruses do not have cell walls or ribosomes, the antibiotic will be absolutely useless.

In other words, the structure of viruses differs from the structure of antibiotic-sensitive bacteria, therefore, special antiviral drugs are used to suppress the work of viral proteins and interrupt their vital activity.

IMPORTANT: Doctors often prescribe antibiotics in the treatment of viral diseases. This is done to overcome the bacterial complication that occurs against the background of a viral disease.

How do antibiotics affect and act on the heart?

It is a mistake to think that taking antibiotics does not affect the state of the cardiovascular system. The proof of this is the results of an experiment conducted by Danish scientists in 1997-2011. During this time, researchers have processed the results of treatment of more than 5 million people.

For the experiment, volunteers aged 40 to 74 took antibiotics for 7 days, often used to treat bronchitis, pneumonia, and ENT infections. As a result of the experiment, it turned out that taking antibiotics such as roxithromycin and clarithromycin increases the risk of cardiac arrest by 75%.

IMPORTANT: In the course of the experiment, it turned out that penicillin is the least dangerous for the heart. Doctors should pay attention to this fact and, if possible, choose this drug for treatment.
In addition, antibiotics slightly increase the electrical activity of the heart, which can trigger arrhythmia.

How do antibiotics affect the intestinal microflora, protein digestion?

Antibiotics inhibit the growth of intestinal microflora, gradually destroying it. These drugs are hostile to intestinal bacteria and at the same time resistant to their influence. Thus, taking antibiotics is a step towards suppressing the vital activity of beneficial microbes and their death.

Normal microflora will not be able to recover immediately due to a "hole" in the immune system.
Against this background, new diseases often flare up, the normal functioning of systems, organs and tissues is disrupted.

All dietary macronutrients, including proteins, are digested in the upper small intestine. At the same time, a small amount of proteins enter the large intestine undigested. Here, undigested proteins are decomposed into amino acids with the help of microbes that inhabit the large intestine.

As a result of the breakdown of proteins in the large intestine, compounds dangerous to human health can be formed. Their number is so small that with normal microflora they do not have time to cause harm.

However, long-term use of antibiotics can reduce the diversity of the microbiome, making proteins harder to digest and slowing the elimination of harmful compounds from the gut.

Taking antibiotics disrupts the digestive tract

How do antibiotics affect conception, spermogram, pregnancy, fetus?

Taking antibacterial drugs somewhat reduces, but does not exclude, the likelihood of pregnancy. If the body of the father or mother at the time of conception was affected by strong antibiotics, a miscarriage is likely to occur.

The greatest danger from antibiotics for the fetus is up to 13 weeks, the most negative period is 3-6 weeks. During this period, organs are formed in the child, and exposure to potent antibacterial drugs will provoke the development of pathologies in the fetus.

Taking antibiotics is the cause of inhibition of spermatogenesis. Male fertility declines by long time if the intake of antibacterial agents falls on the early stage of spermatogenesis.

Video: The effect of antibiotics on spermograms

Against the background of antibiotics, spermatozoa in most cases are damaged and lose their mobility. These defects lead to spontaneous miscarriage if such spermatozoa took part in fertilization.

After taking antibiotics, it takes about 3 months for the sperm quality to recover and the spremogram to return to normal. It is through this time that it is permissible to plan a pregnancy. If the conception happened earlier and the development of the embryo proceeds without pathologies and deviations, then everything is in order with the sperm.

How do antibiotics affect breast milk?

If during breastfeeding a woman needs antibiotic therapy, then this type of treatment should not be abandoned. All antibiotics can be divided into 2 groups:

• permitted during lactation
• prohibited during lactation

The first group includes:

• Penicillins (Augmentin, Ospamox, etc.) - penetrate into breast milk in small concentrations, but can cause allergic reactions and cause loose stools in a child and mother.
• Macrolides (Erythromycin, Clarithromycin) - penetrate well into breast milk, but do not have a negative effect on the child's condition.
• Cefolasporins (Cefradin, Ceftriaxone) - penetrate milk in negligible doses, do not affect the growth and development of the child.

Antibiotics prohibited during breastfeeding include:

• Sulfonamides - disrupt the exchange of bilirubin in the body of an infant, which can cause the development of jaundice.
• Lincomycin - penetrates into milk in large quantities, violates the work of the intestines of the child.
• Tetracyclines - penetrate into milk, destroy the tooth enamel and bones of the baby.
• Aminoglycosides are highly toxic, adversely affect the state of the child's hearing organs and kidneys.
• Fluoroquinolones - penetrate into milk in quantities unsafe for the health of the child, disrupt the normal development of cartilage tissue.
• Clindomycin - causes the development of colitis.

If antibiotics of the second group are prescribed to a nursing mother, there can be no talk of any breastfeeding during the treatment period.

When taking drugs from the first group during breastfeeding, the following rules must be observed:

• tell the doctor that the baby is breastfeeding
• do not change the prescribed dose of the drug yourself
• take medicine immediately after breastfeeding

IMPORTANT: To ensure a supply breast milk for the treatment period, express any excess after each feeding and store in the freezer. After the end of the course of antibiotics, it will be possible to fully restore lactation.

Almost all antibiotics are excreted by the kidneys. Therefore, if their work changes even slightly, signs of intoxication are likely to appear in the body.

Aminoglycosides and tetracyclines can damage the kidney tissue. The risk is especially high in the case of combining drugs of these groups with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory or hormonal drugs. Then, in the analysis of urine, the indicators of erythrocytes and leukocytes will be overestimated, which indicates the presence of an inflammatory process of the genitourinary system.

IMPORTANT: Some antibiotics can change the color of urine (rifampicin makes it bright orange, and nitroxoline makes it rich yellow) and contribute to the formation of kidney stones. During and after taking sulfonamides, ciprofloxacin and nitroxoline, epithelial cells, erythrocytes and protein are found in the urine.

Taking broad-spectrum antibiotics can cause the absence of urobilinogen in the urine.
Antibiotics cannot significantly affect the results of a general blood test. The only thing you should pay attention to is the ESR and the leukocyte formula. It is likely that these data will be somewhat distorted.

How do antibiotics affect hormones?

Certain medications can affect hormones, but antibiotics are not. Before taking tests for hormones or carrying out any treatment, it is necessary to warn the doctor about taking an antibacterial drug. But, unequivocally, the hormonal background will not change in any way from antibiotics of any group.

Antibiotics do not affect menstrual cycle. It's easy enough to explain. The menstrual cycle has two phases. In the first phase, follicles mature in the ovary under the action of the pituitary gland. At the same time, the endometrium grows in the uterus under the influence of estrogens. The second phase is characterized by the release of luteotropic hormone in the pituitary gland and the appearance of a mature egg.

In addition to hormones, nothing can affect the process of egg maturation. Since hormones do not change from the action of antibacterial drugs, their intake will not affect the menstrual cycle.

How do antibiotics affect potency?

Serious antibiotics can adversely affect male potency. But if, after taking antibacterial drugs, a man notices a decrease in sexual desire, erectile dysfunction, which cause reluctance to have sex, then you should not worry too much. After a short period of time after the end of treatment, sexual life will return to normal.

IMPORTANT: Despite the fact that potency is restored almost immediately after the end of antibiotics, it will be necessary to wait a little while planning pregnancy. The qualitative composition of the sperm will be restored only 3 months after the end of treatment.

How do antibiotics affect the immune system?

Antibiotics kill indiscriminately the bacteria - both harmful and beneficial - that inhabit the intestines and maintain balance in the body. As a result, a serious failure occurs in the immune system.

The uncontrolled growth of yeast fungi disrupts the intestines - allergic reactions to food occur, intestinal permeability increases, diarrhea appears, and abdominal pain after eating. In women, thrush often develops against the background of taking strong antibiotics. At the same time, a general deterioration in well-being, lethargy and poor appetite are normal phenomena.

IMPORTANT: The immune system will suffer the more, the longer it will be affected by the antibiotic. In this case, the method of administration of the drug does not matter.

In order to somewhat soften the blow to immunity, it is recommended to strictly observe the dosage of the antibiotic and take the probiotics and vitamins prescribed by the doctor.

How do antibiotics affect blood pressure?

If the patient strictly follows the doctor's instructions, he will not notice any serious changes in his body while taking antibiotics. However, even a slight deviation from the rules for taking antibacterial drugs can lead to serious consequences.

So the pressure can rise sharply, and failures will appear in the work of the cardiovascular system if the patient has used alcoholic drink or self-added any drug.

If the patient notes that each antibiotic intake is accompanied by a change blood pressure, he must report this to the doctor. Perhaps the prescribed treatment regimen needs to be adjusted.

How do antibiotics affect the stomach, pancreas?

The pancreas and stomach are the most sensitive organs to antibiotics. Violations in their work occur due to a decrease in the protective resident flora and an increase in the number of pathogenic microorganisms. As a result, a number of complex chemical reactions occur in the gastrointestinal tract, which are impossible in the case of normal functioning of organs.

IMPORTANT: Signs that negative changes have occurred in the gastrointestinal tract after taking antibiotics are stomach pain, flatulence, nausea, vomiting, heartburn, diarrhea. To minimize the risk of developing these side effects prescribe probiotics.

How do antibiotics affect the liver, kidneys?

Liver It is a kind of filter in the body. If the liver is absolutely healthy, for some time it will be able to withstand the increased load without any problems, neutralizing toxic substances. But if liver function is impaired, antibiotic therapy must necessarily be accompanied by the use of hepatoprotectors (Urosan, Gepabene, Karsil).

kidneys- an organ that cleanses the blood of harmful substances and maintains the acid-base balance in the body. With healthy kidneys, short-term use of antibiotics will not have a negative effect.

However, diseases of the urinary system or long-term use of antibiotics can cause changes in the excretion and absorption processes. chemical elements development of pathological reactions.

IMPORTANT: Signs that antibiotics have disrupted the functioning of the kidneys are lower back pain, changes in the amount and color of urine, fever.

How do antibiotics affect the nervous system?

To find out the effect of antibiotics on the nervous system, scientists at the Center for Molecular Medicine conducted a series of studies, which revealed the following:

• short-term use of antibiotics does not affect the functioning and condition of the nervous system
• prolonged use of antibiotics not only destroys intestinal bacteria, but also slows down
• production of brain cells, leading to memory impairment
• the restoration of the nervous system is facilitated by the intake of immunomodulators and probiotics during the recovery period, as well as physical exercises

Long-term use of antibiotics may impair memory

How do antibiotics affect hearing?

Some antibiotics have been shown to accumulate in ear fluid and cause pathological changes leading to hearing loss and deafness. These drugs include:

• streptomycin
• kanamycin
• neomycin
• kanamycin
• gentamicin
• tobramycin
• amikacin
• netilmicin
• sisomycin
• tetracyclines
• erythromycin
• azithromycin
• vancomycin
• polymyxin B
• colistin
• gramicidin
• bacitracin
• mupirocin

The fact that the drugs have side effects in the form of hearing impairment is stated in the instructions for the medicine. However, they are widely used in therapeutic and pediatric practice.

How do antibiotics affect teeth?

To find out the effect of antibacterial drugs on the condition of the teeth, medical scientists from Finland conducted a series of experiments, as a result of which it turned out that:

• taking penicillin and macrolide in children from 1 to 3 years of age increases the risk of developing defects in their tooth enamel
• in school-age children, taking antibiotics in many cases leads to enamel demineralization
  most often, demineralization occurs after taking antibiotics of the macrolide group (erythromycin, clarithromycin)
• each new intake of antibacterial drugs increases the risk of developing enamel defects
• the result of frequent treatment of children with antibiotics is molar incisor hypomineralization and caries
• restoration of damaged teeth after a course of antibiotics is quickly destroyed

The negative effect of antibiotics on the tooth enamel of people over 14 years of age is not so pronounced, but their long-term use can also cause harm.

Long-term use of antibiotics lowers hemoglobin. This phenomenon is explained by the fact that the body is trying to recover on its own, consuming organic iron compounds for this. Iron is necessary for the formation of nuclei of leukocytes.

Accordingly, the more serious the treatment, the more antibiotics disrupt the functions of organs and systems, the more iron the body spends on attempts to restore.

Hemoglobin levels will return to normal faster if you add pomegranate, beef and dried apricots to the menu. Medicinal iron-containing preparations such as Ferrum Lek, Sorbifer, Totem and others will also help.

The rate at which antibiotics are eliminated from the body is affected by its form, group and route of administration. Many injectable drugs are excreted from the body after 8-12 hours after the last injection. Suspensions and tablets act in the body for 12-24 hours. The body fully recovers only after 3 months after treatment.

IMPORTANT: How long the drug will stay in the body depends on the age and condition of the patient. The withdrawal of antibiotics is slowed down in people suffering from diseases of the liver, genitourinary system, kidneys, as well as in young children.

To remove the antibiotic as soon as possible, you must:

• drink plenty of water and herbal teas
• restore liver function with drugs
• apply probiotics
• eat enough dairy products

How to cleanse and restore the body after antibiotics?

After the end of taking antibiotics, you need to take care of the restoration of the body. If this is not done, the emergence of a new disease is possible in the near future.

First of all, in order to exclude favorable conditions for the development of pathogenic flora, a diet should be organized. To do this, it is necessary to remove confectionery and bakery products, sugar, potatoes from the diet. Replace milk with bifidobacteria dairy products. Adhere to this diet for about 3 months.

Together with diet food the recovery of the body is facilitated by the use of immunomodulatory drugs, vitamin complexes and bacteriophages that suppress pathogenic flora.

Only an integrated approach can give a lasting positive result in solving the problem of cleansing and restoring the body after antibiotics.

Video: What happens after antibiotics?

No medicine saves as many lives as antibiotics.

Therefore, we have the right to call the creation of antibiotics the greatest event, and their creators - great. Alexander Fleming accidentally discovered penicillin in 1928. The widespread production of penicillin was opened only in 1943.

What is an antibiotic?

Antibiotics are substances of either biological or semi-synthetic origin that can have a negative effect (inhibit vital activity or cause complete death) of various pathogens (usually bacteria, less often protozoa, etc.).

The main natural producers of antibiotics are fungi - penicillium, cephalosporium and others (penicillin, cephalosporin); actinomycetes (tetracycline, streptomycin), some bacteria (gramicidin), higher plants (phytoncides).

There are two main mechanisms of action of antibiotics:

1) Germicidal mechanism- complete suppression of bacterial growth by acting on the vital cellular structures of microorganisms, therefore, causing their irreversible death. They are called bactericidal, they destroy microbes. Thus, for example, penicillin, cephalexin, gentamicin can act. The effect of the bactericidal drug will come faster.

2) Bacteriostatic mechanism- an obstacle to the reproduction of bacteria, the growth of colonies of microbes is inhibited, and the organism itself, more precisely, the cells of the immune system - leukocytes, has a detrimental effect on them. This is how erythromycin, tetracycline, chloramphenicol works. If you can't stand it full course treatment and stop the bacteriostatic antibiotic early, the symptoms of the disease will return.

What are antibiotics?

I. According to the mechanism of action:
- Bactericidal antibiotics (penicillin group, streptomycin, cephalosporins, aminoglycosides, polymyxin, gramicidin, rifampicin, ristomycin)
- Bacteriostatic antibiotics (macrolides, tetracycline group, levomycetin, lincomycin)

II. According to the spectrum of action:
- Broad spectrum(prescribed for an unknown pathogen, have a wide range of antibacterial action on many pathogens, but there is a small probability of death of representatives of the normal microflora of various body systems). Examples: ampicillin, cephalosporins, aminoglycosides, tetracycline, levomycetin, macrolides, carbapenems.
- Narrow spectrum:
1) With a predominant effect on gr + bacteria and cocci - staphylococci, streptococci (penicillins, cephalosporins of the I-II generation, lincomycin, fusidine, vancomycin);
2) With a predominant effect on gram-bacteria, for example, Escherichia coli and others (III generation cephalosporins, aminoglycosides, aztreonam, polymyxins).
*- gram + or gram- differ from each other in Gram stain and microscopy (gram + are stained in purple, and grams - in reddish).
- Other narrow spectrum antibiotics:
1) Antituberculous (streptomycin, rifampicin, florimycin)
2) Antifungals (nystatin, levorin, amfortericin B, batrafen)
3) Against protozoa (monomycin)
4) Antitumor (actinomycins)

III. By generation: There are antibiotics of 1, 2, 3, 4 generations.
For example, cephalosporins, which are divided into 1, 2, 3, 4 generations of drugs:

I generation: cefazolin (kefzol), cephalothin (keflin), cephaloridine (ceporin), cephalexin (kefexin), cefradin, cefapirin, cefadroxil.
II generation: cefuroxime (ketocef), cefaclor (vercef), cefotaxime (claforon), cefotiam, cefotetan.
III generation: cefotriaxone (longacef, rocefin), cefonerazole (cefobit), ceftazidime (kefadim, mirocef, fortum), cefotaxime, cefixime, cephroxidine, ceftizoxime, cefrpyridoxime.
IV generation: cefoxitin (mefoxin), cefmetazole, cefpirome.

A newer generation of antibiotics differs from the previous one in a wider spectrum of action on microorganisms, greater safety for the human body (that is, a lower frequency adverse reactions), more convenient reception(if the first generation drug needs to be administered 4 times a day, then 3 and 4 generations - only 1-2 times a day), are considered more “reliable” (higher efficiency in bacterial foci, and, accordingly, an early onset of a therapeutic effect). Also, modern drugs of the latest generations have oral forms (tablets, syrups) with a single dose during the day, which is convenient for most people.

How can antibiotics be introduced into the body?

1) By mouth or orally(tablets, capsules, drops, syrups). It should be borne in mind that a number of drugs in the stomach are poorly absorbed or simply destroyed (penicillin, aminoglycosides, carbapinems).
2) In the internal environment of the body or parenterally(intramuscularly, intravenously, into the spinal canal)
3) Directly into the rectum or rectally(in enemas)
The onset of effect when taking antibiotics by mouth (oral) is expected to take longer than with parenteral administration. Accordingly, in the severe form of diseases, parenteral administration is given unconditional preference.

After taking the antibiotic is in the blood, and then in a specific organ. There is a favorite localization of certain drugs in certain organs and systems. Accordingly, for a particular disease, drugs are prescribed taking into account this property of the antibiotic. For example, in pathological bone tissue lincomycin is prescribed, hearing organs - semi-synthetic penicillins, etc. Azithromycin has a unique ability to distribute: in case of pneumonia, it accumulates in the lung tissue, and in pyelonephritis, in the kidneys.

Antibiotics are excreted from the body in several ways: unchanged in the urine - all water-soluble antibiotics are excreted (example: penicillins, cephalosporins); with urine in an altered form (example: tetracyclines, aminoglycosides); with urine and bile (example: tetracycline, rifampicin, chloramphenicol, erythromycin).

Instructions for the patient before taking antibiotics

Before you are given an antibiotic, tell your doctor:
- About the presence of side effects of medicines in the past.
- About the development in the past of allergic reactions to drugs.
- About currently taking other treatment and the compatibility of already prescribed drugs with the required drugs now.
- About the presence of pregnancy or the need for breastfeeding.

You need to know (ask your doctor or find in the instructions for the drug):
- What is the dose of the drug and the frequency of administration during the day?
- Is special nutrition required during treatment?
- Course of treatment (how long to take the antibiotic)?
- Possible side effects of the drug.
- For oral forms - the relationship of medication with food intake.
- Whether prevention of side effects is required (for example, intestinal dysbacteriosis, in order to prevent which probiotics are prescribed).

When to talk to your doctor about antibiotics:
- When signs of an allergic reaction appear (skin rash, itchy skin, shortness of breath, swelling of the throat, etc.).
- If there is no improvement within 3 days of taking it, but on the contrary, new symptoms have joined.

Features of taking antibiotics:

When taken orally, the time of taking the drug matters (antibiotics can bind to food components in the digestive tract and the subsequent formation of insoluble and slightly soluble compounds that are poorly absorbed into the general circulation, respectively, the effect of the drug will be poor).

An important condition is the creation of an average therapeutic concentration of the antibiotic in the blood, that is, a sufficient concentration to achieve the desired result. That is why it is important to comply with all doses and frequency of administration during the day prescribed by the doctor.

Currently, there is an acute problem of antibiotic resistance of microorganisms (resistance of microorganisms to the action of antibacterial drugs). The causes of antibiotic resistance may be self-medication without the participation of a doctor; interruption of the course of treatment (this certainly affects the lack of a full-fledged effect and “trains” the microbe); the appointment of antibiotics for viral infections (this group of drugs does not act on intracellular microorganisms, which are viruses, therefore, improper antibiotic treatment of viral diseases only causes a more pronounced immunodeficiency).

Another important problem is the development of adverse reactions during antibiotic therapy (digestion, dysbacteriosis, individual intolerance, and others).

The solution of these problems is possible by conducting rational antibiotic therapy (proper prescription of the drug for a specific disease, taking into account its favorite concentration in a particular organ and system, as well as professional prescription of a therapeutic dose and a sufficient course of treatment). New antibacterial drugs are also being developed.

General rules for taking antibiotics:

1) Any antibiotic should be prescribed only by a doctor!

2) Self-treatment with antibiotics for viral infections is categorically not recommended (usually motivated by the prevention of complications). You can make a viral infection worse. You need to think about taking it only with persistent fever for more than 3 days or exacerbation of a chronic bacterial focus. Obvious indications will be determined only by a doctor!

3) Carefully follow the prescribed course of antibiotic treatment prescribed by the attending physician. In no case do not stop taking after you feel better. The disease will definitely return.

4) Do not adjust the dosage of the drug during treatment. In small doses, antibiotics are dangerous and affect the formation of bacterial resistance. For example, if it seems to you that 2 tablets 4 times a day are somehow too much, 1 tablet 3 times a day is better, then it is likely that 1 injection 4 times a day will soon be needed, since the tablets will no longer work.

5) Antibiotics should be taken with 0.5-1 glass of water. Do not try to experiment and drink them with tea, juice, and even more so with milk. You will drink them "for nothing". Milk and dairy products should be taken no earlier than 4 hours after taking the antibiotic, or completely abandoned for the duration of the course of therapy.

6) Observe a certain frequency and sequence of taking the drug and food (different drugs are taken in different ways: before, during, after meals).

7) Strictly observe the specific time of taking the antibiotic. If 1 time a day, then at the same time, if 2 times a day, then strictly after 12 hours, if 3 times - then after 8 hours, if 4 times - after 6 hours and so on. This is important to create a certain concentration of the drug in the body. If you suddenly missed the time of admission, then take the drug as soon as possible.

8) Taking an antibiotic requires a significant reduction in physical activity and a complete rejection of sports.

9) There are certain interactions of some drugs with each other. For example, the effect of hormonal contraceptives is reduced when taking antibiotics. Reception of antacids (Maalox, Rennie, Almagel and others), as well as enterosorbents ( Activated carbon, white coal, enterosgel, polyfepam and others) can affect the absorption of the antibiotic, so the simultaneous use of these drugs is not recommended.

10) Do not drink alcohol (alcohol) during the course of antibiotic treatment.

Possibility of using antibiotics in pregnant and lactating women

Safe when indicated (that is, the presence of obvious benefits with minimal harm): penicillins, cephalosporins throughout the entire period of pregnancy and feeding (however, the child may develop intestinal dysbacteriosis). After the 12th week of pregnancy, it is possible to prescribe drugs from the macrolide group. Aminoglycosides, tetracyclines, levomycetin, rifampicin, fluoroquinolones are contraindicated during pregnancy.

The need for antibiotic treatment in children

According to statistics, antibiotics in Russia receive up to 70-85% of children with a purely viral infections, that is, antibiotics were not shown to these kids. At the same time, it is known that it is antibacterial drugs that provoke the development of bronchial asthma in children! In reality, only 5-10% of children with ARVI should be prescribed antibiotics, and only if a complication occurs in the form of a bacterial focus. According to statistics, complications are detected in only 2.5% of children not treated with antibiotics, and complications are recorded twice as often in those treated without reason.

A doctor and only a doctor identifies indications in a sick child for prescribing antibiotics: they may be an exacerbation of chronic bronchitis, chronic otitis media, sinusitis and sinusitis, developing pneumonia, and the like. Also, one should not hesitate to prescribe antibiotics for mycobacterial infections (tuberculosis), where specific antibacterial drugs are key in the treatment regimen.

Side effects of antibiotics:

1. Allergic reactions (anaphylactic shock, allergic dermatoses, angioedema, asthmatic bronchitis)
2. Toxic effect on the liver (tetracyclines, rifampicin, erythromycin, sulfonamides)
3. Toxic effect on the hematopoietic system (levomycetin, rifampicin, streptomycin)
4. Toxic effect on the digestive system (tetracycline, erythromycin)
5. Complex toxic - neuritis of the auditory nerve, damage to the optic nerve, vestibular disorders, possible development polyneuritis, toxic kidney damage (aminoglycosides)
6. Jarisch-Heitzheimer reaction (endotoxin shock) - occurs when a bactericidal antibiotic is prescribed, which leads to an "endotoxin shock" as a result of massive destruction of bacteria. It develops more often with the following infections (meningococcemia, typhoid fever, leptospirosis, etc.).
7. Intestinal dysbacteriosis - an imbalance in the normal intestinal flora.

Antibiotics, in addition to pathogenic microbes, kill both representatives of normal microflora and opportunistic microorganisms with which your immune system was already "familiar" and restrained their growth. After treatment with antibiotics, the body is actively colonized by new microorganisms, the recognition of which by the immune system takes time, in addition, those microbes that the antibiotic used does not work on are activated. Hence the symptoms of decreased immunity during antibiotic therapy.

Recommendations for patients after a course of antibiotic therapy:

After any course of antibiotic treatment, recovery is necessary. This is primarily due to the inevitable side effects of drugs of any severity.

1. Follow a sparing diet avoiding spicy, fried, oversalted and frequent (5 times a day) intake of small portions for 14 days.
2. In order to correct digestive disorders, enzyme preparations are recommended (creon, micrasim, ermital, pancitrate, 10 thousand IU or 1 caps. 3 times a day for 10-14 days).
3. In order to correct intestinal dysbiosis (disturbances in the ratio of representatives of the normal flora), probiotics are recommended.
- Baktisubtil 1 caps 3 r / day for 7-10 days,
- Bifiform 1 tab 2 r / day for 10 days,
- Linnex 1 caps 2-3 r / day for 7-10 days,
- Bifidumbacterin forte 5-10 doses 2 r / day for 10 days,
- Acipol 1 caps 3-4 r / day for 10-14 days.
4. After taking hepatotoxic drugs (for example, tetracycline, erythromycin, sulfonamides, rifampicin), it is recommended to take plant-based hepatoprotectors: hepatrin, ovesol (1 caps or tablet 2-3 times a day), carsil (2 tablets 3 times a day) within 14-21 days.
5. After a course of antibiotics, it is recommended to take herbal immunomodulators (immunal, echinacea solutions) and avoid hypothermia.

Infectious disease specialist Bykova N.I.

Medicine took a big step forward in the 30s of the twentieth century, when penicillin was discovered. It became possible to cure many infectious diseases, from which many people died in their time. Antibacterial drugs can suppress vital activity, as well as kill pathogenic bacteria. Along with the effectiveness, there is also the occurrence of side effects of antibiotics (after or during their administration).

Side effects are a number of pathophysiological processes that develop in the human body when using a particular drug. The occurrence of undesirable results is due to the action of the directly antibacterial drug. Also, a certain role is played by the individual characteristics of the body.

Of no small importance in the development of side effects from antibiotics is an increase in dosage, frequency of administration and duration of the therapeutic course. There is a direct relationship between these indicators and the severity of undesirable consequences.

Great importance has a pharmacological form of the drug (tablets, capsules, injections). For example, nausea is a more common manifestation of the use of antibiotic tablets.

Impact on the gastrointestinal tract

The effect of drugs on the gastrointestinal tract can manifest itself in the form of impaired intestinal motility and the development of dysbacteriosis. Most often, these two factors are combined. Dysbacteriosis is due to a wide spectrum of action on all strains of bacteria, including those useful for the small and large intestine. A decrease in their titer leads to improper bowel function, inability to resist the existing pathogens. Typical symptoms are:

• Flatulence.
• Abdominal pain (aching or cutting).
• Loose stool or constipation.

When using the medicine inside, there is a feeling of nausea, a burning sensation in the stomach, and vomiting may develop. This is due to irritation of its mucous membrane and the initial sections of the small intestine. Actually for this reason, the intake of many antibiotics is recommended after or during meals. Sometimes, in order to avoid such manifestations, tablets and capsules are replaced by injectable forms.

Toxic drugs for the gastrointestinal tract are:

• Cephalosporins.
• Aminoglycosides.
• Tetracyclines.
• Erythromycin.

A serious complication is the development of vitamin K deficiency, which leads to hemorrhage. It is expressed in bleeding gums, nosebleeds, the occurrence of hematomas under the skin, microbleeds in the gastrointestinal mucosa.

The right way to avoid such phenomena is the appointment of narrow-spectrum antibiotics or, if replacement / cancellation is not possible, the concomitant administration of probiotics (Bifiform, Linex, Hilak, Kolibakterin). Eubiotics contain a strain of beneficial bacteria that colonize the intestinal mucosa.

Allergy

Side effects in the form of an allergic reaction can occur on an antibiotic of any group. This effect is due to personal intolerance to the components of the drug. In this case, the drug acts as an antigen (foreign substance), in response to which the immune system produces protein complexes- antibodies.

Most often, allergies occur to penicillins and cephalosporins. Given the similarity in the structure of these drugs, replacing one with another is prohibited, since there is a possibility of developing a cross-reaction.

Allergy symptoms can be local and generalized:

• Allergic rashes, skin burning, itching, scratching.
• Asthmatic bronchitis.
• Quincke's edema.
• Hives.
• Anaphylactic shock.
• Steven-Jones syndrome - toxic necrolysis of skin cells.

Such manifestations can cause irreparable harm to human health, moreover, lead to death. Therefore, an examination by a profiling specialist is mandatory to take into account the history of the disease and the allergological status of the patient. Testing for a specific type of antibiotic is allowed. If complications arise at home, call an ambulance immediately.

In view of formidable complications, self-administration of antibacterial agents is contraindicated.

Thrush

Candidiasis is an infection caused by a fungus belonging to the yeast-like genus - Candida. Candida is considered to be a conditionally pathogenic flora - normally it can be present in a smear from the oral cavity, vagina, intestines. Their numbers are controlled by beneficial microorganisms. Since a broad-spectrum antibacterial drug inhibits the work of not only pathogenic microflora, against this background, fungi begin to actively grow and multiply.

Sometimes doctors prescribe an antifungal drug when taking antibiotics for a long time. It can be both systemic and local with the simultaneous use of an antiseptic.

Liver and kidneys

Manifestations of nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity usually occur in individuals who already have liver and kidney damage, in particular, glomerulonephritis, pyelonephritis, hepatitis of varying severity and etiology, hepatosis. Symptoms of deterioration are:

1. Darkening of urine, lightening of feces, discoloration of the skin (jaundice), yellowing of the sclera, hyperthermia - a toxic effect on the liver develops. In the biochemical blood test, liver markers change: bilirubin, AlAT, AsAT, cholesterol, low and high density lipoproteins.
2. Decrease / increase in the volume of urine excreted, pain in the lumbar region, the occurrence of irrepressible thirst, an increase in body temperature is possible - a toxic effect on the kidneys develops. In the blood test, the level of urea, creatinine increases. In the general analysis of urine: an increase in density, the appearance of salts, protein, glucose, erythrocytes, leukocytes.

Before using the medicine, it is advisable to undergo an examination by a specialist, as well as to clarify about existing chronic diseases. The doctor will be able to choose the necessary therapeutic dose and prescribe the duration of treatment, taking into account pathologies.

Hepatotoxic and nephrotoxic effects are:

• Tetracyclines.
• Erythromycin.
• Rifampicin.
• Sulfonamides.

Nervous system

The group of drugs of the tetracycline series and aminoglycosides have the highest neurotoxicity. They are able to act on the myelin sheath of nerve fibers. With a short course of treatment, headaches, dizziness, heaviness in the occipital and temporal region may be pursued. A symptom of a significant toxic effect is:

• Dysfunction of the visual, auditory pathways, which leads to partial or complete loss of vision and hearing.
• Vestibulopathies - impaired coordination, a tendency to motion sickness, a manifestation of motion sickness.
• Toxic damage to the innervation of the kidneys.
• Development of generalized polyneuropathy.

The appointment of such groups of drugs is prohibited in childhood, because the occurrence of complications is inevitable.

Blood

Long-term use of chloramphenicol leads to violations of the rheological properties of blood and the development of severe anemia:

• Hemolytic anemia is a pathological condition in which blood cells are destroyed due to the deposition of drug metabolites on them.
• Aplastic anemia. It develops against the background of the effect of active substances on the sprouts of the red bone marrow.

With the inevitable appointment of Chloramphenicol, monitoring of the blood test in dynamics is mandatory.

Shock

Endotoxic shock develops when taking bactericidal agents - poisoning with toxins occurs as a result of destruction pathogenic bacteria. This is a frequent complication in the treatment of meningitis, meningococcal infection, typhoid fever, leptospirosis.

Sometimes side effects from antibiotics develop with the wrong method of administration or non-compliance with asepsis rules. Intramuscular injection may be complicated by a painful infiltrate, abscess, intravenous - phlebitis. When taken orally - inflammation of the gastric mucosa, duodenum, with local - dermatitis, inflammation of the conjunctiva.

Antibiotics are one of the most commonly prescribed drugs today to treat bacterial infections, which, unlike viruses, usually don't go away on their own.

And while studies show that they are often taken by patients who don't really need them, doctors believe that when used correctly, drugs are an extremely important (and often life-saving) part of modern medicine.

But like all medicines, antibiotics can have side effects.

Most of them are not life-threatening, and patients can often see a doctor for help in preventing or treating unpleasant complications such as diarrhea or secondary infections.

But some side effects can be serious, and some can be terrible!

Here are some side effects of antibiotics that you should be aware of and watch out for if you are prescribed these drugs.

1. Problems with digestion.

One of the most common complaints from patients taking antibiotics is gastrointestinal problems such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, says clinician Keith Dzintars.

"There is diarrhea associated with antibiotics and we advise patients to be vigilant." she says. Drinking plenty of fluids and fiber can help patients cope until they complete their course of treatment.

If the diarrhea becomes severe, it may be a more serious clostridial disease.

“This happens when the antibiotic has killed the good bacteria in the gut and the bad bacteria have multiplied,” says Dzintars.

This condition can lead to dehydration and requires hospitalization, so call your doctor if you have loose stools several times a day.

Antibiotics can also cause an overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine, which can contribute to bloating and cramps that continue even after you stop taking them. This type of infection usually requires probiotics to bring the intestinal bacterial balance back to normal.

2. Headaches.

Headaches are another common complaint of people taking antibiotics. "If you have a headache and haven't had a lack of sleep or a lack of caffeine, it certainly could be the antibiotic you're taking." Dzintars says.

"These headaches are usually temporary," she adds. “And any analgesic can help with them.”

3. Sensitivity to the sun.

Some antibiotics are photosensitizers, meaning they affect how the skin reacts to ultraviolet radiation. Exposure to sunlight can increase the chance of burning, flaking and subsequent damage to skin cells.

Some of these medications can cause a red, itchy rash when exposed to sunlight - after just 15 minutes of being outside.

This is why people taking tetracyclines, fluoroquinolones, and sulfones should avoid long periods of sun exposure, especially between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm, and be sure to use sunscreen and protective clothing if spending time outside.

4. Reducing the effect of other drugs.

Antibiotics treat a bacterial infection, but may reduce or change the effect of other medicines.

Drugs that can interact with antibiotics include anticoagulants, antacids, antihistamines, anti-inflammatory drugs, psoriasis medications, diuretics, antifungals, steroids, diabetes medications, muscle relaxants, migraine medications, and some antidepressants.

Hormonal contraceptives may also be less effective when used with the antibiotic Rifampin (an anti-tuberculosis drug). But, fortunately, this drug is rarely prescribed. Keep in mind that if an antibiotic causes vomiting, there is a chance that the contraceptive pill will not be completely absorbed.

Antibiotics may also be incompatible with alcohol. In particular, metronidazole, tinidazole, and trimethoprim sulfamethoxazole should not interact with alcohol because this combo can cause headache, facial flushing, rapid heartbeat, nausea, and vomiting.

5. Fungal infection.

Because antibiotics change the microbiome, they make us vulnerable to yeast infections and other types of fungus, says Dzintars. Fungal infections can occur in the mouth (stomatitis), on the skin, or under the nails.

Antibiotics, especially if taken for a long time, can also upset the balance of bacteria in a woman's vagina. This can change its pH and may also contribute to yeast infections. Taking antifungal medications while you are taking antibiotics can help prevent this side effect.

Antibiotics, especially tetracyclines, can cause tiny lesions on the surface of the tongue that will absorb bacteria, tobacco, food, and make the tongue appear fringed and dark. Fortunately, the condition usually disappears soon after the medication is stopped.

6. Anaphylaxis.

The most dangerous side effects of antibiotics are associated with allergic reactions. In fact, says Dzintars, allergic reactions to antibiotics are one of the most common reasons people end up in emergency rooms.

“People get covered in rashes or hives, their lips swell up or they start to choke,” says Dzintars. In a severe anaphylactic reaction, a person's throat swells up and they need a dose of adrenaline to save their life.

These reactions are rare, but they definitely deserve attention, especially if you are prescribed a new medication that you have not used before. An allergy to one type of antibiotic does not rule out an allergy to other types, says Dzintars.

7. Teeth staining.

Studies have shown that tetracyclines can cause permanent staining or discoloration of permanent teeth in children. As a result, since 1970, all drugs in this class have been issued with a warning label that does not recommend their use in children under 8 years of age. (The use of these drugs during pregnancy has also been linked to dental stains in the unborn child.)

But the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that doxycycline, a new antibiotic in the tetracycline class, "binds less readily to calcium and has not been shown to cause the same tooth staining."

This is important as doxycycline is the best treatment for tick-borne disease. Lack of confidence in this drug—and doctors' concerns about teeth—may prevent children from receiving life-saving treatment.

8. Tendinitis.

Drugs known as fluoroquinolones (including Cipro and Levaquin) have been a popular choice for treating common conditions such as pneumonia, bronchitis, and urinary tract infections. But in last years doctors have realized that these drugs tend to cause more serious side effects than other classes of antibiotics.

For example, damage to the tendons that connect muscles to bone, including reports of pain (tendinitis), injury (tendinopathy), or even tears. The FDA added a warning about the risk of tendinitis as well as permanent nerve damage. In 2016, the association advised that fluoroquinolones should only be used as a last resort.

9. Double vision.

A study published in 2009 found that fluoroquinolone use was also associated with double vision, also known as diplopia. The researchers found 171 cases of the disorder among fluoroquinolone users between 1986 and 2009, with a median time of 9.6 days between the start of medication and the onset of symptoms.

Because this type of antibiotic has also been associated with tendonitis, the authors speculated that pain and muscle spasm around the eyes may be to blame for this additional side effect.

10. Depression and anxiety.

Fluoroquinolones, along with penicillin and others medicines are associated with depression and anxiety. One study published in 2015 in the journal Clinical Psychiatry found that the more courses of antibiotics a person received throughout their lifetime, the more likely they were to develop depression and anxiety.

Researchers suggest that antibiotics change the composition of the body's microbiome, which worsens nerves, metabolism and immunity - all of which can affect a person's mental health.

These are just some of the reasons why antibiotics should only be taken as needed, and only as directed by a doctor, says Dzintars. (Not counting the growing threat of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, fueled in part by overprescribing.)

“Many people believe that antibiotics are safe and that they will be a magic pill if something goes wrong,” says Dzintars.

“And yes, they are our best protection against bacteria, but with the right choice, the right dose and the right duration of treatment. And taking into account all the risks.

Oct 3, 2018 Oksana

Although antibiotic treatment is often accompanied by a number of complications, after which it is not so easy to restore the body, these drugs continue to be actively used and prescribed to patients, including children and pregnant women.

What are antibiotics

Antibiotics are special substances of biological origin that can inhibit the growth of viruses, microbes and microorganisms or completely destroy them. Specificity of action is the main feature of antibiotics. That is, each specific type of pathogenic microorganisms is not susceptible to each type of antibiotics. It is this feature that formed the basis for the classification of modern antibiotics into drugs with a narrow spectrum of action (suppress the vital activity of microbes of one species) and a wide spectrum of action (destroy different kinds microorganisms).

Antibiotics are designed to help a person overcome an infectious disease, but it is extremely important not to cause additional harm to health. In order not to have to face serious complications, uncontrolled intake of such drugs is unacceptable - any drugs should be prescribed by a doctor and taken strictly under his control.

The negative effect of antibiotics on the body

Before listing the possible negative consequences of taking antibiotics, it should be noted that in a number of diseases, treatment with antibacterial drugs is an absolute necessity. We are talking about such pathologies as pneumonia, sepsis, purulent tonsillitis, etc. And if a short use of antibiotics can give a very good effect, then using them too long can lead to severe side effects:

• There is a suppression of not only pathogenic, but also beneficial microflora in the body. This leads to the fact that a kind of “lifeless environment” is created in your body, in which only microorganisms with developed resistance can exist.
• There is a violation of cellular respiration, which means that the access of oxygen to the tissues is significantly limited, that is, your body, as it were, goes into an anaerobic state.
• Antibiotics also have a negative effect on the liver, clogging the bile ducts of this organ. Moreover, the negative impact is much stronger than from the regular use of alcohol.
• The buffer systems of the liver, the main purpose of which is to compensate for toxic effects, are also rapidly depleted. Gradually, the liver radically changes its functions and instead of cleansing, it pollutes our body. In order to avoid this negative effect, in some cases our doctors prescribe drugs in addition to antibiotics to support the normal functioning of the liver.
• Long-term use of antibiotics literally "turns off" our immune system.

This is only a small part of the harmful effects that antibiotics can have on the human body. Depending on the specific type of drug, this list may be updated. It is precisely because of such an extensive list of severe side effects that the specialists of our clinic try to resort to antibiotic treatment only in the most extreme cases, when other means are ineffective.

Antibiotics and microflora

You already know that the basis of the effects of antibiotics is the suppression and destruction of microflora. Our body, together with the microflora inhabiting it, form a stable homeostasis. Thus, the quality of our life activity is regulated precisely by the balance of all ongoing processes. Any antibiotic is an inhibitor that suppresses chemical reactions, including beneficial microbes, which negatively affects homeostasis.

In simple words, antibiotics within us provide a kind of temporary sterility. In such an environment, no microorganism except the pathogenic microbes themselves can exist, and this is fraught with the development of a variety of pathologies. It is completely wrong to believe that the microflora is able to quickly recover after such exposure. That is why our doctors, prescribing antibiotics to patients, also prescribe drugs that support the intestinal microflora.

Antibiotics during pregnancy

The use of antibiotics during pregnancy is a rather complex and controversial topic. Of course, you know that during this period it is undesirable to take any medications at all, but what if the body had to face a serious infection that threatens the fetus? The specialists of our clinic never prescribe antibiotic treatment pregnant women without serious indications. They may be sexual infections, pyelonephritis, pneumonia, etc.

When prescribing drugs, the gestational age must be taken into account. It is highly undesirable to use antibiotics in the first trimester, when the vital organs of the fetus are being formed. In this case, antibacterial drugs can damage the functions and organs of the child, causing congenital pathologies. If the treatment of the mother is still necessary, our doctors ensure the strictest control over the process of therapy, so that even the slightest complications occur, the drug can be discontinued.

If you had to undergo antibiotic treatment before pregnancy, but you are planning to conceive, then it is better to postpone it for two to three months. However, if the pregnancy came unplanned, do not worry: antibiotics, which were taken before the delay in menstruation, are unlikely to adversely affect the health of your child.

How to take antibiotics without harm to health

The main condition that must be met for effective treatment antibiotics with minimal harm to the body - this is taking drugs strictly according to the doctor's prescription, observing the dosage, the time of taking the medicines and the duration of the course of treatment. If you are taking any other medications, be sure to tell your doctor, as some medications may not be compatible with antibiotics. Also, during the course of treatment, you should refrain from drinking alcohol.

It is necessary to urgently consult a doctor if, while taking antibiotics, you have allergic reactions, as well as if you do not feel better, but to the existing clinical manifestations new pathological symptoms have been added.

So, as you can see, antibiotics are rather “insidious” medicines, which, on the one hand, cannot be dispensed with, but on the other hand, it can be quite difficult to recover after treatment with them. If there is an emergency, and our doctor has prescribed one or another antibiotic for you, strictly follow all prescriptions and do not stop the course of treatment, even if improvements occur quickly.