Probiotic use alongside antibiotics

Probiotics are commonly recommended for patients who take antibiotics — but what’s the evidence behind this recommendation? Certainly probiotics may have clinical benefits such as prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhea. In addition, many patients believe that probiotic supplementation can protect the gut microbiome by restoring the “good” bacteria that are killed along with pathogens during antibiotic treatment. A close look at the evidence reveals that probiotics can have benefits for many patients taking antibiotics, but more evidence is needed to confirm that these benefits come about through gut microbiome restoration.