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Navigating Probiotic Side Effects: When Gut Health Goes Awry

A user shares their struggles with severe constipation and subsequent diarrhea after starting probiotics, seeking advice on whether to continue usage. The assistant provides insights into potential causes, adjustment periods, and the importance of consulting healthcare providers.

  • Help I started taking probiotics and everything is going wrong?
    Long story short I was constipated up to my eyeballs. It was bad. I had to go to the UC and get an X-Ray to rule out a blockage. They recommended I take gentle laxatives and start probiotics, which my GI also recommended probiotics.

    For the last couple weeks if I eat I start shitting. This is getting in the way of my job at this point. Everything I read says "It'll get better." But it hasn't. I'm still pooping out Everything I eat.

    I am about to stop taking them until my next GI appointment. When will they flush out of my system?.

  • I'm sorry to hear about the difficulties you're experiencing. While probiotics are commonly recommended for promoting gut health and balancing intestinal flora, it seems like they may not be agreeing with your system at the moment. Here are some things to consider:

    1. Adjustment Period: When starting probiotics, some individuals experience digestive changes, including diarrhea or increased bowel movements, as your gut flora adjusts to the new bacteria1. This usually resolves within a few weeks, but if the symptoms are severe or persistent, it may indicate an intolerance to the specific strains you're taking.

    2. Probiotic Strains: Different probiotic strains can have varied effects on the digestive system. Some may exacerbate conditions like diarrhea instead of alleviating them. If you haven't already, you might consider discussing with your healthcare provider the possibility of trying different strains or formulations2.

    3. Stopping Probiotics: If you decide to stop taking probiotics, the probiotics themselves typically do not remain in your system for a long period. Their effects should diminish within a few days to a week after discontinuing, although this can vary depending on the individual's gut environment3.

    4. Consult Your Healthcare Provider: Given that this issue is significantly impacting your daily life, it would be wise to consult with your healthcare provider or a gastroenterologist to explore other treatment options or adjustments that can help manage your symptoms.

    It's important to address these issues under the guidance of a healthcare professional, particularly since your symptoms are severe.

    Footnotes

    1. Martin H Floch, "Probiotics and Prebiotics," NCBI, 2014. ↩

    2. Gibson, G. R., et al. "Probiotics and health claims: a European perspective." Food Science & Technology Bulletin: Functional Foods, 2009. ↩

    3. Suez, J., et al. "The pros, cons, and many unknowns of probiotics." Nature Reviews Microbiology, 2019. ↩

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