While antibiotics more commonly cause nausea and diarrhea than constipation, some people will experience constipation from antibiotic treatment.
However, it’s relatively uncommon.
Antibiotics can cause significant changes to themicrobiome, resulting in stomach-related side effects.
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Antibiotics also increase the risk ofClostridioides difficileinfection (previously calledClostridium difficile), often referred to asC.
This infection can cause severe diarrhea and other complications.
Less commonly, they can cause constipation.
Antibiotics disrupt the gut microbiome, which can lead to these gastrointestinal symptoms.
Although it is uncommon to experience constipation from an antibiotic, it is possible.
In most cases, this infection is related to antibiotic use.
diffinfection can occur during antibiotic treatment or up to several months after you finish an antibiotic.
It’s more likely to occur if you take an antibiotic for more than seven days.
The most common antibiotics that causeC.
diffinfection are:
While antibiotic use is the most common cause ofC.
Trillions of microbes (tiny living things) live in the human gut.
These microbes are related to nutrition, digestion, immune function, disease prevention, and other functions.
Although antibiotics cure many infections, they can disrupt the gut microbiome.
Due to the effect of antibiotics on the microbiome, gastrointestinal side effects may occur.
Diarrhea is a common side effect, whileC.
diffinfection is a less common but serious side effect.While any antibiotic can causeC.
The choice will depend on your symptoms and discomfort level and how fast you want relief.
you could ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for a personalized recommendation.
However, some antibiotics do cause constipation in a small number of people.
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UCLA Health.Antibiotics can temporarily wipe out the gut microbiome.
Harvard Health.8 ways to get constipation relief.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Foods for constipation.
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