Table of contents:
- Various side effects of antibiotics that you need to know
- Natural way to deal with the side effects of antibiotics
- 1. Probiotic supplements
- 2. Herbal teas
- 3. Milk thistle
- 4. Adjust the diet
When you have a bacterial infection, taking antibiotics is the right way to restore immunity by killing the bacteria. Just like other drugs, antibiotics can also trigger some side effects that make the body feel uncomfortable. This makes some people reluctant to see a doctor and take antibiotics when they are sick. So, how do you reduce the side effects of these antibiotics? Come on, see the following explanation!
Various side effects of antibiotics that you need to know
Antibiotics are included in the class of drugs that require a doctor's prescription. Antibiotics are commonly used to treat infections caused by bacteria such as strep throat, bronchitis, pneumonia, and urinary tract infections.
Apart from curing disease, antibiotics can also cause several side effects, including:
- Stomach ache
- Fever
- Nausea
- Gag
- Diarrhea
- Loss of appetite
In some cases, side effects of antibiotics can also include a rash, coughing, and difficulty breathing. This case is very rare, possibly caused by a drug allergy. Therefore, consult your doctor immediately if you start to feel one or more side effects after taking antibiotics.
It should also be noted that not all diseases require antibiotics, for example, just the flu or colds. Flu and colds are diseases caused by viral infections, so they will not be effective if treated with antibiotics. If antibiotics are still used, this will actually trigger the side effects of antibiotics as previously mentioned.
Inappropriate use of antibiotics can also make bacteria more resistant, aka resistant to antibiotics. As a result, you are prone to contracting the same infections and have a harder time getting rid of them in the future.
Natural way to deal with the side effects of antibiotics
If you begin to experience one or more side effects of antibiotics, it is not recommended that you stop taking antibiotics immediately without a doctor's advice. Because, this will make your illness come back again, even stronger than before. As a result, the disease will be more resistant to the antibiotics you take so that the healing time is longer.
Apart from seeing a doctor, the side effects of antibiotics can also be overcome with several natural ingredients. Well, natural ways to deal with the side effects of antibiotics are as follows:
1. Probiotic supplements
Taking antibiotics not only kills disease-causing bacteria, but also eliminates good bacteria in the gut (probiotics). In fact, these probiotics are needed to keep your digestive system healthy.
According to a study in 2008, taking probiotic supplements can help prevent digestive problems caused by antibiotics, as reported by Very Well. This is also supported by Dr. Michael Rabovsky from the Cleveland Clinic who revealed that probiotics are proven to be able to prevent diarrhea.
Apart from being in supplement form, you can also get probiotic intake from fermented foods, such as yogurt and kefir. However, make sure that your antibiotic medication has run out first before you take supplements or eat foods that contain probiotics.
2. Herbal teas
If you feel nauseous after taking antibiotics, try drinking ginger tea to reduce side effects. If you don't like ginger, choose raspberry leaf tea, which can help treat diarrhea caused by taking antibiotics.
3. Milk thistle
Any medicine you take, including antibiotics, will generally be processed by the liver to break down. This makes the liver become stressed and full of toxins. To fix this, you can neutralize toxins in the liver with milk thistle.
Milk thistle is a natural substance that can help rid the liver of the effects of drugs. This one herb can remove toxins from the liver so that the digestive system becomes smoother.
However, consult your doctor first before deciding to consume these natural ingredients.
4. Adjust the diet
Reduce the side effects of antibiotics by adjusting the type of food consumed, namely by eating more fruits, vegetables, and lean protein sources. In addition, avoid various greasy foods such as fried foods so as not to aggravate the stomach and cause stomach upset.
To make the side effects of antibiotics easier to overcome, don't forget to always adopt a healthy lifestyle such as regular exercise, adequate rest, drink plenty of water, and control stress. This will make it easier for you to reduce health problems caused by taking antibiotics.
