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What to take after antibiotics

The timing matters more than the product. One of these you can start on day one of the course; the others are wasted until it finishes.

Our pick Saccharomyces boulardii See why →
Example listing
01

Best overall

Saccharomyces boulardii

Yeast-based, not affected by antibiotics
Type Yeast
CFU 5 Billion
Timing During + after
Storage Ambient

The one that makes sense to take while you are still on the course. It's a yeast, not a bacterium, so the antibiotic doesn't kill it — which is why spacing doses is less of a worry than with bacterial products.

Pros

  • Not killed by the antibiotic itself
  • Can start on day one of the course
  • Shelf stable

Cons

  • Not suitable if you are immunocompromised
  • Different organism from the usual strains
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02

Best for afterwards

High-Count Multi-Strain Probiotic

Eight strains for rebuilding after a course
CFU 50 Billion
Strains 8
Timing After course
Course 8 weeks

Breadth is the point here rather than any one strain. Start it once the course finishes and keep going for a couple of months — the microbiome takes longer to settle than the prescription lasts.

Pros

  • Broad strain coverage
  • High count for the price
  • Sensible eight-week course size

Cons

  • Take it two hours apart from antibiotics
  • High counts aren't automatically better
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03

The bit people skip

Prebiotic Fibre Blend

Feeds what you are trying to rebuild
Fibre/serv 6g
Type Mixed
Flavour None
Servings 60

Almost everyone buys the probiotic and skips this. Introducing bacteria without feeding them is half the job — fibre is what they live on. Cheaper than the probiotic, and arguably does more.

Pros

  • Feeds existing bacteria, not just the ones you add
  • Cheaper than any probiotic here
  • Useful long after the course ends

Cons

  • Ramp up slowly or expect wind
  • No immediate effect to feel
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During the course, or after it?

During → the yeast.

S. boulardii is a yeast, so the antibiotic doesn't kill it. It's the only one of these worth taking while you are still on the prescription.

After → the multi-strain.

Bacterial probiotics taken alongside antibiotics are largely wasted. Start once the course ends, and give it eight weeks.

Throughout → the fibre.

Feeding what survived matters as much as adding more. This is the cheap step almost everyone skips.

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