There are those who say that they should be taken afterwards, those who think that they are also useful during and those who believe that they are to be taken only after the antibiotic. According to others, however, probiotics and prebiotics have no effect on the intestinal bacterial flora because too little concentrated and easily dispersed within the intestine.

Prof. Silvio Danese, Head of the Centre for Chronic Inflammatory Diseases of the Intestine of the Humanitas Clinical Institute and lecturer at Humanitas University, answers a very common question about the right method of taking probiotics and probiotics in relation to antibiotic therapies.

Antibiotic therapy, when and how to take prebiotics and probiotics?

“Antibiotic therapy can be associated with probiotics that are living microorganisms capable of exerting a positive effect on the health of the organism, strengthening the intestinal flora – said the professor – These should be taken on an empty stomach for about 3-4 weeks (at least one billion bacteria per day)”.
And what about prebiotics? “Prebiotics, on the other hand, are undigestible substances contained, in addition to various supplements of lactic ferments, in certain foods in the form of water-soluble fibers, including beta-glucans, lactulose, soybean oligosaccharides, oligofructosaccarides, inulines, and heartbeat – said the professor -. They promote the growth of bacterial species useful for the development of probiotic microflora. Some strains are able to reduce the side effects of antibiotics”.