I've read that broad spectrum antibiotics also kill friendly bacteria as a
side effect, which results in an over-growth of candida, a leaky gut, impaired
immune function and ear infections.

     *Does anyone know if tetracycline has undesirable side effects?*

Some antibiotics can kill some gut bacteria.  Most of the time this is
completely clinically insignificant.  Sometimes you'll have GI symptoms
like diarrhea both from the drug itself and possibly because of effects
on the gut flora, but this is usually mild and transient.  Rarely do
you get candidal overgrowth as a side effect-- you might not be too
surprised to see this in some immunocompromised individuals, but it
wouldn't be common in individuals who are healthy.  Another GI side
effect which sometimes occurs after antibiotic therapy is pseudomem-
branous colitis, a severe form of diarrhea which is caused by an
exotoxin secreted by an anaerobe, _Clostridium difficile_.  It's
treated by withdrawal of the offending antibiotic, administration of
bile resins to bind the toxin, and administering one of a couple of
antibiotics which are effective against _C. difficile_.  This can occur
with almost any antibiotic, though it's seen more frequently with some
(clindamycin).  I don't think tetracycline causes this too often.

There is a lot of experience with administering tetracycline chronically,
such as its use in adolescents and {*filter*}s with acne.  These people don't
seem to especially impaired by the therapy.

The most notorious side effect of tetracycline is its propensity
to discolor teeth when given to children whose {*filter*} teeth haven't
come in or to pregnant women.  It can also cause photosensitivity,
(sunburn) though it's not as bad in this regard as some of the
earlier tetracycline antibiotics.

--
Steve Dyer

Many antibiotics, including tetracycline, kill both "good" and "bad"  
bacteria. Because of this, taking them can also result in a {*filter*}l
yeast infection, especially in women who are susceptible to them.

______________________________________________________________

Amy McNulty -- Stratus Computer, Marlboro, MA
Stratus pays me to write, but not to write this!

That is correct.  One should not take broad spectrum antibiotics unless
it is necessary.  This includes nystatin and other agents being foisted
off by quacks on the public as "cures" for "candida syndrome"
(I'm not talking about vaginitis or thrush).  One should be
very careful about monkeying with their gut flora.  I'd confine such
exploits to eating yogurt, which won't hurt you.

--
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Gordon Banks  N3JXP      | "I have given you an argument; I am not obliged

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    I've read that broad spectrum antibiotics also kill friendly bacteria as a
    side effect, which results in an over-growth of candida, a leaky gut,
    impaired immune function and ear infections.

(gordon e. banks) responds:

I ask Gordon:

Does eating yogurt really do anything good for the gut --- or anything
for the gut?  I figured it was hype, that all the "live cultures"
would get killed by the stomach before reaching the intestines.

thanks,
Dorothy Neville

Like a number of antibiotics it can provoke haemorrhoids in susceptible
folk.

Both I and two friends of mine noticed independently that over time
there developed a feeling of increased distraction accompanied by vivd
colours and slight purple fringes to seen objects. In my case the
distraction got to the point I decided I was more at risk from the
consequent jaywalking than the disease, and terminated the course of
tetracycline. Our doctors told us we were imagining these things. Your
mileage may vary.
--

Department of Artificial Intelligence,    Edinburgh University
5 Forrest Hill, Edinburgh, EH1 2QL, UK                DoD #205

?????????

I suppose you might as well enjoy it.

--
Steve Dyer

With regard to this, and to the previous post's comment on Candida ... (yes,
this may detour a bit anatomically) there was a recent article in Annals of
Internal Medicine (I believe March 15th) describing the beneficial effects
of yogurt containing Lactobacillus acidophilus in possibly displacing
Candida, as it was shown to significantly reduce the number of incidences
of vaginitis in women with recurrent yeast infections (they described a
protocol involving ingestion of 8 oz. of yogurt containing L. acidophillus
each day).

This leads me to my follow-up question ... which is, does anybody know what
brand (specifically) of yogurt contains Lactobacillus acidophillus ... is
this specific bacteria covered by the statement "contains live yogurt
cultures" because I know that there are two other bacteria involved in
yogurt.  The article from Annals failed to include which yogurts (brands)
were used.

Thanks much!

-- Sam Blackman

--

University of Chicago     ! Disclaimer : Who cares what I say, I'm a student!
Lost on the south side    ! Quote : Help! I've fallen and I can't get up!
Chicago, IL  60637        ! Phone : 312/752-1082 (h)   312/702-6582 (w)

(previous post deleted)

        I used to suffer with yeast all the time, no matter what was tried.  
        Then FINALLY one doctor told me to get the book called "The Yeast
        Connection".  The best thing that ever happened.  My problems were
        systemic and why none of the usual methods prescribed by doctors
        worked (other than for a week or two).

        The yogurt you buy in the store may have 'active yeast culture"
        however it might not be the 'acidophillus" yeast culture.  You can't
        always tell from reading the container.

        I still eat store bought yogurt because I like it.  But I buy the
        'acidophillus' capsules from a drug store or health cooking.net">food store.  They
        are like a vitamin and can be found where the vitamins are displayed.  
        However not all drug stores have it.  

        If you go to health cooking.net">food store they have it in two forms.  The pill
        or regrigerated in a packet.  This packet type is used to make yogurt,
        which I have also done to make sure the culture is 'acidophillus'.

        If I have eaten something that does not agree with me, I take two
        or more of the capsules and it relieves any problems.  I found
        it's better than any anti-dieretic.  And I've found it also helps
        with constipation.  It helps me normalize whatever intestinal upset.

This was an interesting paper.  The study included a very small number
of patients and there were a large number of people dropped from the
study for non-compliance with the regimen.  Still, the effect on
recurrent yeast infections was so strong that you'd have to assume
a fairly high degree of bias caused by the dropouts to not still
conclude that the "treatment" worked.
--
David Rind

There we have it, folks. Sci.med in a nutshell. :-)

Enjoy your weekends.

Brian

I really don't know.  Probably with something as numerous as
bacteria, some will make it through the stomach to the instestine
intact.  I'm not aware of any studies showing benefits of
lactobacillus, but I don't think it is harmful.

--
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Gordon Banks  N3JXP      | "I have given you an argument; I am not obliged

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