Side Effects of Antibiotics Taken for Sinus Infections

Some of the most popular antibiotics are becoming increasingly ineffective on today’s “superbugs” - bacteria which have become antibiotic resistant by in-breeding and mutating into new forms. For example, the age-old respiratory bacteria S. pneumoniae (Streptococcus pneumonia) and the intestinal enterococcus and salmonella are now all stubborn against a long list of antibiotics. This leads to the search for stronger formulas.

As biotechnology has developed stronger antibiotics, the more side effects they’ve produced which can lead to other health problems, such as:

Respiratory problems like bronchitis in patients that never had it before

Worse future sinus infections

Lower digestive upsets: diarrhea or constipation (or alternating, such as in Irritable Bowel Syndrome), or colitis
Upper digestive upsets: GERDS (gastro-esophageal reflux), “leaky” gut
Oral, intestinal or genital yeast and fungal infection resulting from overgrowth of “candida”. See the page “Sinus Infections, Antibiotics and the Candida Connection”
Allergic reactions such as rashes
Nausea
Headache
Resistance to particular antibiotics when really needed

WHY can these side effects result from antibiotics?
In a person with an otherwise totally healthy system, none of these things may happen. But if pre-disposed to immune deficiencies due to auto-immune diseases (AIDS, MS, Lupus, etc), chemotherapy for cancer, working in a toxic environment, lots of childhood illnesses, taking continual anti-inflammatory drugs for arthritis, or having previously taken many other rounds of antibiotics, a person is quite susceptible to the above resulting symptoms and ailments.

Our bodies have a combination of “good” bacteria - microscopic organisms called “gut flora” - and a certain amount of “bad” bacteria living in our digestive tract. When kept in proper balance, both types of bacteria together give us a healthy immune system through proper digestion of food, minerals, and vitamins and regular cleansing and expelling of toxins and waste.

“Antibiotics”, as the name itself indicates, while working to destroy the bacteria which is making us sick, can also kill off our naturally grown good bacteria. Of course, taking antibiotics is not the only way this can happen, but it can be a contributing factor.

Can the destroyed good bacteria ever be replaced?
YES. Tiny bacterial organisms known as “probiotics” (most commonly heard of are bifidus and lactobacillus acidophilus, but there are many varieties) can be bought at natural health stores or from distributors like VÄXA. We currently manufacture a probiotic product in capsule form, ReFlora+. It will duplicate and replenish the good flora which normally inhabits the digestive tract.

Probiotics can be taken two to three hours either before or after antibiotics without reducing the effectiveness of the antibiotics. It can help manage the balance of good versus bad bacteria and reduce side effects. Introducing probiotics to your system will help fight the re-growth of bad bacteria, and eventually your system will manufacture its own good bacteria again.

Probiotics can and should also be taken regularly every day to maintain good “gut health”, especially by people who have experienced compromises of any sort. They have been found helpful in reducing IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), as it is bad bacteria which often causes this.

Also, check out our VÄXAGreens, VÄXA Digestin and VÄXA Buffer pH. These, in order, help cleanse the colon, promote good digestion, and restore tissues by reducing acidic build-up. This in turn increases good absorption of the probiotic products.