Do Antibiotics Cause Constipation? Here’s What You Need to Know

Your intestines house more than 100 trillion types of bacteria.

They break down your food, help you maintain a strong immune system, and maintain the natural order of your bodily functions.

But, do antibiotics cause constipation?

Antibiotics can be useful for treating many health problems, but when it comes to gut bacteria, they could cause more harm than good.

Though antibiotics kill bad bacteria and prevent them from growing, unfortunately, they can’t distinguish between the good and bad.

That means they can wreak havoc on your gut’s healthy bacteria.

Killing good bacteria can lead to a long list of gut problems including constipation. In fact, many people suffer lasting changes to their gut flora as a result of taking antibiotics.

The Antibiotics-Constipation Link

When you take antibiotics, one of the common side effects you’ll experience is constipation. But, how do antibiotics cause constipation?

Antibiotics can cause constipation in two ways:

1. Attack Good & Bad Bacteria – Antibiotics are a type of antimicrobial drug used to prevent and treat bacterial infections. They work by both inhibiting and/or killing bad bacteria but the sad part is they can’t differentiate between the good and bad bacteria. As it destroys the pathogenic bacteria, it also gets rid of the essential bacteria that your body needs to function. And that’s when you start experiencing constipation.
2. Affect Magnesium Absorption – In addition to impacting your gut bacteria, antibiotics also affect your ability to absorb important minerals like magnesium. Good magnesium levels ensure proper motion of the gut and help relax your intestines. A deficiency in magnesium due to antibiotics can also cause constipation.

It’s important that you only take antibiotics when recommended by a doctor to avoid further compromising your gut health and immune system.

How To Treat Constipation Caused by Antibiotics

There are a lot of home remedies to choose from to treat constipation.

You should try one treatment at a time. If that one doesn’t work, move to the next and so on until you find the one that works for you.

1. Psyllium Husk – This can be used as a gentle, bulk-forming laxative. It is mainly used to treat chronic constipation with a combination of other natural or synthetic laxatives. Psyllium attracts and binds large volumes of water, helping to soften and bulk up the stool, making bowel movements much easier.
2. Lemon Juice – They contain high amounts of citric acid that can be made easy at home. Citric acid, a natural laxative, present in lemon fights the toxins in your digestive tract. It acts as a stimulant and flushes out the toxins from the body providing quick relief.
3. Sea Salt – Saltwater, especially sea salt, acts as a laxative. The ColonBroom in sea salt improves bowel movements and relief from constipation. It usually causes urgent bowel movements within thirty minutes to an hour.
4. Crystallized Lemon – This lemon is made with 100% all-natural ingredients and contains no natural or artificial sweeteners, preservatives, or sodium. It has natural laxative effects of citric acid and is mainly used as a stool softener for constipation and pain relief.
5. Silicon Dioxide – Silica, or Silicon Dioxide, is an oxide of silicon most commonly found in nature as quartz and in various living organisms. Silicon can treat constipation by absorbing toxins in the large intestine to aid stool passage.

11 Other Medications That Can Cause Constipation

Many aspects of your life can contribute to constipation, including medications or supplements that you may be taking.

Some of the most common drugs that cause constipation include:

1. Calcium Channel Blockers – Over-the-counter prescriptions such as diltiazem and amlodipine relax the muscles in the gut and may cause constipation.
2. Iron Supplements – Iron can be hard on the digestive tract, it can cause constipation, nausea, indigestion, gas, and bloating. Avoid any iron supplements that contain Ferosul, Ferate, Ferric Citrate, and Ferric Sulfate.
3. Anticholinergics – Though anticholinergics are used for treating a variety of conditions, they can block the movement of intestinal muscles and cause constipation.
4. Antispasmodics – Antispasmodic drugs such as dicyclomine (Bentyl) and hyoscyamine (Levsin) relieve the stomach cramps brought on by IBS by relaxing the smooth muscle of the gut. But, they also may cause constipation, so they aren’t usually prescribed for people who suffer from IBS-C.
5. Antacids – Disturbances of gut motility occur frequently under a high-dose antacid regimen. Typical symptoms are diarrhea and constipation. They are due to the cations of the antacids.
6. Opioids – These are known to inhibit gastric emptying and muscle contraction in the GI tract which results in delayed absorption of medications and increased absorption of fluid. The lack of fluid in the intestine leads to the hardening of stool and constipation
7. Cholestyramine – Constipation is a very common side effect of cholestyramine (Prevalite) because of the way the medication works. Normally, bile acids in the intestine help control how much water is in your stool. By binding to extra bile acid in the intestines, this medication may remove some water in your stool, causing constipation.
8. Antihistamines – These medications block the effects of acetylcholine, a chemical that helps the muscles move. Less movement in the gut can lead to constipation.
9. Tricyclic Antidepressants – Constipation is often associated with tricyclic antidepressants because they disrupt the normal functioning of the digestive tract and other organ systems. Other antidepressants sometimes cause constipation as well.
10. Urinary Incontinence Medications – Constipation can be the cause of urinary tract infections and childhood urinary incontinence. Some causes of childhood incontinence can also cause constipation. In addition, some medications used in urology for the treatment of incontinence can also cause constipation.
11.  Anti-Nausea Medications – You might have serotonin blockers such as ondansetron or granisetron for cancer treatment-related nausea and vomiting. The most common side effects include headaches. constipation.

5 Tips to Restoring Your Gut Health

What does it really mean to have a healthy gut?

A healthy gut contains healthy bacteria and immune cells that ward off infectious agents like bacteria, viruses and fungi. It also communicates with the brain through nerves and hormones, which helps maintain general health and well-being.

You can follow these 5 tips to improve your gut health:

1. Exercise – One study found exercise promotes the growth of bacteria that produce a fatty acid, butyrate. Butyrate (a four-carbon short-chain fatty acid) can promote repair of the gut lining and reduce inflammation. It also stimulates the contraction of intestinal muscles, which helps move stools out quickly.
2. Increase Your Water Intake – Drinking at least 2 liters of water improves bowel movement because it makes your stool softer.
3. Eat Fermented Foods – Fermented foods help to keep the gut bacteria healthy. As long as your bacterias are healthy you won’t have any gut problems. Include fermented food such as kefir, sauerkraut, kombucha, or yogurt in your daily diet.
4. Eat Fiber-Rich Foods – Fiber absorbs water and helps to soften the stools. Beans, broccoli, berries, avocados, whole grains, apples, and dried fruits all have high-quality fiber in them.
5. Probiotic Supplements – Mostly all fermented foods are high in probiotics. For people who are not fond of eating fermented, probiotic supplements can be a better option.

FAQs About Antibiotics and Constipation

Taking Antibiotics? Be Sure to Protect Your Digestive System!

So, do antibiotics cause constipation?

Yes, antibiotics can cause constipation. Problems with the digestive system are a well-known side effect of antibiotic use.

If you find that you are constipated by any medication, consider increasing your fluid and fiber intake and daily exercise to help keep your bowels moving.

In general, you should be able to take an over-the-counter stool softener or other laxatives on a short-term basis, if needed. However, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before combining any two medications.

Final note: Instead of taking antibiotics to cure an infection, taking probiotics to boost your immune system and prevent disease is a better option.

After all, prevention is always better than cure.