What Are the Side Effects of Probiotics?
- Originally Written By: Sarah Denson
- Revised By: Haven Lee
- Edited By: J.T. Gale
- Last Modified Date: 17 February 2013
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Copyright Protected:
2003-2013 Conjecture Corporation
Probiotic side effects are uncommon, and most people can use them without experiencing any adverse effects. Some people do get flatulence and minor stomach discomfort when they first start to use products containing them, but this typically stops as the body adjusts. Very rarely, probiotics cause infections or extreme immune system responses, but this usually only happens in people with compromised immune systems. Clinicians use antibiotics to treat rare side effects when they occur.
Digestive Problems
Flatulence is a harmless, if potentially embarrassing, and uncommon side effect associated with probiotics. The natural digestive process involves bacteria breaking food down and producing sulfur-containing gas as a byproduct. Consuming probiotics adds more bacteria to the digestive tract, which can increase gas production. People who eat foods high in sulfur, such as asparagus, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts, tend to experience more gas than others.
Sepsis
Lactobacilli and bifidobacteria are the two most commonly used probiotic strains, and although they're normally safe, they can be risky for certain groups of people, including those who have reduced immunity. There have been rare cases of lactobacilli ingestion resulting in an extreme immune response known as sepsis. This occurs when the body mistakes these microorganisms for invasive species and releases chemicals to ward them off, which triggers inflammation throughout the body.
Bacteremia
Bacteremia, which is sometimes called blood poisoning, is another extremely rare side effect that people with reduced immunity are susceptible to. Normally, blood is a sterile environment, carrying oxygen and nutrients to all cells and tissues. The intestinal tract acts as a barrier, preventing bacteria from entering the bloodstream and infecting other parts of the body. When people with compromised immune systems ingest probiotics, there is a small possibility that these microorganisms can enter the bloodstream. Bacteremia is an extremely serious condition, and can be fatal. Infants, the elderly, and those with a compromised immune system from a disease like HIV or a treatment like chemotherapy are most at risk for this complication.
Preventing Side Effects
It's often possible for healthy people prevent flatulence and stomach pain from probiotics by starting with a small amount, usually half the recommended dosage. This helps prevent an immediate and drastic change to the intestinal environment, which must remain balanced. Gradually introducing the good bacteria gives the body time to adjust, which greatly reduces the risk of discomfort. Some people accidentally overdo it when starting out because they're unaware that this bacteria is naturally found in fermented foods such as yogurt, milk, soy beverages, and miso, so it's important for people to consider their entire diet when starting to take them.
Using probiotics from a reputable source is also important, since their production is not always closely regulated. If in doubt, it's best for individuals to ask a healthcare provider which one to use. Additionally, people taking supplements should let their healthcare providers know, just to be safe, and immunocompromised people should consult with a medical professional before using them.
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Discuss this Article
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anon320375
Post 14 |
If you are experiencing some chronic intestinal-related discomfort, I recommend giving the Lady Soma Probiotics a try. It's the same concept as that Dannon Activia yogurt but way more useful, because people with tummy trouble often have lactose/dairy problems and can't eat yogurt. I was getting a lot of bloating and discomfort after eating just about anything and was starting to get freaked out. I've been taking these Lady Soma Probiotics for almost two weeks now and have definitely noticed a difference. I haven't been having uncomfortable food/intestinal reactions, and without getting too explicit, visiting the toilet these days is practically something I look forward to now. I feel "regular" and "productive" for the first time in months and have a feeling that I had too much intestinal bacteria. I hope they work for you, too, because it's no fun to be bloated and gassy all day! |
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anon310638
Post 13 |
I have been getting serious muscle spasms in the back of my thigh. The pain is excruciating and last for one to five minutes. I've had at least four of these within the past 45 days, which is when I started taking probiotic supplements (Schiff Digestive Advantage). I consider my immune system to be in good condition as I exercise two to three times a week and have no other health issues that are not controlled with meds. I am 70 years young. I'm going to stop the probiotics for a month before I consult my doctor as to other possible causes for the muscle spasms. |
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anon282893
Post 12 |
A week ago I took a pill of gnc ultra 75 billion probiotics. I had extreme side effects from it. My mind felt as if it was racing fast and I could not concentrate. Afterward, I felt extremely depressed. It was not a normal depression; it felt like a chemical one. I also had muscle spasms around my neck and my leg. Two days after, I drank a cup of yogurt and I had similar reactions again. It has been six days and the feelings are still lingering. I am having a hard time concentrating and my mind does not feel it is functioning properly. Is it possible that this is happening because of d-lactate acidosis? I had recently been diagnosed with h pylori bacteria and I had finished the therapy with the antibiotics. I was interested in using probiotics in order to further strain the helicobacter. I am wondering if this feeling from the probiotics will go away. Does it take time for the probiotics to leave your system or did the probiotics colonize, leaving me with a further occurrence of these side effects? |
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StarJo
Post 10 |
I had no idea that milk and miso contained probiotics! I have been drinking milk and eating miso soup for years, and I have a weakened immune system.
Maybe that's why I've had so many problems with intestinal infections. I have been through a lot of pain over the years because of them. I will have to ask my doctor about this.
Does anyone know if soy milk contains probiotics? I still want to be able to eat cereal with something that resembles milk, but only if it is safe. I will give up my cereal forever if it is causing me pain. |
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lighth0se33
Post 9 |
@Oceana – I used to get yeast infections frequently, but I hated yogurt. Even learning that it might help my situation wasn't enough to make me eat it.
My doctor recommended probiotics supplements. Since I could swallow them in pill form without having to taste anything yucky, I got some.
I did stop getting yeast infections, but I got an intestinal infection that was very painful. I had stabbing pains, soreness, and cramps, and my doctor told me to stop taking the probiotics. She put me on antibiotics, and I am fine now, but I will never touch another food that has probiotics in it. |
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Oceana
Post 8 |
I started eating yogurt because I heard that the probiotics were supposed to help prevent yeast infections. I had been getting a lot of those, so I figured that eating yogurt would be an easy way to stop them.
It worked. I had been getting about three infections a year, and once I started eating yogurt, I didn't get another one.
As a bonus, I started having less bloating and cramping. I now eat at least one carton of yogurt a day. With so many flavors available, it is the most enjoyable prevention technique and gas medication out there. |
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Sara007
Post 7 |
@animegal - I would quit eating the probiotics yogurt if it is just making you gassy and have diarrhea. Some people's systems just don't do well with foreign bacteria being added to them. I personally think that too many probiotics products are being advertised as being a cure all and they really aren't.
If you want to help your stomach and be more regular I would suggest just going the old-fashioned route and eating more fruits and vegetables, as well as a lot of brain. You should be careful of the newest gimmicky things as they very seldom give you what they promise. It's a real shame too, as a lot of them can actually make you feel even worse, as I am sure you've found out. |
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animegal
Post 6 |
I recently started eating a yogurt that is advertising having good probiotics in it, and I have been feeling really gassy since I began eating it. Do you think that I should quit having the yogurt, or will this symptom pass?
I am also suffering from a bit of what sounds like probiotics diarrhea which is really embarrassing. I suppose it could just be my system realigning itself but it isn't a very pleasant experience. If I do need to stop eating the yogurt is there anything else I can do to help my digestive system. I originally started adding the yogurt to my diet because I was feeling bloated and it was supposed to help with that. |
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ysmina
Post 5 |
I started taking a probiotic supplement last week and have been feeling tired, and very sluggish in general. There is a mild constipation going on as well.
I'm not too familiar with probiotic products, but a friend of mine who's taken them before told me that the side effects generally go away after about a week or so of taking them. It's just been a week for me, so I hope the fatigue goes away as I get used to it.
My friend also told me not to take any alcohol or eat too much sugar while I'm on the supplement as that worsens the side-effects. What's the reasoning behind that? Is it because of the yeast that probiotics release in the body? |
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alisha
Post 4 |
@honeybees-- I also experience gas and bloating sometimes when I eat probiotic foods. I think I agree with @sunshined that it's probably the food causing those symptoms more than the probiotic.
Yogurt is already a food that tends to cause gas because it naturally contains live cultures in it. When manufacturers also add more probiotics to yogurt, it can either increase or decrease these symptoms. It depends on the person because everyone metabolizes food and reacts to microorganisms differently.
I think it's best to try out different probiotic foods to see which works better than others. And probiotic supplements might work better for you in general. I personally like probiotic yogurt a lot. Probiotic yogurt causes less gas and bloating than regular yogurt does for me. And since I'm a diabetic, I think it improves my digestion a lot. |
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turquoise
Post 3 |
I'm surprised to hear that probiotics can cause constipation and weaken the immune system. I also thought that they were supposed to do exactly the opposite.
Probiotic foods are really popular these days and highly advertised by celebrities and health gurus. I also purchased probiotic yogurt several times when I was sick so that it would improve my immune system. It never occurred to me that it could actually do just the opposite. But reading about it in this article, the possibility seems logical. I think it's pretty normal for the body to consider newcomer microorganisms to be foreign and potentially dangerous.
I wish these side effects, which are pretty serious in my view, were more elaborately described publicly. I don't think most people who consume them regularly are aware of them at all. |
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sunshined
Post 2 |
@honeybees - I had a similar situation happen to me. I saw so many TV commercials about the benefits of eating yogurt on a regular basis so did the same thing.
I found out that I had the best results when I took probiotics supplements. I didn't have the side effects when taking the supplements that I did when trying to get these through certain foods.
Everybody is different and reacts differently to food and substances they eat and swallow. I think it is important enough to get probiotics in my diet, that I wanted to find a way to include them and get the results I was looking for. |
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honeybees
Post 1 |
Has anyone else experienced side effects such as gas, bloating and cramping when adding a probiotic to their diet?
I find it so interesting that some of the side effects of probiotics are the same as what you are trying to take care of in the first place.
I began taking probiotics for digestion problems and started out eating one carton of yogurt every day.
After a week of this, I felt like I had more symptoms than before I started. I stopped eating the yogurt every day and these symptoms went away.
Now I don't know what to do. I wonder if I keep eating the yogurt will it eventually help me, or am I better off not eating it at all? |
