VSL#3 + Vanco- Need help

[KENVXD]

I'm about to start a new round of Vanco and am going to take VSL#3 with it. I'm following doctor's orders, and have read articles by Selinger et al. concerning outcomes. I will begin the VSL at the time of starting Vanco, twice daily for full time on Vanco with additional 7 days of VSL after Vanco is complete. I'm not sure when to take the VSL though. Doctor at hospital said 30 minutes after Vanco (so antibiotic has absorption time), but GI doctors would not say. Has anyone done this? When do you normally take probiotic- before, same time, or after antibiotic? Results? Problems?

[Jackie25]

I always space out my probiotics 2 hours from vancomycin so the antibiotic does not kill all the good guys the probiotic is trying to supply you with. I'm not a doctor and may not know much, but 30 minutes doesn't seem like enough time in my opinion. I was told 2 hours by my GI to be safe!

Probiotics can cause some gas and/or loose stool if you aren't used to them. They gave me some gas to start off with but it subsided after a few days!

[beth22]

Yes, space them in between doses, so if your dose is every 6 hours, then 3 hours after, if every 4, then two hours after.

Look in the media section. There is a good article about a study that showed drinking kefir along with taking vanco caused fewer relapses. Kefir contains probiotics.

[KENVXD]

Thank you for your opinions!

[Bobbie]

Space as far apart as possible or the vanco will kill some of the good bacteria in the probiotic. Some docs suggest waiting to add probiotics until after the vanco or other antibiotic treatment is over. See CDI -'Probiotics.

[seekingcure]

I don't believe you've gotten the welcome letter so I'd like to welcome you to the group.

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I took VLS-3 both times I was on Vancomycin. The dosage of Vanco was every six hours so I took the VSL-3 three hours after a dose. I took half of it in the morning and half in the evening. Agree that 30 minutes after the Vanco does not allow enough time. I also drank kefir. In fact, I took my VSL-3 with kefir.