Side effects

The side effects of broad-spectrum antibiotics, like their effect, are based on their influence on the bacteria. This is because antibiotics not only kill harmful bacteria, but also attack the “good” bacteria that the body needs for various processes through antibiotic therapy. The so-called natural intestinal flora is particularly affected by this.

This is a large number of bacteria that occur naturally in our gastrointestinal tract and support our body in digestion. Treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics kills these beneficial bacteria, which can lead to digestive problems and the associated symptoms such as diarrhoea, nausea, etc. In addition, antibiotic therapy promotes an imbalance of bacteria in the digestive tract.

Everyone has some bacteria in their digestive tract that are resistant to various antibiotics, so they cannot be killed by these drugs. In most cases, this is not a problem, as the resistant bacteria are also good for our digestion. However, therapy with broad-spectrum antibiotics kills many other bacteria, so that the resistant bacteria gain the upper hand.

Therefore, many people who are frequently treated with antibiotics are affected by colonisation with such resistant bacteria. In addition, broad-spectrum antibiotics are used more often in people with a low immune system performance. The antibiotics also have an effect on the natural skin bacteria.

These natural skin bacteria are important for protecting our skin. If they are attacked by the broad-spectrum antibiotic, pathogens that cause skin diseases can settle on the skin instead. The most common of these are fungal species such as Candida.

Interaction

Broad-spectrum antibiotics can lead to interactions in many different ways. Since the term broad-spectrum antibiotic is a very broad group of drugs, individual interaction chains cannot be well described. Nevertheless, interactions are possible via different systems in the body.

A variant of the interaction of broad-spectrum antibiotics is the metabolism of the active substance. The antibiotic is absorbed into the body via the mouth and thus via the digestive tract or directly via the blood in the vein. From there it reaches the liver, where the active ingredients are processed by various enzymes.

It is often only in this process that broad-spectrum antibiotics are converted into an effective form. If other drugs are taken at the same time, which are also metabolised by these liver enzymes, interactions can occur. Interactions with other drugs can also occur during excretion. For example, other drugs can slow down the excretion of broad-spectrum antibiotics. This leads to an increased dose of the antibiotic in the body, which in turn can cause stronger side effects.

Contraindications – When should broad-spectrum antibiotics not be given?

Broad-spectrum antibiotics must not be given, for example, if the persons concerned have an allergy to one of the ingredients. Allergies and intolerances to antibiotics from the penicillin group are particularly frequent. In this case, however, it is often possible to use another broad-spectrum antibiotic, so that antibiotic therapy does not have to be completely abandoned.

However, there are no general contraindications against all broad-spectrum antibiotics. Some active substances from the group of broad-spectrum antibiotics should not be used during pregnancy and lactation. The various antibiotic active substances differ so greatly that if there are contraindications for one antibiotic, you can usually switch to another.