Herxheimer reaction.

Posted , 3 users are following.

Hi all, any one had gut issue's like bloating etc when starting new probiotics?, I got some different ones with more strains of good bacteria in, I reckon at least one of the new strains was ones I'm not used to, so I'm probably suffering the Herxheimer reaction/die off, when you introduce a new probiotic bacteria into your system it starts a sort of war with some undesirable bacteria.

0 likes, 10 replies

10 Replies

  • Posted

    I have no idea if my new bloating is probiotic related or not

    But I've started some acidophilus 20 billion from H&B 4 days ago and I'm seem to have more bloating/gas than I did before. I googled it and it said it is a possible side effect so I can't rule it out, I just don't know if its these or not!

    Seems a bit of a coincidence though. 

    • Posted

      Hi, I'll persevere with the probiotics I bought, but I'll take a lesser dose and hope things calm down, I may benefit in the end.

    • Posted

      Come off the probiotics and if the bloating and gas get better, then you will know that you were experiencing a probiotic side effect.
    • Posted

      I did consider that

      But then I suppose it occured to me, if I've got all this bacteria inside me...doing...whatever they are doing to cause the gas bloating, surely if I stop taking them the gas/bloating won't go away till whatever I've got in me dies out? and..I have no idea how long that takes! 

    • Posted

      I would see your doctor about it to find out what is causing your symptoms. If probiotics are going to work, it can take a month.
    • Posted

      Hi, the Human body is made up cells, and cells are out numbered by about 10 to 1 by bacteria and most of the bacteria is in the gut, and with out this bacteria we probably be very sick and likely die, it's all about balance you need the good bacteria to control the bad, it's a fascinating subject, the good bacteria is involved in the immune system, mental health etc.

    • Posted

      Hi, correction, recent studies suggest the ratio of Human cells to bacteria is about 50-50.
  • Posted

    Bloating is a side effect of probiotics.  Any change you introduce into your diet can cause your gut to react.  Your gut may eventually adjust to the probiotic.  However. If it doesn’t, stop taking them.  You could try probiotic foods instead such as sourdough and yoghurt which are gentler on the gut. .   
    • Posted

      Hi, I do eat sourdough bread and yogurt, and I make water Kefir which is a great probiotic drink, but I saw these other probiotic supplement and thought I gave them a try, they maybe have strains in I don't have, I'll give them a miss for a few days, thanks.

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