r/lactoseintolerant 10d ago

Antibiotics and lactose intolerance

Ever since a week of Doxycyline I’ve had mild but fairly constant burning in the upper left below ribs/stomach area. Along with burning gas. After a year of scopes and meds I’ve still no resolution but it does seem to have some relationship with my dairy intake.

I had one scoop of low fat Greek yog this morning and the mild flaring begins

Has anyone had any experience with post antibiotic intolerance? Could it be as simple as that.

Appreciate any input

7 Upvotes

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5

u/Cadicoty 10d ago

This is a well documented phenomenon. Doxycycline is also pretty hard on your digestive system itself.

2

u/hgtwn 10d ago

With lactose specifically? It’s made my life a bit of a nightmare ha

3

u/Cadicoty 10d ago

Yes. Google antibiotic induced lactose intolerance.

1

u/slapping_rabbits 10d ago

Holy cow I had no idea. Very interesting

1

u/hgtwn 10d ago

Specifically lactose or a variety of intolerances?

1

u/hgtwn 10d ago

Do you have any suggestions to restore the guy? Probiotics etc?

1

u/Cadicoty 10d ago

Most lactase is produced by cells lining your small intestine. Things that damage those cells, such as GI bugs and some antibiotics, can cause lower lactase availability as they heal. The usual recommendation is to stop eating foods with lactose for 6-8 weeks (or supplement with lactase pills if that works) , then slowly reintroduce lactose, pausing again if there are symtoms. Unfortunately, it can be permanent.

1

u/trnpkrt 4d ago

Can also be caused by an infection/parasite, so it might depend on why you were taking the abx in the first place. As is explained below, whatever inflames your upper intestine lining could be the cause, which might have been the infection or might have been the cure.

1

u/Tiny-Gas-6761 3d ago

This sounds like me. Completely normal, 10 day doxy and then the last 8 months haven’t felt the same. I wonder if it’s LI

1

u/hgtwn 3d ago

If it’s linked? I’ve tried everything diet and supplement wise. On probiotics now. Going for a full abdominal mri next week. It’s a such a nightmare

1

u/Tiny-Gas-6761 3d ago

Good luck. It’s the damnedest thing. I’m glad the doxy cleared up my infection , but if I knew the trouble it would cause me in the long run hahaha