Are you medicines messing with your microbes? (EP15 Part 2)

<p>Last week I finished with the question: <strong>what drugs, other than antibiotics, disrupt our gut microbiota</strong> — the trillions of micro-organisms that live in our digestive tract?</p><p><br /></p><p>An obvious contender is <strong>antacids</strong> — also known as <strong>heartburn medications</strong> — which are drugs that reduce stomach acid production to treat reflux. Decades of research have established a strong link between acid suppression, gastrointestinal changes, and depression — especially in relation to the class of drugs known as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). Healthy stomach acid acts as a sterile shield that kills ingested pathogens and bacteria. When the environment becomes less acidic, bacteria from the mouth and upper respiratory tract survive the journey downward and can trigger what’s known as small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). Symptoms of SIBO include (but are not limited to) bloating, abdominal cramping, excessive gas (especially after eating carbohydrates), altered bowel habits, chronic fatigue, brain fog, and joint or muscle pain. </p><p><br /></p><p>Another big class of microbial disruptors is <strong>Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs</strong>, referred to as <strong>NSAIDs</strong>. These are the most common medications used for pain caused by inflammation or swelling. You’ll know them as Ibuprofen (eg Advil, Nurofen, Motrin), Naproxen, Indomethacin, and Diclofenac (eg Voltaren). </p><p><br /></p><p><strong>Aspirin</strong> also directly disrupts the gut microbiome, and long-term or daily low-dose aspirin use suppresses the growth of beneficial, anti-inflammatory bacteria.</p><p><br /></p><p>Other common microbial disrupting medications include <strong>metformin</strong> (for type 2 diabetes), <strong>antidepressants</strong>, <strong>benzodiazepines</strong>, <strong>statins</strong> (cholesterol-lowering drugs) and <strong>laxatives</strong> (because they speed up gut transit time which can prevent beneficial microbes from properly establishing themselves).</p><p><br /></p><p>Now I’m NOT suggesting that you abruptly stop taking any of these medications if you’re on them. I’m letting you know there’s a lot more to good gut health than food. All medications come with side effects and need to be used judiciously.</p><p><br /></p><p>* * * * *</p><p><br /></p><p>Today’s <strong>Brain Booster</strong> is: <strong>Mend your Microbes!</strong> </p><p><br /></p><p>Your body has two incredible systems that help