“Can probiotics cause gas and stomach pain?”
I am a 19 year old female. I want to know if probiotics can cause gas and stomach pain?
12 Answers
When first using probiotics, some people experience gas, bloating, or diarrhea. These effects can clear in few days. Thank you.
They can. Especially if you are just beginning them. I call this "turf wars"... where healthy bacteria from probiotic are entering the picture and fighting for real estate in the gut. There is often push back and die off from not so beneficial bacteria. Also, if there is any picture of SIBO in a person, probiotics may make symptoms worse. Highly recommend consulting a naturopathic doctor to help navigate further. They have deep knowledge and education pertaining to gut health.
Yes, it's possible to have these side effects to probiotics or any medications, really. Don't take them unless there is clear clinical benefit that you notice. In general, probiotics are not needed in healthy people and there is little to do evidence that they provide any benefits over placebo except for a few conditions. See recent review from the American Gastroenterological Association 2020.
Yasin Khan
Pain Management Specialist
Because microbes used as probiotics already exist naturally in your body, probiotic foods and supplements are generally considered safe. They may trigger allergic reactions, and may also cause mild stomach upset, diarrhea, or flatulence (passing gas) and bloating for the first few days after starting to take them
Cristina Strahotin
Hepatologist | Hepatology
Not commonly. But you can stop and see if the symptoms resolve. Different probiotics have different content of bacteria.
Deeann Saber
Homeopathic Physician
Some do initially if they are not the right probiotics for you.
Christine L. Foutch
Naturopathic Physician
With the initial stages of the recolonization that takes within the intestinal lumen after consuming a probiotic can cause discomfort for a period of time as the more harmful & transient bacteria become, best said, crowded out & then removed with the flow towards excretion.
Delythe Lowry-Charles
Naturopathic Physician
Gas and stomach pain could be attributed to a number of imbalances, including synthetic supplementation that does not match your health archetype.
Please seek your healthcare provider for further evaluation.
Please seek your healthcare provider for further evaluation.
Yes, they can. That's why that it's important to consider a therapeutic order when it comes to healing the gut. There are steps that often need to be taken before introducing a probiotic. Furthermore, there are different strains of microorganisms in probiotics that allow for different results.
Not really, however, they’re selling lots of probiotics without regulations and those may cause more harm than good. Only use brands that are regulated and/or popular.
Borislava Johnson
Naturopathic Physician
The short answer is “yes”. Why are you taking them?
Renee B. Thomas
Pathologist
Yes they can.
RB Thomas,MD
RB Thomas,MD
