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What Can A Lactose Intolerant Patient Take Instead Of Probiotics?

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Posted on Mon, 12 Oct 2015
Question: In a recent foreign travel I experienced 'traveler's diarhea for which I was treated with Cipro, which helped, but on returning home the diarhea continued and my doctor said to continue the Cipro. The condition continued and my doctor sent me to the lab for further testing, in which the stool examination showed nothing, but the condition continued and then a lab examination examined 'my insides', which didn't SHOW any evidence of 'problems'. So the conclusion was that the Cipro had killed both the good and the bad gut bacteria and to take additional probiotics. But I am lactose intolerant and cannot take yogurt. What can I do to 'straighten out' my guts?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Amit Jain (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Visit a Gastroenterologist, meanwhile take loperamide

Detailed Answer:
Hello! Thanks for putting your query in HCM. I am a Gastroenterologist (DM).
I understood your concern. You surely need some probiotics. But sad to know that you are lactose intolerant. But there are many other non dairy food stuffs which are rich in probiotics like Kombucha tea, green pickles, spirulina, Sauerkraut which you can take to restore the gut flora. Since your stool examination is normal suggesting that there is no infection as of now, so you may take antisecretory agent like loperamide which I found very useful in my patients with non-infectious and non-inflammatory diarrhoea. I will suggest you to visit a Gastroenterologist to discuss this issue who may evaluate you and manage accordingly.
I hope I have answered your query and this will help you. If you have any further query I will be happy to answer that too. Remain in touch and get-well soon.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T
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Answered by
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Dr. Amit Jain

Gastroenterologist

Practicing since :2000

Answered : 1524 Questions

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What Can A Lactose Intolerant Patient Take Instead Of Probiotics?

Brief Answer: Visit a Gastroenterologist, meanwhile take loperamide Detailed Answer: Hello! Thanks for putting your query in HCM. I am a Gastroenterologist (DM). I understood your concern. You surely need some probiotics. But sad to know that you are lactose intolerant. But there are many other non dairy food stuffs which are rich in probiotics like Kombucha tea, green pickles, spirulina, Sauerkraut which you can take to restore the gut flora. Since your stool examination is normal suggesting that there is no infection as of now, so you may take antisecretory agent like loperamide which I found very useful in my patients with non-infectious and non-inflammatory diarrhoea. I will suggest you to visit a Gastroenterologist to discuss this issue who may evaluate you and manage accordingly. I hope I have answered your query and this will help you. If you have any further query I will be happy to answer that too. Remain in touch and get-well soon.