Use Saccharomyces boulardii for antibiotic or traveler's diarrhea

Take Saccharomyces boulardii (brand name Florastor) during antibiotic courses or before/during travel to high-risk destinations. Standard dose is 250-500 mg twice daily.

Why It Works

S. boulardii is a beneficial yeast (not a bacterium), so it is unaffected by antibiotics. A meta-analysis found a relative risk reduction of 0.47 for antibiotic-associated diarrhea. It is the only probiotic with significant prevention evidence for traveler's diarrhea. Because it is a yeast, it does not compete with bacterial probiotics and can be taken alongside them.

Tips

• Start S. boulardii at the beginning of the antibiotic course, not after
• Continue for 1-2 weeks after the antibiotic course ends
• Safe to take with antibiotics since antibiotics target bacteria, not yeasts
• Also has moderate evidence for preventing C. difficile infection