Have you noticed digestive symptoms while taking antibiotics, or wondered how they fit into your skin care? Start with the medicine you were prescribed and the reason for it. Antibiotics treat bacterial infections; they do not work against viruses such as those causing colds and flu. Healthdirect — Antibiotics.
Keep your prescriber involved
Take antibiotics as directed by your doctor or pharmacist. Ask them about side effects and other medicines you use, rather than changing the course yourself. Healthdirect — Antibiotics.
Write down when a new symptom started, which medicine you are taking and whether anything else changed. This gives the conversation a clear starting point.
What about digestive symptoms?
Diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting can occur with antibiotics. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about symptoms that concern you, particularly diarrhoea that continues. Healthdirect — Antibiotics.
There is some evidence that probiotics can reduce antibiotic-associated diarrhoea. That does not establish that every person needs a supplement, or that a product will repair their gut or improve their skin. Ask your pharmacist or doctor whether a particular product is suitable. Healthdirect — Antibiotics.
Give skin concerns their own assessment
Some antibiotics are used for acne, and treatment should be reviewed with the prescribing clinician. Our acne guide explains the wider care pathway. Healthdirect — Acne.
A new rash while taking antibiotics deserves medical advice. A severe allergic reaction with difficulty breathing is an emergency: call 000. Healthdirect — Antibiotics.
Prepare your questions
You might ask what the medicine is expected to do, which symptoms need review and when to check progress. There is no need to arrive with a self-diagnosis about your microbiome.
For everyday food ideas, read let’s talk about gut health. The clinic’s initial naturopathy consultation includes dietary and lifestyle review alongside your existing care. Melbourne Wellness — Services.
Discuss suitability at a consultation.
Sources
Read 15 October 2026. Clinical sources support the adjacent general information; clinic links verify the advertised appointment menu.
- Healthdirect — Antibiotics — Australian public-health guidance; accessed 2026-10-15.
- Healthdirect — Acne — Australian public-health guidance; accessed 2026-10-15.
- Melbourne Wellness — Services — current clinic facts; accessed 2026-10-15.
