Can I Eat Yogurt While Taking Antibiotics?

Eating yogurt or taking a so-called probiotic when you have to take antibiotics may help prevent the diarrhea that often accompanies antibiotic treatment. That's the conclusion of a study just published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

How long should you wait to eat yogurt after taking an antibiotic?

Dairy products include milk as well as butter, yogurt, and cheese. After taking an antibiotic you may need to wait for up to three hours before eating or drinking any dairy products. Grapefruit juice and dietary supplements containing minerals like calcium may also work dampen the effect of antibiotics.

Does yogurt make antibiotics less effective?

Studies have shown that foods supplemented with calcium can reduce the absorption of various antibiotics, including ciprofloxacin (Cipro) and gatifloxacin ( 37 , 38 ). However, other studies have shown that calcium-containing foods like yogurt don't have the same inhibitory effect ( 39 ).