Can I drink milk if I'm taking antibiotics? (Query)

People say one should not drink milk while taking antibiotics, but is it right? Here's what our expert says.

Hi, I am a 50-year-old man and have been taking antibiotics for a week. My doctor advised me to take curd and other milk products but told me to avoid milk. But that s not the case with my friend as his doctor advised him to drink milk and eat curd as well. I start my day with a glass of milk. Should I stop drinking milk till the time I am on antibiotics or can I drink milk even with antibiotics? Or am I suffering from any other disease? Please help.

It is a common misconception that one should avoid drinking milk when you are taking antibiotics as it might hinder the absorption of nutrients by the body, says Dr Aarti Ullal, General Physician, Mumbai. Antibiotics can cause various digestive complications such as bloating, constipation and diarrhoea, in some cases. And in such cases, milk and milk products are highly recommended as they are rich in proteins and easy to digest.

But if you are experiencing vomiting or loose motions, it is advised to stay away from milk as it might further aggravate your condition. Also, some people feel nauseous when they drink milk and thus when on antibiotics drinking milk might not be a good idea. This might be a reason, why your doctor advised you to stay away from milk till you complete your course of medication. Read about antibiotics types, side-effects, dosage and precautions.

However, you should increase your intake of proteins to fight infections and boost your immunity. And hence, intake of foods rich in protein like milk and milk products is highly recommended (only if you don t feel nauseous on drinking milk or its products). You can even drink black tea or coffee or drink light tea or coffee (add only a little amount of milk) if milk is not what you like to drink. You can even include a bowl of curd in your diet as it acts as a probiotic and thus, helps to counter the side-effects of antibiotics.

Hence, you can drink milk even when you are taking antibiotics unless you experience any side-effects like nausea or loose stools. And if you suffer from any such complications, include curd in your diet. Here are 10 things you should keep in mind when you are on antibiotics.

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