Newbie question re antibiotics and ketosis (or lack of it).

[Alison]

Hi everybody, I'm new here and you have probably been asked this question a thousand times. I have been on Atkins for nearly 4 weeks. I had flu last week and have a chest infection. Since I started taking antibiotics 3 days ago I have been knocked out of ketosis, which I had been consistently on for 4 weeks. I was still in ketosis when I had the flu. Is it the antibiotics? If so, why? Thank you for your help.

[judyintn]

I had the same thing happen with amoxicillin, but still had some weight loss. I don't know why it happened, but it didn't seem to hurt anything...

[Georgiana]

Does the antibiotic you are taking have a warning for diabetics? An infection can also raise blood sugar levels.

Anyway, if you are measuring ketosis with the stix, don't rely on them. Unless you have excess acetoacetate (the only type of ketone "seen" by the stix) left to pee, ketostix won't change color.

[msanjelpie]

Is it a liquid antibiotic? Some of them have sugar in them to make them taste palatable.

[Alison]

Thank you all for responding. No it's not a liquid, don't know if it mentions diabetics. I put on 1 and a half kilos in weight in the three days while still sticking to Atkins.

I'm afraid I got so despondent I have been eating carbs again, thinking I am wasting my time sticking to Atkins while I am on the antibiotics. I finish them on Monday and promise to get back on track then. In the meantime, I am eating too much chocolate again. Will I ever stop craving them? Thank you again.

[Georgiana]

Originally Posted by Alison

Thank you all for responding. No it's not a liquid, don't know if it mentions diabetics. I put on 1 and a half kilos in weight in the three days while still sticking to Atkins.

I'm afraid I got so despondent I have been eating carbs again, thinking I am wasting my time sticking to Atkins while I am on the antibiotics. I finish them on Monday and promise to get back on track then. In the meantime, I am eating too much chocolate again. Will I ever stop craving them? Thank you again.

Better stop eating the chocolate now. Eating chocolate will only make things worse. The weight you have gained is simply water weight, from the antibiotics. It will go away in no time once you stop taking them.

[Alison]

Oh man!!!! Water weight. I didn't realise that. If I had any idea that was the cause I would have stuck with the diet. I really thought the antibiotics had stopped the diet working.

Thanks Georgiana, you are a mine of information. I had asked my pharmacist what the problem was and she had no idea. Tomorrow I start again......

Thanks Alison

[Georgiana]

Originally Posted by Alison

Oh man!!!! Water weight. I didn't realise that. If I had any idea that was the cause I would have stuck with the diet. I really thought the antibiotics had stopped the diet working.

No, fat loss can still go on, but water weight gain is faster. The antibiotic will kill the good and bad bacteria in your gut, so with less competition the yeast will be left to grow all over the place. Candida (yeast) ferments the sugar it can get its hands on and produces carbon dioxide, so you're likely to feel bloated. The body is also trying to dilute the toxins, so it will retain water.

Taking a probiotic and an antifungal (e.g. oil of oregano, garlic cloves) should help. Drink plenty of water too. Being on Atkins also helps, because yeast feeds on sugar.

[Alison]

Well the yeast will be enjoying the amount of sugar I have given it over the past two days!! I now have a yeast infection to contend with and have taken oral medication to help. Also Pau Darco to help regain the balance in my bowel.

Back on Atkins tomorrow and hope for some serious fat burning this coming week. Hope I haven't buggered up the five kilos I have already lost.

Thanks Georgiana.