Once and for all: do antibiotics really cause fatigue and weakness?

Winter is in full swing, and the hospitals are dealing with an unrelenting load. The occupancy rates exceed 100%, and most of those hospitalized in serious condition are dealing with influenza and other viral diseases. Some, due to complications or secondary infections, needed antibiotic treatment to fight bacterial infections.

Despite the long history of antibiotics and their great effectiveness in saving lives, questions arise year after year about the effect of antibiotics on the body, and in particular the well-known myth according to which they cause fatigue and general weakness.

According to the medical literature, the antibiotics themselves do not cause fatigue or weakness directly in most cases. The main function of antibiotics is to fight bacteria by killing them or stopping their growth.

However, feeling tired and exhausted when taking antibiotics is often caused by the disease itself – bacterial infections cause the body’s immune response, which includes the release of inflammatory substances in the immune system. These substances can cause fatigue and a feeling of weakness as part of the recovery process.

However, there are certain types of antibiotics that can indirectly affect the body’s sense of energy. For example, drugs from the fluoroquinolone family may cause side effects such as insomnia or muscle pain, which can lead to a feeling of fatigue.

In rare cases, certain side effects of antibiotics, such as damage to the balance of bacteria in the intestines (the microbiome), can also cause a general bad feeling, since the microbiome is directly related to the functioning of the immune system and the general sense of energy.

It is important to emphasize that there is no solid evidence that antibiotics directly affect the brain in a way that leads to fatigue or exhaustion. As mentioned – these feelings are mainly due to the body’s reaction to the infection from which it is suffering. At the same time, it is very important to pay attention to rare side effects and report to the attending physician if unusual sensations appear during treatment.

While taking antibiotics, you should pay attention to several points that can make it easier for the body and improve the recovery process. First, it is important to have a balanced diet, which includes vegetables, fruits, high-quality proteins and whole grains, which provide the body with the vitamins and minerals it needs to support the immune system.

Probiotics, in the form of nutritional supplements or fermented foods such as natural yogurt or kefir or capsules sold in pharmacy chains and pharmacies, can help maintain the balance of the microbiome and prevent side effects such as diarrhea.

It is important to continue moderate activity such as walking or light stretching, if the health condition allows it, to improve blood circulation and support the feeling of energy. In the meantime, it is recommended to ensure adequate sleep hours to allow the body to recover and rebuild its energy reserves. If the feeling of weakness continues even after the end of the treatment, it is important to contact the attending physician for further investigation.

In the end, antibiotics are an essential tool in the fight against bacterial infections, while the feeling of tiredness attributed to them often stems from the disease itself and not from the medicine. Correct treatment and maintaining a healthy lifestyle during treatment can reduce negative feelings and help a quick recovery.

The cases in which urgent medical assistance should be sought:
Prolonged fever over 3 days
Allergic reaction
Shortness of breath and inability to complete a sentence
Over 3 vomiting
Coughing up blood
Excessive sleepiness
Failure to urinate for more than 10 hours
Appearance of bleeding on the skin
Headache waking from sleep