Scientists talked about the long-term effects of drugs on the intestinal microflora

Medications taken even many years ago can continue to affect the intestinal microflora. Scientists have found that most drugs leave an imprint in the microbiome that persists long after the end of treatment. This was reported in the journal Science Daily.

It turned out that not only antibiotics, but also antidepressants, beta blockers, proton pump inhibitors and benzodiazepines can disrupt the balance of intestinal microbes. Moreover, drugs of the same group can act in different ways. For example, diazepam and alprazolam have shown varying degrees of effect on the microbial community.

"Most microbiome studies only consider current medications, but our results show that past medications are just as significant. This is a powerful factor explaining individual differences in the microbiome," said the head of the study, Dr. Oliver Aasmets.

The scientists also confirmed that taking or discontinuing specific medications caused predictable changes in the composition of intestinal bacteria. The most stable effects were observed after the use of proton pump inhibitors, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and some antibiotics— in particular, penicillins and macrolides.

Professor Elin Org noted that the results of the study show the importance of taking into account the patient's medical history when analyzing microbiome data. She stressed that this is one of the first systematic studies evaluating the long-term effects of medications on the microflora based on real medical data, and expressed the hope that such an approach will become the standard in the interpretation of microbiome research.

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On August 18, scientists talked about the effect of intestinal microbes on insomnia. It clarifies that sleep disorders may be related to the composition of intestinal microbes, and the opposite is also true: sleep habits can affect intestinal health. These findings expand understanding of the causes of insomnia and open up possibilities for microbiome-based treatment approaches. According to scientists, future treatments for insomnia may include probiotics (such as yogurt or sauerkraut), prebiotics (sources of fiber), or even fecal transplants.

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