Common Medications May Alter Gut Microbiome for Years

Common medications can reshape the gut microbiome long after a person stops taking them. This finding comes from a study of over 2,500 individuals. Researchers found lasting microbial changes linked to various drugs.

These drugs include antibiotics, antidepressants, beta-blockers, acid-reducing medications, and benzodiazepines. Some effects were still detectable years later. This suggests past medication use significantly influences current gut bacteria.

The study analyzed stool samples and prescription records from participants in the Estonian Biobank. Most medications examined were associated with differences in the gut microbiome. These differences often persisted for years after discontinuing the medication.

Antibiotics are known to disrupt gut bacteria. However, the study showed similar lasting effects from other drug classes. Benzodiazepines, used for anxiety, showed effects comparable to broad-spectrum antibiotics. Proton pump inhibitors, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, and macrolide antibiotics also showed persistent effects.

Researchers also observed predictable shifts in gut microbes when individuals started or stopped certain medications. This indicates that the medications themselves may be responsible for these changes. The findings suggest that medication history is a crucial factor in microbiome research.

Accounting for past drug use could help distinguish disease-related microbiome changes from medication-induced ones. This research was led by scientists at the University of Tartu Institute of Genomics.