Compare drugs Linex and Bifidumbacterin

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On According to medical literature, worldwide there is an increase in diseases of the digestive tract. Gastritis, peptic ulcer, colitis of various origins are accompanied by unpleasant symptoms and reduce the quality of life. This is due to poor nutrition, a sedentary lifestyle, stress, and unfavorable ecology. These and other factors undermine health and negatively affect the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.

Diseases of the stomach and intestines are often accompanied by the development of dysbacteriosis. The balance of the microflora of the digestive tract can also be disturbed due to other conditions – for example, after antibiotic therapy or surgery, during pregnancy, with severe systemic diseases and immunodeficiency. Despite the fact that in the International Classification of Diseases there is no such diagnosis as dysbacteriosis, the problem remains relevant.

For the treatment and prevention of dysbacteriosis, drugs from the group of probiotics are used. These include the heroes of our article: Linex and Bifidumbacterin. Let us consider in more detail how the drugs differ and what you should pay attention to when choosing.

Both funds are dispensed in a pharmacy without a prescription.

Indications for use: why do we need probiotics?

Probiotics are prescribed if you need to restore the balance of intestinal microflora – to increase the proportion of beneficial bacteria. Dysbacteriosis occurs against the background of such conditions:

1. diseases of the digestive tract;

2. taking antibiotics, cytostatics and other drugs that affect the intestinal microflora;

3. pregnancy and lactation;

4. immunodeficiency states – congenital and acquired, including against the background of severe somatic pathology (tumors, diabetes mellitus);

5. errors in nutrition, strict diets.

There is no such term in the International Classification of Diseases, but this does not mean that the disease was invented by doctors. Today, dysbacteriosis is considered as a clinical syndrome that occurs against the background of any disease or condition. Therefore, they do not treat the imbalance of microflora as such, but look for the cause of the violation of the microbial landscape and restore it.

With intestinal dysbacteriosis, no matter what reason it is caused, a characteristic picture is observed: the number of beneficial bacteria decreases and the number of opportunistic bacteria increases. With an unfavorable development of events, harmful pathogenic bacteria come to the place of the “good” flora, and various diseases develop.

Intestinal dysbacteriosis interferes with its work and is accompanied by characteristic symptoms:

1. pain and discomfort in the abdomen;

2. flatulence;

3. bloating;

4. heartburn;

5. belching;

6. nausea;

7. constipation and/or diarrhea.

With dysbacteriosis, the absorption of nutrients is disturbed, and concomitant diseases develop – anemia, hypovitaminosis. Often there is general weakness, weight loss. In women, intestinal dysbacteriosis is often combined with a violation of the vaginal microflora.

It is believed that the scope of probiotics varies. Many specialists Recommend monocomponent Bifibumbacterin for mild dysbacteriosis, and Linex for chronic diseases. According to another version, Linex can be taken already during antibiotic therapy, and Bifidumbacterin – after its completion.

How Probiotics Work in the Gut

The action of probiotics as drugs depends on the bacteria in their composition. Let’s take a closer look at each tool.

Lineks

Linex is a multicomponent preparation. It consists of:

Bifidobacteria. According to modern concepts, it is these microorganisms that form the basis of normal intestinal microflora. They affect key processes occurring in tissues. Bifidobacteria stimulate the absorption of nutrients from the intestinal lumen, including vitamins, normalize the synthesis of enzymes necessary for the digestion of food, and protect the intestinal mucosa. They also increase the overall resistance of the body to infections – and this property of probiotics is used in the complex therapy of many diseases.

Lactobacilli. These microorganisms are at the forefront of the invisible intestinal front. They fight for a place with pathogenic bacteria and do not allow them to settle in the mucous membrane. With a shortage of lactobacilli, the beneficial flora loses to the invader, and an infection develops.

Enterococci. These bacteria affect the pH of the intestine – they shift it to the acid side and thereby create unfavorable conditions for the pathogenic flora. But in an acidic environment, useful lacto- and bifidobacteria can live.

Bifidumbacterin

The composition of the drug includes only bifidobacteria, which we described above. This probiotic works well as a rebalancing agent for beneficial flora, but cannot fight pathogens.

It’s important to understand that probiotics work very differently from antibiotics. They do not destroy pathogenic bacteria and do not suppress their growth, but only replace them in the intestinal mucosa. And even lactobacillus fighters do not directly affect the pathogenic flora. Therefore, probiotics are always the second stage of complex therapy. First, antibacterial drugs are prescribed that destroy dangerous bacteria, and then the intestinal microflora is restored with the help of probiotics.

Evaluation of the effectiveness of drugs

Probiotics are a controversial topic in modern medicine. Conducted clinical studies speak both in favor of such drugs and against them.

The Cochrane Library has two reviews on probiotics. In the first declared: taking probiotics in 64% of cases reduces the likelihood of developing dysbacteriosis after antibiotic therapy. The quality of this evidence is rated as moderate, so it can be trusted. In another review they say on the appointment of probiotics for diarrhea of ​​​​infectious genesis. Studies have shown that live bacteria reduce the duration of the disease by 25 hours, relieve symptoms, improve the condition and reduce the risk of complications.

An interesting study was conducted by scientists from the Center for Expertise. They Found outhow many beneficial bacteria actually reach the intestines when taken orally. The review evaluated ten drugs, including Linex and Bifidumbacterin, which are of interest to us. The number of bacteria was determined twice – in the original preparation and after two hours in gastric juice. So scientists simulated the action of hydrochloric acid during the passage of the probiotic through the stomach.

The study showed that gastric juice negatively affects probiotics, and after two hours the number of microorganisms in Linex and Bifidumbacterin preparations decreased 1000 times. But for probiotics to really work, there must be a lot of them: at least 1×10⁷ CFU of microorganisms. Linex and Bifidumbacterin cannot provide this. It is also unclear whether the drug remains in the intestines or transits – it has not yet been possible to track this.

Application Scheme

Probiotics are prescribed according to various schemes:

1. Linex: inside after meals, usually up to three times a day. The capsule must be swallowed whole or its contents dissolved in water.

2. Bifidumbacterin: orally during or after meals. Suppositories are inserted into the vagina or rectum.

3. The duration of treatment is usually 14 days and depends on the severity of the initial condition.

Adverse Reactions

Both drugs are well tolerated. In the instructions for Linex even not specified possible adverse reactions – the manufacturer assures that they were not observed.

The instructions for Bifidumbacterin state that there may be allergic reactions, sometimes nausea.

Противопоказания

The only contraindication for probiotics is individual intolerance.

Linux and Bifidumbacterin are allowed during pregnancy and lactation, in childhood.

Conclusions

To sum up:

1. Linux and Bifidumbacterin are drugs from the group of probiotics. They contain beneficial bacteria that restore the gut microbial landscape.

2. Probiotics Linux and Bifidumbacterin are prescribed for dysbacteriosis on the background of chronic intestinal diseases, after taking medications, during pregnancy and in other situations.

Both drugs are well tolerated and have virtually no contraindications.

The effectiveness of probiotics has not yet been confirmed. There is no reliable evidence that beneficial bacteria are retained in the digestive tract, and not destroyed by the action of gastric juice.

Attention! This material is subjective, is not an advertisement and does not serve as a guide to the purchase. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.