What is Probiotics?
Category: Supplements
Most popular types: Align Probiotics AccuFlora Probiotic Acidophilus VSL#3 Show all
Probiotics are a type of dietary supplement containing bacteria or yeast. Probiotics are live microorganisms that are similar to the beneficial microorganisms found in the human gut. These products are often used to aid digestive health and function.
| Purpose | Patients | Evaluations | Perceived Effectiveness |
|---|---|---|---|
| General health | 239 | 53 | |
| Bowel problems | 165 | 47 | |
| Bowel irritability | 140 | 40 | |
| Irritable bowel syndrome | 52 | 63 | |
| Support digestive health | 35 | 12 |
- Major
- Moderate
- Slight
- None
- Can't tell
Side effects
Side effects as an overall problem
| Severity | Evaluations | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Severe | 3 | |
| Moderate | 11 | |
| Mild | 26 | |
| None | 230 |
Commonly reported side effects and conditions associated with Probiotics
| Side effect | Patients | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Diarrhea | 6 | |
| Abdominal bloating | 4 | |
| Flatulence | 4 | |
| Stomach pain | 3 | |
| Frequent bowel movements | 2 | |
| Nausea | 2 |
Why patients stopped taking Probiotics
Multiple reasons could be selected
| Reason | Patients | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Other | 48 | |
| Did not seem to work | 34 | |
| Expense | 28 | |
| Course of treatment ended | 15 | |
| Personal research | 12 | |
| Doctor's advice | 9 | |
| Side effects too severe | 9 | |
| Change in health plan coverage | 1 |
Duration
Stopped taking Probiotics
| Duration | Patients | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Less than 1 month | 19 | |
| 1 - 6 months | 49 | |
| 6 months - 1 year | 17 | |
| 1 - 2 years | 17 | |
| 2 - 5 years | 26 | |
| 5 - 10 years | 9 | |
| 10 years or more | 1 |
What people switch to and from
Patients started taking Probiotics after stopping:
| Treatment | Patients | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Dicyclomine (Bentyl) | 1 | |
| Ranitidine (Ranitidine OTC) | 1 |
Last updated: