In 1970, I contracted tuberculosis. Fortunately, streptomycin, the first effective cure, was discovered in 1943. Before then, TB was either fatal or required long-term stays in sanatoriums. Thanks to the streptomycin antibiotic, which required a month of daily injections, I can write today’s post about the potential harm to our natural immune system if we become too dependent on antibiotics and other pharmaceutical drugs to heal us if we become sick.
In 2013, my oldest son also got TB. How strange is that? It’s like lightning striking twice in the same place. For my son, however, the cure was a lot more intense because, over the years, the TB bacteria became a superbug requiring more potent antibiotics. Instead of a month of injections, it was a six-month treatment with several “chemo” type drugs. What surprised me was that the pulmonologist insisted that I take a skin test to see if, after 43 years, I still had the TB bacteria in my system. The test result came back positive. Initially, I became nervous imagining that I would be required to take the new powerful drugs. Surprisingly, I was told it wouldn’t be necessary since my immune system had maintained the dormant bacteria since 1970.
The discovery that I still had the active TB bacteria in my system was my first realization of the innate capacity of my immune system to keep me healthy…without my intervention. Protecting me from pathogenic microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites is one of our immune system’s objectives. It’s a gift that I should appreciate and make use of. Suppose I don’t and instead rely primarily on pharmaceutical drugs to kill the germs. Although that may be beneficial in the short term, In the long run, it could compromise and weaken my immune system’s power to prevent and heal diseases.
As humans, we prefer to be comfortable and free from pain. Consequently, it’s understandable that we would like to get a quick pharmaceutical fix instead of relying on our body’s self-healing capacity, which could take longer to heal and thus make us uncomfortable. What we forget or prefer to ignore are the potential side effects and long-term harm caused by antibiotics, painkillers, antidepressants, etc. All you have to do is read the small print dangers written at the bottom of the TV drug ads.
HOW PHARMACEUTICAL DRUGS COMPROMISE OUR MICROBIOME
Learning about the microbiome world has fascinated me, especially when I realized that biodiversity, vital for a healthy planet, is equally essential for a healthy body and mind.
The Human Microbiome Project began in 2007. It was a 10-year plan funded by the National Institute of Health (NIH) to study the microbial world that lives within and on our bodies (bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and viruses). The project resulted from continuously upgrading the electron microscope, allowing scientists to delve deeper into this new “universe” that was opening up before their eyes. During the past five years, more than 50,000 studies have been published on the microbiome, making it the most researched area in health and nutrition. They observed that we have approximately 40 trillion microbial cells, more than human cells in our body. In that sense, we are more germ cells than human cells.
SO WHAT’S THE HARM?
1. ANTIBIOTICS DAMAGE THE MICROBIOME
Antibiotics are designed to kill bacteria, but they don’t only kill harmful bacteria. They also wipe out a ton of the good bacteria in your gut. So when you take antibiotics:
They can wipe out large portions of your gut microbiome.
This can reduce diversity and allow “bad” microbes to overgrow and affect your immune system and overall health.
Sometimes, it takes months (or even longer) for your gut flora to recover — and in some cases, it may not fully bounce back.
It can lead to long-term changes in microbiome composition, even after you stop taking the meds.
2. NON-ANTIBIOTIC DRUGS CAN BE TOXIC
Surprisingly, a lot of non-antibiotic drugs also affect gut microbes. A study in Nature (2018) showed that about 1 in 4 non-antibiotic drugs tested had some antibacterial effect. Examples:
Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) for acid reflux (like omeprazole) reduce stomach acid, which can let more harmful bacteria grow and disrupt the balance.
Metformin (used for diabetes) changes the gut microbiota—sometimes in beneficial ways, but not constantly. Microbial changes can cause side effects like bloating or diarrhea.
NSAIDs (anti-inflammatory drugs): Ibuprofen and naproxen are examples of drugs that can alter the gut lining and microbial populations. They can also increase gut permeability (“leaky gut”), letting bacteria or toxins pass into the bloodstream, which may disrupt the balance of gut bacteria and cause chronic inflammation.
Antipsychotics and antidepressants: some have antimicrobial activity that can alter the gut microbial balance.
- Some may promote the growth of resistant bacteria.
- Others may suppress beneficial microbes.
FINAL THOUGHT
I accept that there are specific occasions when a pharmaceutical is called for. My concern is our obsessive fear of germs, which has increased our fear of getting sick, especially during and since the pandemic. This fear makes us easy prey for Big Pharma’s products. The pharmaceutical industry is licking its chops over the thought of raking in billions more through increased drug sales and vaccines for all kinds of illnesses and diseases. As a result, most of us never consider the possibility that our immune system will eventually quit on us from lack of use. Consequently, this can prevent us from truly enjoying the experience of optimal wellness during the later years.
