RainyCloud said...
https://chemistry.harvard.edu/news/gut-microbes-eat-our-medication
This might be part of the puzzle why antibiotics don't work for many.
And could explain why such high doses are needed.
And could explain why IV antibiotics often work better.
Just some food for thought.
The study didn't look at antibiotics, though, only a specific Parkinson's drug. Moreover, there's evidence of the drug being more effective when taken in combination with antibiotics: "Maini Rekdal suspected microbes might be behind the L-dopa disappearance. Since previous research showed that antibiotics improve a patient’s response to L-dopa, scientists speculated that bacteria might be to blame." The implication of that scenario is the opposite of what you're suggesting (i.e. that bacteria might metabolize antibiotics).