Many people are surprised to learn that depression and anxiety can sometimes be traced back not just to stress or brain chemistry—but to their gut health. More specifically, there’s growing research suggesting that antibiotic use may play a role in disrupting mental well-being.
How Antibiotics Affect More Than Just Infections
Antibiotics are powerful medications that kill harmful bacteria—but in doing so, they often wipe out beneficial bacteria too. Your gut microbiome (the trillions of microbes living in your intestines) plays a key role in:
- Serotonin production (about 90% of it is made in the gut!)
- GABA regulation (a calming neurotransmitter)
- Inflammation control
- Immune system regulation
- Stress resilience and hormone balance
When antibiotics disrupt this delicate microbial ecosystem, it can lead to gut dysbiosis, leaky gut, inflammation, and impaired neurotransmitter signaling—all of which have been linked to symptoms of depression, anxiety, fatigue, and even brain fog.
What the Research Shows
A 2015 study in JAMA Psychiatry found that people who had taken antibiotics multiple times were more likely to experience depression and anxiety. In particular:
- The risk of depression increased with the number of antibiotic courses taken.
- Broad-spectrum antibiotics (like penicillins, quinolones, and cephalosporins) were especially associated with changes in mental health.
Other studies have confirmed that even a single round of antibiotics can disrupt gut diversity for months—and sometimes longer without targeted healing.
What You Can Do
If you’ve had multiple rounds of antibiotics—especially as a child—you may benefit from gut support, including:
- High-quality probiotics (like Theralac for kids or spore-based options for adults)
- Prebiotics (to feed beneficial bacteria)
- Polyphenol-rich foods (berries, olive oil, pomegranate, green tea)
- L-glutamine, zinc, marshmallow root, and slippery elm (to help repair the gut lining)
- Nervous system support (like GABA, L-theanine, or adaptogenic herbs)
Antibiotics are sometimes necessary, but if you’re struggling with lingering mental health issues, don’t overlook the role your gut may be playing. Rebalancing your microbiome can have a profound effect on your mood, resilience, and sense of well-being.
Need help healing after antibiotics or looking at your anxiety functionally? Reach out to us at Modern Medicine for personalized gut and brain support. We look at root causes—not just symptoms.
Jade Green, TNC, CHHC
