Can You Get a Yeast Infection From Antibiotics? Here Are 6 Things to Know

You’ve just finished an antibiotic for a sinus infection. Then you notice it: an itchy, irritated sensation down below. It’s an all-too-familiar feeling for up to 30% of women who experience a vaginal yeast infection after or while taking an antibiotic.

Why do yeast infections happen after taking an antibiotic? And is there anything you can do to prevent them? Here, we’ll discuss six things to know about yeast infections from antibiotics.

1. Some antibiotics are more likely to cause a yeast infection than others

Why do antibiotics cause yeast infections? Antibiotics work by killing the “bad” bacteria that are making you sick. But they can also kill “good” bacteria in your body. These good bacteria help keep your vaginal area healthy. If they’re gone, Candida (a type of yeast) can overgrow and cause an infection called candidiasis. They’re more common in women, but yeast infections can happen in men too.

Yeast infections are more likely after taking broad-spectrum antibiotics. These antibiotics can kill a wide range of bacteria. Here’s a list of common antibiotics that can cause yeast infections:

• Penicillin-based antibiotics, such as amoxicillin (Amoxil) and amoxicillin / clavulanate (Augmentin)

• Cephalosporin antibiotics, such as cephalexin and cefuroxime

• Tetracycline antibiotics, such as doxycycline (Vibramycin, Doryx) and minocycline (Minocin)

• Macrolide antibiotics, such as azithromycin (Zithromax) and clarithromycin

• Fluoroquinolones, such as levofloxacin or ciprofloxacin (Cipro)

These antibiotics won’t always cause a yeast infection after you take them. And other antibiotics not listed can also have this side effect. If you’re taking an antibiotic, your pharmacist or prescriber can tell you if yeast infections are a common side effect. So don’t hesitate to ask if this is a concern for you.

2. Certain risk factors may make a yeast infection more likely

Some antibiotics raise the risk of yeast infections. But there are other risk factors. These include:

• Hormonal changes, like during pregnancy or menopause or due to hormonal birth control

• Diabetes

• Douching

• Wearing tight-fitting pants or tights

• A weakened immune system from medication or a medical condition

• Medications that raise glucose (sugar) levels in your urine, such as empagliflozin (Jardiance) and dapagliflozin (Farxiga)

These risks either make it easier for yeast to grow or lower your body’s ability to fight it off. If you have any of these risks and also take an antibiotic, the chance of you developing a yeast infection could be even higher.

3. You can help prevent a yeast infection if you’re taking an antibiotic

You may have heard that taking a probiotic while taking an antibiotic can help prevent yeast infections. But there’s not much evidence this is true.

Still, probiotics may help prevent other antibiotic side effects, such as diarrhea caused by Clostridioides difficile infection. They may also help treat yeast infections when combined with other medications. So it’s fine to take a probiotic with your antibiotic if your prescriber OKs it. Just be aware that you may still get a yeast infection.

Here’s how to help prevent a yeast infection while taking antibiotics:

• Wear cotton underwear to help absorb excess moisture.

• Avoid wearing tight-fitting pants or tights for long periods of time.

• Change out of sweaty or wet clothes as soon as possible.

• Don’t douche.

• Avoid vaginal sprays or deodorants.

• Use plain water or a mild, unscented soap to wash your pubic area. Never use soap inside your vagina.

• Avoid hot tubs.

Talk with your prescriber if you regularly get yeast infections while taking or shortly after taking an antibiotic. They may prescribe a medication such as fluconazole (Diflucan) at the beginning or end of your antibiotic course. This will help prevent a yeast infection.

4. Keep taking your antibiotic, even if a yeast infection develops

You should finish your entire course of antibiotics — even if a yeast infection appears. Symptoms of a vaginal yeast infection include:

• Itching

• Burning

• Pain and swelling of the labia

• Pain when peeing or during sexual intercourse

• Thick white or yellow vaginal discharge

If you stop taking an antibiotic early, your original infection may return. It could also lead to antimicrobial resistance. This means the antibiotic won’t work as well against the bacteria the next time you get sick. As a result, future infections will be harder to treat.

5. OTC and prescription options can help treat a yeast infection caused by antibiotics

To treat yeast infections, over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription options are both available. Both are first-choice treatment options. Plus, they work similarly well.

6. Most home remedies for yeast infections aren’t recommended

Many home remedies online claim to treat yeast infections naturally. Examples include inserting a garlic clove into your vagina and soaking tampons in tea tree oil before inserting them. These remedies don’t have much evidence behind them and aren’t likely to be effective. In fact, they’re likely to cause more vaginal irritation and pain. So they’re not recommended over the traditional treatments described above.

Good to know: Boric acid is sometimes prescribed when other treatment options aren’t effective for yeast infections. It’s available OTC as a vaginal capsule or suppository. Your prescriber may also prescribe a compounded version (made by a pharmacist). But it isn’t considered a first-choice treatment. So talk to your healthcare team before trying this treatment option.

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Written by:

Emilie White, PharmD

Emilie White, PharmD, is a clinical pharmacist with over a decade of hospital pharmacy experience. Her professional areas of interest include critical care as well as infectious and autoimmune diseases.

Edited by:

Sheila McAdoo, PharmD

Sheila McAdoo, PharmD, is a licensed pharmacist in Virginia and New York. She has worked in the pharmacy industry for 14 years.

Reviewed by:

Christina Aungst, PharmD, MWC

Christina Aungst, PharmD, MWC is a senior pharmacy editor for GoodRx. She began writing for GoodRx Health in 2019.

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