Yes, probiotics can cause Herxhaimer reaction. Severity of that depends on a person. It's a good sign cause u know it is working.

jojoe72, if I were you, I would continue taking probiotics. Just adjust the dosage. My mom used to take Diflucan, supposedly one of the strongest anticandida meds, but it didn't work and in the long run made situation worse by killing good guys. That's what opportunists just wanted.

One more thing. As always I harp about using home made kefir- much cheaper and many more times probiotics. According to healing crow's website, 1 ml. of real home made kefir contains up to 10 billion probiotics per ml (sic!)So if you eat a bowl of kefir, that isd 500ml, you will get probiotics (and yeasts) in the area of 1.5-4.5 trillion !!! And the cost of that one bowl is just the cost of of 500ml milk and if I use raw milk 5.8$/gallon that would be 75 cents.

So, how about that- 1.5-4.5 trillion good bacteria and beneficial yeasts for 75 cents. It puts every probiotic supplement to shame, even the best in the world as of now, vsl#3. which gives 450 billion, 1 serving, for 2.8$.

Hey, and you have fresh, lovely, pure real kefir from real kefir grains. You know what you drink and that drink is too delicious and beneficial to pass by.

I've been taking a probiotic since doing colonics before Christmas. It's called Prime Directive and it sounded like a winner (fermented food product, organic etc) To begin with, I didn't seem to react to it at all. colonics was a success and subsequently the stomach ache I had on the right side of my stomach (on rising each morning) went completely (together with the bloating). I wasn't sure if this was due to the colonics or the probiotic so I continued use.

I really reacted strongly to foods at Christmas (angry mood and ecxema back again which I haven't had for over a year) and on Boxing Day I had a scarey vision experience. I was driving in bright sunlight & I saw white lights and then could only see half of everything like a migraine only different. Then I was left with a dull ache behind my eye. I had this dull ache a year ago and it disappeared (around the time of stopping Threelac). I was so alarmed at this recurrance (fears of glaucoma etc)I booked an eye specialist appointment (tomorrow). Then I thought "maybe it's the probiotic?"

Since stopping taking it the pain has disappeared! My mood is greatly improved and I'm energetic once again.

I am really feeling that this "die-off" business from taking products should be watched carefully. If you feel bad - STOP!! Try something else. I seem to do better on Apple Cider Vinegar and I take MSM (sulphur). Apart from anything else, it's a great painkiller for me. These products don't give me die-off (but they might for others).