# Regarding intestinal flora, is an antibiotic injection the same as taking a antibiotic pill?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regarding-intestinal-flora-is-an-antibiotic-injection-the-same-as-taking-a-antibiotic-pill/735805>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 26, 2015, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regarding-intestinal-flora-is-an-antibiotic-injection-the-same-as-taking-a-antibiotic-pill/735805 "2015-10-26T17:03:38Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\
**Post date:** [October 26, 2015, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regarding-intestinal-flora-is-an-antibiotic-injection-the-same-as-taking-a-antibiotic-pill/735805/1 "2015-10-26T17:03:38Z")

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I realize the pill will kill the flora because it is taken internally. Is that the case with an injection?

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**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\
**Post date:** [October 26, 2015, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regarding-intestinal-flora-is-an-antibiotic-injection-the-same-as-taking-a-antibiotic-pill/735805/2 "2015-10-26T17:18:05Z")

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Most of the time, no.

If you had IV clindamycin, it might, but you’d be in the hospital anyway if you’re taking that via IV.

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**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\
**Post date:** [October 26, 2015, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regarding-intestinal-flora-is-an-antibiotic-injection-the-same-as-taking-a-antibiotic-pill/735805/3 "2015-10-26T18:24:34Z")

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It will not have as bad of a effect, true.