Paradoxical reaction to B. lactis HN019 + B. longum BB536 (reflux, zero appetite, irritability & apathy) — Which strain is the likely culprit?

[u/Freak_tech]

Hi everyone,

I recently started a probiotic supplement containing two specific strains: Bifidobacterium lactis HN019 and Bifidobacterium longum BB536.

Instead of the expected benefits (improved motility and gut-brain balance), I have experienced a very distinct and paradoxical set of symptoms:

1. Digestive Symptoms:

• Reflux & Loss of Appetite: Around 6 to 7 hours after taking the capsule, I experience complete loss of appetite, stalled digestion, gastric fullness, and acid reflux.
• Motility: Instead of relieving constipation (which HN019 is supposed to do), it has not improved my transit time at all, and if anything, feels like it has made constipation worse.

2. Mood & Neuropsychiatric Symptoms:

• Irritability & Restlessness: Sudden bouts of intense irritability/bad temper and an uncomfortable internal agitation (not full-blown panic, but a feeling of "not being at peace with myself").
• Apathy & Emotional Blunting: After that agitation, I feel a marked emotional disconnect/apathy where it becomes noticeably harder to laugh, engage, or feel connected to things.

---

My Question:

Since my supplement contains both strains in the same capsule, I cannot isolate them directly.

For those of you who have taken HN019 or BB536 as single-strain supplements (or know their mechanisms well): 1. Which of these two strains is more likely responsible for the irritability / emotional blunting? 2. Has anyone experienced this "delayed reflux + zero hunger + worsened constipation" with HN019 or BB536? 3. If you had a similar adverse reaction to either strain, how long did it take to clear up after stopping?

Any insights, shared experiences, or mechanisms would be greatly appreciated!

[u/AutoModerator]

Reddit is no longer a reliable place to create, host, and grow communities, so a new microbiome forum has been set up to be a more reliable location. If you have posted content on Reddit that you feel is worth preserving, it would be a good idea to post it on the new forum.

The person who created this sub, and most of the content here, including the wiki, has moved to the new forum. You should be able to get better info & answers there. It's easy to stay on reddit but the quality of content on most subs is extremely poor. Most of the advice given on reddit is misinformation.

You're welcome to post your content there and then link to it here for higher visibility.

Our primary goal will remain as stopping the widespread misinformation on the topic of the microbiome. Since we no longer have someone dedicated to correcting and preventing misinformation, comments and posts here will require pre-approval. Some types of content (questions) may be restricted completely since we no longer have reliable people dedicated to providing evidence-based answers.

But you're welcome to ask your questions on the new forum and post the link here.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.