Methods and compositions for treating inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and travelers' diarrhea involve the use of targeted antibiotics in combination with probiotic formulations. The probiotics mitigate many of the deleterious side effects associated with antibiotic use and permit the antibiotic to be administered at a higher dose and for a longer duration than would otherwise be possible in the absence of the probiotic. The practice of the invention may reduce or eliminate the use of immunosuppressants and other drugs in the treatment and management of inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, travelers' diarrhea, and hepatic encephalopathy.
