Drug & supplement interaction

Bacillus Coagulans + Colistimethate

Colistimethate brand name: Coly-Mycin M.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Bacillus Coagulans has a moderate interaction with Colistimethate. Theoretically, taking antibiotics with Bacillus coagulans might decrease the effectiveness of B.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodProbable
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Bacillus Coagulans and Colistimethate

Here is the interaction we found between these two, with the evidence behind it.

Moderate

ANTIBIOTIC DRUGS

Why this applies to Colistimethate

Colistimethate falls under ANTIBIOTIC DRUGS — the group Bacillus Coagulans interacts with.

Theoretically, taking antibiotics with Bacillus coagulans might decrease the effectiveness of B. coagulans.
B. coagulans preparations usually contain live and active organisms. Therefore, simultaneously taking antibiotics might kill a significant number of the organisms. Tell patients to separate administration of antibiotics and B. coagulans preparations by at least two hours.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Probable Evidence D

Interaction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports..

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's the simple version: this interaction goes one way only. Colistimethate is an antibiotic, and antibiotics can kill the live bacteria in your Bacillus coagulans probiotic. So the concern isn't that the probiotic changes how your medicine works. Colistimethate will still do its job fighting your infection. The probiotic is the one that may lose some of its punch.

One thing worth knowing: colistimethate is given as an injection, usually in a hospital or clinic, while most probiotics are taken by mouth. Because of that, they don't run into each other as directly as two oral medicines would. This concern is mostly theoretical and based on lab thinking, not strong human studies. If you take both, ask your pharmacist or doctor about spacing them out and whether the probiotic is even needed right now.

What These Ratings Mean

Every interaction above is graded three ways — here’s the key to each label.

Severity how clinically significant the interaction is
Major

Clinically significant. Avoid the combination, or use only under close professional supervision.

Moderate

Usually worth avoiding or managing — may need monitoring, a dose change, or timing apart.

Minor

Generally not serious. Be aware of it and mention it to your pharmacist.

Likelihood how strong the evidence is that the interaction actually happens in people
  • LikelyWell-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction.
  • ProbableInteraction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
  • PossibleInteraction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.
  • UnlikelyInteraction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.
Evidence the quality of the studies behind the rating (graded A–D)
  • AHigh-quality meta-analysis (quantitative systematic review).
  • BCase-control study.
  • CConsensus.
  • DAnecdotal evidence.

These ratings are for information only. Never start, stop, or otherwise change your therapy before speaking with your provider.

Keep it in perspective

Bacillus Coagulans Also Interacts With Other Medications

Bacillus Coagulans has 181 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Colistimethate one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Bacillus Coagulans

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Bacillus Coagulans. Pick one to open its full report.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Colistimethate

This page covers Bacillus Coagulans only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Colistimethate page lists 27 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Bacillus Subtilis (moderate), Bifidobacterium Animalis Subsp. Lactis (moderate), Bifidobacterium Bifidum (moderate), Bifidobacterium Breve (moderate) and Bifidobacterium Longum (moderate).

By severity: 26 moderate · 1 minor.

Open the Colistimethate interaction page

One more smart check

Taking Bacillus Coagulans as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions

We hold 1,895 real supplement products containing Bacillus Coagulans, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Bacillus Coagulans. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Colistimethate too, on top of Bacillus Coagulans — and those would not show on this page. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where Bacillus Coagulans and Colistimethate Sit Against Everything Else

Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.

Supplement Bacillus Coagulans
Top 25%

#165 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Colistimethate
Steady interest

#2,734 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.

Supplement

About Bacillus Coagulans

What is Bacillus Coagulans?

Bacillus Coagulans
  • Constipation
  • Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
  • Diarrhea
  • General digestive health
  • Immune support
  • Bloating and gas

Bacillus coagulans is a spore-forming probiotic that survives stomach acid well and may help with some digestive problems such as IBS, constipation, and certain types of diarrhea. The evidence is promising but still limited, and quality and strains vary between products. It is generally well tolerated in healthy people, but people with weak immune systems and those who are pregnant or breastfeeding should talk to a doctor first.

Read the full Bacillus Coagulans monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Colistimethate Injection

What Is Colistimethate Injection Used For?

Brand name: Coly-Mycin M

Colistimethate for Injection is used to treat acute (sudden) or chronic (long-lasting) infections caused by specific gram-negative bacteria. It is particularly effective against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and is also used for infections caused by Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Enterobacter aerogenes.

It may be used to start treatment when a serious infection is suspected to be caused by gram-negative bacteria, even before lab results are back. It is not used for infections caused by Proteus or Neisseria bacteria.

See full Colistimethate Injection drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Bacillus Coagulans

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Bacillus Coagulans — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

0Major
181Moderate
0Minor
2,648No known interaction
Moderate

181 interactions

Showing 60 of 181 moderate interactions — see all 181 on the Bacillus Coagulans page.

No interaction 2,648 drugs checked — show the list
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Interaction details are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database. The medication overview comes from MedlinePlus.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

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Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Bacillus Coagulans and Colistimethate Together: Common Questions

Can you take Bacillus Coagulans with Colistimethate?
There is a moderate interaction, so it may be acceptable with monitoring or timing changes — but check with your pharmacist first. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
How serious is the Bacillus Coagulans and Colistimethate interaction?
We rate it Moderate. This combination may require monitoring, a dose adjustment, or separating the times you take each one. Consult your pharmacist before using them together.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Still Have a Question About Colistimethate and Bacillus Coagulans?

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This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.