Drug & supplement interaction

Bifidobacterium Animalis Subsp. Lactis + Daptomycin

Daptomycin brand names: Cubicin, Dapzura RT.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Bifidobacterium Animalis Subsp. Lactis has a moderate interaction with Daptomycin. Theoretically, taking Bifidobacterium lactis with antibiotic drugs 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

Bifidobacterium Animalis Subsp. Lactis and Daptomycin

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

Moderate

ANTIBIOTIC DRUGS

Why this applies to Daptomycin

Daptomycin falls under ANTIBIOTIC DRUGS — the group Bifidobacterium Animalis Subsp. Lactis interacts with.

Theoretically, taking Bifidobacterium lactis with antibiotic drugs might decrease the effectiveness of B. lactis.
Since B. lactis preparations usually contain live and active organisms, simultaneously taking antibiotics might kill a significant number of the organisms. Tell patients to separate administration of antibiotics and B. lactis preparations by at least 2 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 thing to understand: this interaction runs in one direction, and it's the probiotic that loses out, not your antibiotic. Daptomycin (Cubicin) is a strong antibiotic that kills bacteria, and it doesn't really tell the difference between the bad bugs causing your infection and the friendly Bifidobacterium lactis in your supplement. So taking them close together can wipe out a good chunk of those live probiotic organisms before they ever get to work.

The good news is that daptomycin's effectiveness against your infection isn't reduced, and your usual response to treatment shouldn't change. This concern is theoretical, based on how these two work rather than hard studies. If you want your probiotic to do its job, ask your pharmacist about spacing it a couple hours apart from your antibiotic.

References
  1. Pierce A. The American Pharmaceutical Association Practical Guide to Natural Medicines. New York: The Stonesong Press, 1999:19.
  2. Xiao JZ, Takahashi S, Odamaki T, et al. Antibiotic susceptibility of bifidobacterial strains distributed in the Japanese market. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 2010;74(2):336-42. PubMed

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

Bifidobacterium Animalis Subsp. Lactis Also Interacts With Other Medications

Bifidobacterium Animalis Subsp. Lactis has 181 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Daptomycin 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 Bifidobacterium Animalis Subsp. Lactis

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Bifidobacterium Animalis Subsp. Lactis. Pick one to open its full report.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Daptomycin

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

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

By severity: 26 moderate · 1 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Daptomycin page

“Every one of the 27 supplement interactions on file for daptomycin (Cubicin, Dapzura RT) tells the same story. It is a potent IV antibiotic used for serious infections such as MRSA, and like any antibiotic it can kill the live organisms in probiotic supplements and fermented milk products, blunting their benefit rather than the drug's.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Daptomycin interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Bifidobacterium Animalis Subsp. Lactis and Daptomycin 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 Bifidobacterium Animalis Subsp. Lactis
Steady interest

#1,196 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Daptomycin
Top 25%

#434 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 Bifidobacterium Animalis Subsp. Lactis

What is Bifidobacterium Animalis Subsp. Lactis?

  • Digestive health and regularity
  • Constipation relief
  • Immune support
  • Antibiotic-associated diarrhea
  • General gut microbiome balance

Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis is a well-studied probiotic bacterium commonly added to supplements and yogurts to support digestion and gut health. It appears generally safe for most healthy people, with the best evidence for improving bowel regularity, but benefits vary by person and strain. Talk with your pharmacist or doctor before starting it, especially if you have a weakened immune system or a serious illness.

Read the full Bifidobacterium Animalis Subsp. Lactis monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Daptomycin Injection

What Is Daptomycin Injection Used For?

Brand names: Cubicin, Dapzura RT

Daptomycin injection is used to treat complicated skin and skin structure infections (cSSSI) caused by specific gram-positive bacteria — including MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) — in adults and children ages 1 to 17. It is also used to treat Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infections (bacteremia) in adults and children ages 1 to 17, including adult patients with right-sided infective endocarditis (a serious infection of the heart's inner lining).

Important limits: daptomycin injection is not approved for pneumonia or for left-sided infective endocarditis due to S. aureus. It is also not recommended for infants under 1 year of age due to potential risks to the muscular and nervous systems seen in animal studies.

See full Daptomycin Injection drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Bifidobacterium Animalis Subsp. Lactis

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Bifidobacterium Animalis Subsp. Lactis — 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 Bifidobacterium Animalis Subsp. Lactis 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 Bifidobacterium Animalis Subsp. Lactis and Daptomycin Together: Common Questions

Can you take Bifidobacterium Animalis Subsp. Lactis with Daptomycin?
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 Bifidobacterium Animalis Subsp. Lactis and Daptomycin 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

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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.