Drug & supplement interaction

Fermented Milk + Simvastatin

Simvastatin brand name: Zocor.

No Known Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated July 2026 · Pair last verified Sep 20, 2026
The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Fermented Milk and Simvastatin in our sources. Absence of a documented interaction is not the same as proven safety, and does not guarantee one does not exist. Do not start, stop, or change a medication or supplement based on this page; confirm with your pharmacist or doctor first. Additionally, although there is no interaction, the two are separately associated with some of the same side effects, which would make a new symptom harder to attribute to one or the other.

Know someone taking this? Share
Facebook Post Reddit Email
On this page
Interaction report

Fermented Milk and Simvastatin

We checked these two against our interaction database. Here is what we found.

No Known Interaction Found

We did not find a documented interaction between Simvastatin and Fermented Milk in our sources. This does not guarantee that the combination is completely free of risk — there is often limited research on supplements and herbal products, especially around drug interactions.

If you decide to take both, the practical routine is simple: add one new thing at a time and note the date you started it. If the combination is going to disagree with you, it usually shows in the first days to a couple of weeks — and a start date turns “I’ve been feeling off” into something a pharmacist can actually work with. Do not stop a prescribed medicine on your own.

Always talk with your pharmacist or doctor before making changes to your medications or supplements, particularly if you take several medications or have an ongoing health condition.

Fermented Milk safety at a glance

Fermented Milk overall Generally safe Fermented milk is widely consumed as a food and is generally safe for most people.
Pregnancy Use caution Pasteurized fermented milk is generally fine, but avoid unpasteurized (raw-milk) products during pregnancy.
Breastfeeding Generally safe Pasteurized fermented milk is generally considered safe as part of a normal diet while breastfeeding.

Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.

Still wondering about combining Simvastatin and Fermented Milk? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›
How we checked

Why No Interaction Is Listed for Simvastatin

Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes, not just single drug names. Simvastatin is filed under 8 classifications — including hmg-coa reductase inhibitors ("statins"), organic anion-transporting polypeptide substrates (oatp), glucuronidated drugs. Fermented Milk has documented interactions with 3 drug classes — the most serious being antibiotic drugs (moderate), antihypertensive drugs (moderate) and immunosuppressants (moderate) — and none of Simvastatin’s classifications are among them.

Classification data comes from our licensed Natural Medicines dataset. A medication can belong to classes beyond those recorded there, so this describes how the check was run — it is not a safety guarantee.

Keep it in perspective

Fermented Milk Does Interact With Other Medications

Fermented Milk has 474 moderate known drug interactions in our database — Simvastatin isn’t one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 474 No known interaction 2,356 (incl. Simvastatin)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Fermented Milk

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

What to actually watch for

No Interaction Found — But Data Suggests Fermented Milk and Simvastatin May Share Several of the Same Side Effects

This is not an interaction. Neither one changes how your body handles the other, and nothing here says they react together. What our sources do show is that each has separately been linked to the effects below — so taking both can make those effects more likely to turn up, and harder to pin on one or the other if they do.

  • Constipation / Stomach pain / Nausea / Vomiting reported in 5.3% of FDA reports for Simvastatin Additional detail

    Fermented Milk

    “Orally, fermented milk can cause abdominal pain, diarrhea, bloating, vomiting, flatulence, nausea, and constipation. However, in some studies, adverse effects, such as abdominal cramping, bloating, softened stools, flatulence, abdominal distress, and diarrhea occurred equally as often in the control group.”

    Fermented Milk · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in constipation.

    6 sources cited
    1. 12775. Ishikawa H, Akedo I, Umesaki Y, et al. Randomized controlled trial of the effect of bifidobacteria-fermented milk on ulcerative colitis. J Am Coll Nutr 2003;22:56-63. PubMed
    2. 25486. Tamura, M., Shikina, T., Morihana, T., Hayama, M., Kajimoto, O., Sakamoto, A., Kajimoto, Y., Watanabe, O., Nonaka, C., Shida, K., and Nanno, M. Effects of probiotics on allergic rhinitis induced by Japanese cedar pollen: randomized double-blind, placebo-c
    3. 27327. Salminen, E., Elomaa, I., Minkkinen, J., Vapaatalo, H., and Salminen, S. Preservation of intestinal integrity during radiotherapy using live Lactobacillus acidophilus cultures. Clin Radiol 1988;39(4):435-437. PubMed
    4. 27342. Turchet, P., Laurenzano, M., Auboiron, S., and Antoine, J. M. Effect of fermented milk containing the probiotic Lactobacillus casei DN-114001 on winter infections in free-living elderly subjects: a randomised, controlled pilot study. J Nutr Health Aging 2
    5. 25494. Beausoleil, M., Fortier, N., Guenette, S., L'ecuyer, A., Savoie, M., Franco, M., Lachaine, J., and Weiss, K. Effect of a fermented milk combining Lactobacillus acidophilus Cl1285 and Lactobacillus casei in the prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhea:
    6. 96879. Hove KD, Brøns C, Færch K, Lund SS, Rossing P, Vaag A. Effects of 12 weeks of treatment with fermented milk on blood pressure, glucose metabolism and markers of cardiovascular risk in patients with type 2 diabetes: a randomised double-blind placebo-contro

    Simvastatin

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Simvastatin, and in voluntary FDA adverse-event reports. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Itching Additional detail

    Fermented Milk

    “Orally, pruritus was reported in one patient after consuming fermented milk containing Lactobacillus acidophilus CI1285. Atopic dermatitis was possibly associated with the use of fermented milk in a clinical trial.”

    Fermented Milk · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in dermatitis.

    2 sources cited
    1. 25494. Beausoleil, M., Fortier, N., Guenette, S., L'ecuyer, A., Savoie, M., Franco, M., Lachaine, J., and Weiss, K. Effect of a fermented milk combining Lactobacillus acidophilus Cl1285 and Lactobacillus casei in the prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhea:
    2. 96882. Prodeus A, Niborski V, Schrezenmeir J, Gorelov A, Shcherbina A, Rumyantsev A. Fermented milk consumption and common infections in children attending day-care centers: A randomized trial. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2016;63(5):534-543. PubMed

    Simvastatin

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Simvastatin. Read the label on DailyMed ›

Reported for Fermented Milk but not commonly for Simvastatin: bloating or gas, a skin rash and diarrhea.

Effects for Simvastatin come from the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of its FDA label; effects for Fermented Milk come from the Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, quoted above. Where a percentage is shown, it is the share of 261,345 voluntary FDA FAERS reports for Simvastatin that mention that effect — a reporting proportion, not an incidence rate and not evidence the drug caused it. Wording is matched across sources by our own clinical vocabulary, so treat this as a prompt to pay attention, not a diagnosis.

Overlapping uses

What Simvastatin Is Prescribed For, and What Fermented Milk Has Been Studied For

These two come up together because they touch the same health topic — not because they do the same job. Simvastatin is a prescription medicine with approved uses on its FDA label. Fermented Milk is a supplement: what follows is what researchers have looked at it for, and how strong that evidence is.

Simvastatin is prescribed for: Simvastatin tablets are used alongside a cholesterol-lowering diet to treat high LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol), high triglycerides, and certain inherited cholesterol disorders, including heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH) in adults and children aged 10 and older, and homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH) in adults. In adults who already have coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, peripheral vascular disease, or diabetes and are at high risk for heart events, simvastatin is also used to reduce the risk of death from heart disease, non-fatal heart attack, stroke, and the need for procedures to open blocked arteries. Zocor is one brand-name product containing simvastatin and carries these same indications.

Fermented Milk has been studied for:

  • Hypercholesterolemia Natural Medicines rates the evidence for Fermented Milk: Possibly Effective Read what the research shows

    Fermented Milk for hypercholesterolemia

    Analysis of clinical research suggests that taking fermented milk products might slightly reduce total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels in patients with or without hypercholesterolemia, with overweight or obese individuals benefitting the most.

  • Stroke studied, not established Fermented Milk has been studied for this. Natural Medicines rates the evidence: Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Read what the research shows

    Fermented Milk for stroke

    It is unclear if drinking fermented milk can reduce the risk of stroke.

  • Diabetes studied, not established Fermented Milk has been studied for this. Natural Medicines rates the evidence: Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Read what the research shows

    Fermented Milk for diabetes

    It is unclear if drinking fermented milk is beneficial in patients with diabetes.

Effectiveness ratings and the research summaries above are the verbatim record from the Natural Medicines database, which grades evidence from “Effective” down to “Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate”. A rating below the top of that scale means researchers have looked at it — not that it works, and never that it can stand in for a prescribed medicine. Do not stop or replace Simvastatin on your own; if you are taking Fermented Milk for the same health topic, tell your prescriber, especially if the medicine is being adjusted to a target.

From our Q&A

Questions About Fermented Milk or Simvastatin

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Fermented Milk or Simvastatin, not necessarily both, but if one is close to what you were about to ask it will usually go further than a database entry can:

Not quite your question? Ask our pharmacists directly — it is free, there is no account required, and answers usually come back within 24 hours.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Simvastatin

This page covers Fermented Milk only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Simvastatin page lists 183 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Apple (major), Beer (major), Grapefruit (major) and Siberian Cocklebur (major).

By severity: 8 major · 139 moderate · 36 minor.

Open the Simvastatin interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Fermented Milk and Simvastatin 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 Fermented Milk
Top half

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

29 days ago today
Medication Simvastatin
Top 25%

#592 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.

Where does our data come from?
  • Source: the Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) clinical database — the evidence-graded professional reference for herb & supplement interactions.
  • Citation library: 103,510 references behind our interaction content, 65,311 of them resolved to verified PubMed/DOI sources. See every Fermented Milk reference on this page ↓
  • Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 20, 2026. The Fermented Milk and Simvastatin records this page draws on were last updated July 10, 2026.
  • What “no known interaction” means: no documented interaction in the sources above — not a guarantee of safety. Supplements are studied far less than prescription drugs, so we say exactly what the evidence supports, and nothing more.
Data structure & sourcing designed and verified by .
Supplement

About Fermented Milk

What is Fermented Milk?

  • Digestive health
  • Supporting gut bacteria (probiotics)
  • Lactose-related digestive discomfort
  • General nutrition (protein, calcium)
  • Immune support
  • Diarrhea prevention

Fermented milk is a food made by culturing milk with helpful bacteria or yeast, and it provides protein, calcium, and probiotics. It is generally safe for most people and may help digestion and gut health, though benefits depend on the product and strains used. People with milk allergy or weakened immune systems should be cautious.

Milk fermented by bacteria or yeast cultures · Yogurt, kefir, cultured buttermilk, drinkable yogurt, fermented milk drinks, powders

An interaction check asks whether these two react with each other — it does not ask whether Fermented Milk is a good idea for someone in your situation. Here is what our Fermented Milk record says about it on its own.

Fermented Milk: dosing

There is no single standard dose for fermented milk. As a food, people commonly have a serving such as a cup of yogurt or kefir, but amounts vary widely.For probiotic products, the helpful microbes are often measured in colony-forming units (CFU), and the right amount depends on the strain and the product.

From our Fermented Milk monograph — the full record covers uses, side effects and every documented interaction.

Read the full Fermented Milk monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Simvastatin

What Is Simvastatin Used For?

Brand name: Zocor

Simvastatin tablets are used alongside a cholesterol-lowering diet to treat high LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol), high triglycerides, and certain inherited cholesterol disorders, including heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH) in adults and children aged 10 and older, and homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH) in adults.

In adults who already have coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, peripheral vascular disease, or diabetes and are at high risk for heart events, simvastatin is also used to reduce the risk of death from heart disease, non-fatal heart attack, stroke, and the need for procedures to open blocked arteries. Zocor is one brand-name product containing simvastatin and carries these same indications.

Most-Reported Side Effects for Simvastatin

From FAERS, the FDA’s public side-effect reporting system (263,006 reports, all brands). Reports are voluntary and are not proof the drug caused the effect.

Fatigue 14,524 reports
Nausea 14,119 reports
Dyspnea 13,226 reports
Diarrhea 12,591 reports
Dizziness 11,830 reports
See full Simvastatin drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Fermented Milk

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

0Major
474Moderate
0Minor
2,355No known interaction
474 Moderate 2,355 No interaction
Moderate

474 interactions

Showing 60 of 474 moderate interactions — see all 474 on the Fermented Milk page.

No interaction 2,355 drugs checked — show the list

We also checked Fermented Milk against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,355 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Fermented Milk list.

See the full Fermented Milk interactions page
See every supplement checked against Simvastatin, ranked by severity
Evidence & sources

Fermented Milk References

The 16 references that drive our Fermented Milk monograph and interaction data, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Citations with a link open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

  1. Pierce A. The American Pharmaceutical Association Practical Guide to Natural Medicines. New York: The Stonesong Press, 1999:19.
  2. Ishikawa H, Akedo I, Umesaki Y, et al. Randomized controlled trial of the effect of bifidobacteria-fermented milk on ulcerative colitis. J Am Coll Nutr 2003;22:56-63. PubMed
  3. Inoue K, Shirai T, Ochiai H, et al. Blood-pressure-lowering effect of a novel fermented milk containing gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in mild hypertensives. Eur J Clin Nutr 2003;57:490-95.
  4. 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
  5. Tamura, M., Shikina, T., Morihana, T., Hayama, M., Kajimoto, O., Sakamoto, A., Kajimoto, Y., Watanabe, O., Nonaka, C., Shida, K., and Nanno, M. Effects of probiotics on allergic rhinitis induced by Japanese cedar pollen: randomized double-blind, placebo-c
  6. Beausoleil, M., Fortier, N., Guenette, S., L'ecuyer, A., Savoie, M., Franco, M., Lachaine, J., and Weiss, K. Effect of a fermented milk combining Lactobacillus acidophilus Cl1285 and Lactobacillus casei in the prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhea:
  7. Aihara, K., Kajimoto, O., Hirata, H., Takahashi, R., and Nakamura, Y. Effect of powdered fermented milk with Lactobacillus helveticus on subjects with high-normal blood pressure or mild hypertension. J Am Coll Nutr 2005;24(4):257-265.
  8. Salminen, E., Elomaa, I., Minkkinen, J., Vapaatalo, H., and Salminen, S. Preservation of intestinal integrity during radiotherapy using live Lactobacillus acidophilus cultures. Clin Radiol 1988;39(4):435-437. PubMed
  9. Turchet, P., Laurenzano, M., Auboiron, S., and Antoine, J. M. Effect of fermented milk containing the probiotic Lactobacillus casei DN-114001 on winter infections in free-living elderly subjects: a randomised, controlled pilot study. J Nutr Health Aging 2
  10. Fukushima, Y., Miyaguchi, S., Yamano, T., Kaburagi, T., Iino, H., Ushida, K., and Sato, K. Improvement of nutritional status and incidence of infection in hospitalised, enterally fed elderly by feeding of fermented milk containing probiotic Lactobacillus
  11. Cobo Sanz, J. M., Mateos, J. A., and Munoz Conejo A. [Effect of Lactobacillus casei on the incidence of infectious conditions in children]. Nutr Hosp 2006;21(4):547-551.
  12. Tormo Carnicer R., Infante Pina D., Rosello Mayans E., and Bartolome Comas R. [Intake of fermented milk containing Lactobacillus casei DN-114 001 and its effect on gut flora]. An Pediatr (Barc) 2006;65(5):448-453.
  13. Rio, M. E., Zago Beatriz L., Garcia, H., and Winter, L. [The nutritional status change the effectiveness of a dietary supplement of lactic bacteria on the emerging of respiratory tract diseases in children]. Arch Latinoam Nutr 2002;52(1):29-34.
  14. Hove KD, Brøns C, Færch K, Lund SS, Rossing P, Vaag A. Effects of 12 weeks of treatment with fermented milk on blood pressure, glucose metabolism and markers of cardiovascular risk in patients with type 2 diabetes: a randomised double-blind placebo-contro
  15. Prodeus A, Niborski V, Schrezenmeir J, Gorelov A, Shcherbina A, Rumyantsev A. Fermented milk consumption and common infections in children attending day-care centers: A randomized trial. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2016;63(5):534-543. PubMed

Medication overviews come from MedlinePlus (NIH); supplement label data from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists — see our data sources and editorial standards.

Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Fermented Milk and Simvastatin Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Fermented Milk with Simvastatin?
We do not list a known interaction between Fermented Milk and Simvastatin. That does not guarantee the combination is risk-free, so confirm with your pharmacist or doctor — especially if you take other medications or have a health condition.
Do Fermented Milk and Simvastatin have any of the same side effects?
Yes — our sources link each of them separately to 5 of the same effects. That is not an interaction: neither changes how your body handles the other. It does mean that if one of those effects turns up, it can be harder to tell which one is behind it. They are listed on this page with the source behind each.
Are Fermented Milk and Simvastatin used for the same thing?
They overlap in purpose, which usually means the real question is whether you need both rather than whether they are safe together. This page lists the shared uses and how strong the evidence is for Fermented Milk in each. That is a conversation for your prescriber, especially if Simvastatin is being adjusted to a target.
How was the Fermented Milk and Simvastatin combination checked?
Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes. Simvastatin is filed under 8 classifications, and Fermented Milk has documented interactions with 3 drug classes — none of Simvastatin's classifications are among them. A medication can belong to classes beyond those recorded in our dataset, so this describes how the check was run rather than guaranteeing safety.
Does Fermented Milk interact with any other medications?
Yes. Fermented Milk has 474 documented drug interactions in our database — Simvastatin is simply not one of them. If you take anything else, it is worth checking each one; they are all listed on this page.
Does Simvastatin interact with any supplements?
Yes. Simvastatin has documented interactions with 183 supplements in our database — Fermented Milk is not one of them. The Simvastatin interaction page linked on this page lists every one, ranked by severity.

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

Where next

Keep Exploring

Fermented Milk monograph Uses, safety profile, and every drug interaction in one place Simvastatin drug information The full plain-English guide to this medication Simvastatin supplement interactions Every supplement checked against Simvastatin, ranked by severity Supplement interaction checker Check any supplement or product against your medications Browse medications A–Z Every drug we’ve checked against herbs & supplements References The 16 citations behind this page Ask a pharmacist Free, personal answer from our licensed team

Still Have a Question About Simvastatin and Fermented Milk?

Our pharmacists answer your medication & supplement questions — free.

Ask a pharmacist

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.