Drug & supplement interaction

Kefir + Asciminib

Asciminib brand name: Scemblix.

No Known Interaction
The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Kefir and Asciminib 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 label for Asciminib states a food rule worth keeping to, and 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.

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Interaction report

Kefir and Asciminib

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 Asciminib and Kefir 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.

Kefir safety at a glance

Kefir overall Generally safe Kefir is generally safe for most healthy people as a food.
Pregnancy Use caution Pasteurized-milk kefir is likely fine, but avoid unpasteurized or homemade versions and consult your doctor.
Breastfeeding Use caution Likely fine as a food, but choose pasteurized products and check with your doctor.

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

Still wondering about combining Asciminib and Kefir? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›
How we checked

Why No Interaction Is Listed for Asciminib

Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes, not just single drug names. Asciminib is filed under 3 classifications — cytochrome p450 2c9 (cyp2c9) inhibitors, cytochrome p450 3a4 (cyp3a4) inhibitors, oral drugs. Kefir has documented interactions with 2 drug classes — the most serious being immunosuppressants (moderate) and disulfiram (antabuse) (minor) — and none of Asciminib’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

Kefir Does Interact With Other Medications

Kefir has 121 moderate, 1 minor known drug interactions in our database — Asciminib isn’t one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Kefir

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

What to actually watch for

No Interaction Found — But Data Suggests Kefir and Asciminib 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 / Diarrhea / Nausea reported in 5.5% of FDA reports for Asciminib Additional detail

    Kefir

    “Orally, kefir might cause bloating, nausea, intestinal cramping, diarrhea, and constipation with initial use. These symptoms are uncommon and usually resolve after continued use. However, severe bloating and abdominal cramping resulting in withdrawal from a clinical trial has been reported for 3 patients.”

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

    4 sources cited
    1. 7636. St-Onge MP, Farnworth ER, Savard T, et al. Kefir consumption does not alter plasma lipid levels or cholesterol fractional synthesis rates relative to milk in hyperlipidemic men: a randomized controlled trial [ISRCTN10820810]. BMC Complement Altern Med 200 PubMed
    2. 95314. Turan I, Dedeli Ö, Bor S, Ilter T. Effects of a kefir supplement on symptoms, colonic transit, and bowel satisfaction score in patients with chronic constipation: a pilot study. Turk J Gastroenterol. 2014;25(6):650-6. PubMed
    3. 112046. Bellikci-Koyu E, Sarer-Yurekli BP, Karagozlu C, Aydin-Kose F, Ozgen AG, Buyuktuncer Z. Probiotic kefir consumption improves serum apolipoprotein A1 levels in metabolic syndrome patients: a randomized controlled clinical trial. Nutr Res 2022;102:59-70. PubMed
    4. 95311. Fathi Y, Faghih S, Zibaeenezhad MJ, Tabatabaei SH. Kefir drink leads to a similar weight loss, compared with milk, in a dairy-rich non-energy-restricted diet in overweight or obese premenopausal women: a randomized controlled trial. Eur J Nutr. 2016;55(1) PubMed

    Asciminib

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

Reported for Kefir but not commonly for Asciminib: bloating or gas.

Effects for Asciminib come from the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of its FDA label; effects for Kefir come from the Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, quoted above. Where a percentage is shown, it is the share of 3,174 voluntary FDA FAERS reports for Asciminib 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.

How to take them

Some Asciminib Products Have a Food Rule — Kefir Should Not Break It

At least one FDA label for a product containing Asciminib says to take it on an empty stomach. Most supplements — Kefir included — are taken with a meal, so the easy mistake is swallowing both together at breakfast. Where that rule applies, keep Asciminib on its own and move Kefir to a meal later in the day.

This may not be true of your version. Food instructions belong to the product, not the ingredient: two Asciminib products can carry different directions, and extended-release forms often differ from immediate-release ones. The label we read is quoted below — check the directions on your own box or bottle, or ask your pharmacist, for how to take the exact product you were given.

The recommended dose of SCEMBLIX is taken orally without food.

From the Dosage and Administration section of the FDA label we read for Asciminib — where that label names a specific product, the instruction is that product's. Read the label on DailyMed ›

A food rule is not an interaction — it is about how much of the medicine you absorb. The directions that came with your own product, and your pharmacist, outrank anything on this page.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Asciminib

This page covers Kefir only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Asciminib page lists 31 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Adrafinil (moderate), Cannabidiol (cbd) (moderate), Cannabinol (cbn) (moderate) and Cannabis (moderate).

By severity: 1 major · 20 moderate · 10 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Asciminib page

“Asciminib (Scemblix) treats chronic myeloid leukemia, and a steady blood level is what keeps the cancer suppressed, so this list deserves real care rather than a quick skim. Seventeen of the 31 supplements on file are fibers, gums, and charcoals that can block or slow how much of each pill your gut actually absorbs.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Asciminib interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 29 real supplement products containing Kefir, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Kefir. Even though Kefir itself has no known interaction with Asciminib, another ingredient on your label might. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where Kefir and Asciminib 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 Kefir
Steady interest

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

29 days ago today
Medication Asciminib
Steady interest

#1,980 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 Kefir reference on this page ↓
  • Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 20, 2026. The Kefir and Asciminib 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 Kefir

What is Kefir?

  • Digestive health
  • Source of probiotics
  • Lactose intolerance support
  • General immune support
  • Gut microbiome balance

Kefir is a fermented drink made by adding kefir grains to milk (or sugar water), creating a tangy beverage rich in probiotics. It is generally a safe, nutritious food that may support gut health, but strong evidence for treating specific medical conditions is still limited. If you have a weakened immune system or other health concerns, check with your pharmacist or doctor first.

Fermented milk or water with kefir grains (a culture of bacteria and yeast) · Drinkable fermented milk, water kefir, powdered or capsule probiotic products

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

Kefir: dosing

There is no official standardized dose for kefir because it is a food, not a regulated medicine. Many people drink anywhere from a few ounces to a cup per day, often starting small and increasing gradually to allow the gut to adjust.If you use a powdered or capsule probiotic product, follow the directions on the label.

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

Read the full Kefir monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Asciminib

What Is Asciminib Used For?

Brand name: Scemblix

Scemblix (asciminib) is used to treat adult patients with Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic phase (Ph+ CML-CP) — a type of blood cancer driven by an abnormal protein called BCR-ABL1. It covers three groups: people newly diagnosed with Ph+ CML-CP, people who have already been treated for Ph+ CML-CP, and people whose cancer carries a specific mutation called T315I that makes it harder to treat.

The use in newly diagnosed Ph+ CML-CP was approved under accelerated approval based on early response data. Continued approval for that specific use may depend on results from confirmatory trials confirming long-term clinical benefit.

Most-Reported Side Effects for Asciminib

From FAERS, the FDA’s public side-effect reporting system (3,174 reports, all brands). Reports are voluntary and are not proof the drug caused the effect.

Fatigue 252 reports
Nausea 175 reports
Thrombocytopenia 158 reports
Headache 134 reports
Diarrhea 130 reports
See full Asciminib drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Kefir

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

0Major
121Moderate
1Minor
2,707No known interaction
Moderate

121 interactions

Showing 60 of 121 moderate interactions — see all 121 on the Kefir page.

Minor

1 interaction

No interaction 2,707 drugs checked — show the list
Evidence & sources

Kefir References

The 10 references that drive our Kefir 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. St-Onge MP, Farnworth ER, Savard T, et al. Kefir consumption does not alter plasma lipid levels or cholesterol fractional synthesis rates relative to milk in hyperlipidemic men: a randomized controlled trial [ISRCTN10820810]. BMC Complement Altern Med 200 PubMed
  2. Murofushi M, Mizuguchi J, Aibara K, Matuhasi T. Immunopotentiative effect of polysaccharide from kefir grain, KGF-C, administered orally in mice. Immunopharmacology 1986;12:29-35. PubMed
  3. Shiomi M, Sasaki K, Murofushi M, Aibara K. Antitumor activity in mice of orally administered polysaccharide from Kefir grain. Jpn J Med Sci Biol 1982;35:75-80. PubMed
  4. Rimada PS, Abraham AG. Polysaccharide production by kefir grains during whey fermentation. J Dairy Res 2001;68:653-61. PubMed
  5. De Vrese M, Keller B, Barth CA. Enhancement of intestinal hydrolysis of lactose by microbial beta-galactosidase (EC 3.2.1.23) of kefir. Br J Nutr 1992;67:67-75.
  6. Athanasiadis, I., Boskou, D., Kanellaki, M., and Koutinas, A. A. Low-temperature alcoholic fermentation by delignified cellulosic material supported cells of kefir yeast. J.Agric.Food Chem. 1999;47(10):4474-4477. PubMed
  7. Rabl, W., Liniger, B., Sutter, K., and Sigrist, T. [Ethanol content of Kefir water]. Blutalkohol 1994;31(2):76-79.
  8. Fathi Y, Faghih S, Zibaeenezhad MJ, Tabatabaei SH. Kefir drink leads to a similar weight loss, compared with milk, in a dairy-rich non-energy-restricted diet in overweight or obese premenopausal women: a randomized controlled trial. Eur J Nutr. 2016;55(1) PubMed
  9. Turan I, Dedeli Ö, Bor S, Ilter T. Effects of a kefir supplement on symptoms, colonic transit, and bowel satisfaction score in patients with chronic constipation: a pilot study. Turk J Gastroenterol. 2014;25(6):650-6. PubMed
  10. Bellikci-Koyu E, Sarer-Yurekli BP, Karagozlu C, Aydin-Kose F, Ozgen AG, Buyuktuncer Z. Probiotic kefir consumption improves serum apolipoprotein A1 levels in metabolic syndrome patients: a randomized controlled clinical trial. Nutr Res 2022;102:59-70. 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 Kefir and Asciminib Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Kefir with Asciminib?
We do not list a known interaction between Kefir and Asciminib. 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 Kefir and Asciminib have any of the same side effects?
Yes — our sources link each of them separately to 4 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.
Should I take Kefir and Asciminib at the same time of day?
At least one FDA label for a product containing Asciminib says to take it on an empty stomach, and supplements are usually taken with a meal — so taking them together at breakfast is the easy mistake. Where that applies, keep Asciminib on its own and move Kefir to a meal later in the day. Food instructions belong to the product rather than the ingredient, so check the directions on your own box. This is about absorption, not an interaction.
How was the Kefir and Asciminib combination checked?
Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes. Asciminib is filed under 3 classifications, and Kefir has documented interactions with 2 drug classes — none of Asciminib'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 Kefir interact with any other medications?
Yes. Kefir has 122 documented drug interactions in our database — Asciminib 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 Asciminib interact with any supplements?
Yes. Asciminib has documented interactions with 31 supplements in our database — Kefir is not one of them. The Asciminib interaction page linked on this page lists every one, ranked by severity.

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

Still Have a Question About Asciminib and Kefir?

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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.