Drug & supplement interaction

Kefir + Cefaclor

Cefaclor brand names: Ceclor CD, Ceclor.

No Known Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated July 2026 · Pair last verified Oct 4, 2026
The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Kefir and Cefaclor 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 Cefaclor 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.

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

Kefir and Cefaclor

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 Cefaclor 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 Cefaclor and Kefir? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›
How we checked

Why No Interaction Is Listed for Cefaclor

Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes, not just single drug names. Cefaclor is filed under 6 classifications — including organic anion transporter 3 (oat3) substrates, organic anion transporter 1 (oat1) substrates, antibiotic drugs. Kefir has documented interactions with 2 drug classes — the most serious being immunosuppressants (moderate) and disulfiram (antabuse) (minor) — and none of Cefaclor’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 — Cefaclor isn’t one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 121 Minor 1 No known interaction 2,708 (incl. Cefaclor)
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 Cefaclor 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.

  • Bloating or gas / Constipation / Stomach pain / Diarrhea / Nausea 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

    Cefaclor

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

Effects for Cefaclor come from the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of its FDA label; effects for Kefir come from the Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, quoted above. 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 Cefaclor Products Have a Food Rule — Kefir Should Not Break It

At least one FDA label for a product containing Cefaclor says to take it with food. If you take Kefir on an empty stomach out of habit, keep them separate — and take Cefaclor with a meal where the label says to.

This may not be true of your version. Food instructions belong to the product, not the ingredient: two Cefaclor 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.

DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION The absorption of cefaclor extended-release tablets is enhanced when it is administered with food.

From the Dosage and Administration section of the FDA label we read for Cefaclor — 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.

Overlapping uses

What Cefaclor Is Prescribed For, and What Kefir Has Been Studied For

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

Cefaclor is prescribed for: Cefaclor treats a range of bacterial infections. The capsule and oral suspension forms are used for ear infections (otitis media), lower respiratory tract infections including pneumonia, strep throat and tonsillitis, urinary tract infections (including kidney infections and bladder infections), and skin and skin structure infections. The extended-release tablet form of Cefaclor is approved for a narrower set of uses: acute bacterial flare-ups of chronic bronchitis, strep throat and tonsillitis, and uncomplicated skin infections. Not all infections approved for the capsule or suspension are approved for the extended-release tablet — your prescriber will choose the right form for your infection.

Kefir has been studied for:

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

    Kefir for bronchitis

    Although there has been interest in using oral kefir for bronchitis, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of kefir for this purpose.

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 Cefaclor on your own; if you are taking Kefir for the same health topic, tell your prescriber, especially if the medicine is being adjusted to a target.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Cefaclor

This page covers Kefir only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Cefaclor page lists 60 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Asarabacca (major), Siberian Cocklebur (major), African Wild Potato (moderate) and Aristolochia (moderate).

By severity: 3 major · 46 moderate · 11 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Cefaclor page

“The entries worth understanding before any others on this cefaclor (Ceclor) page are the kidney risks and charcoal. Cefaclor is a cephalosporin antibiotic, typically a short course for ear, sinus, throat, or skin infections, and two herbs here, Siberian cocklebur and asarabacca, can damage the kidneys on their own, so pairing either wi…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Cefaclor 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 Cefaclor, 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 Cefaclor 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
Top half

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

29 days ago today
Medication Cefaclor
Top 10%

#241 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 October 4, 2026. The Kefir and Cefaclor 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 Cefaclor

What Is Cefaclor Used For?

Brand names: Ceclor CD, Ceclor

Cefaclor treats a range of bacterial infections. The capsule and oral suspension forms are used for ear infections (otitis media), lower respiratory tract infections including pneumonia, strep throat and tonsillitis, urinary tract infections (including kidney infections and bladder infections), and skin and skin structure infections.

The extended-release tablet form of Cefaclor is approved for a narrower set of uses: acute bacterial flare-ups of chronic bronchitis, strep throat and tonsillitis, and uncomplicated skin infections. Not all infections approved for the capsule or suspension are approved for the extended-release tablet — your prescriber will choose the right form for your infection.

Most-Reported Side Effects for Cefaclor

From FAERS, the FDA’s public side-effect reporting system (1,535 reports, all brands). Reports are voluntary and are not proof the drug caused the effect.

Drug hypersensitivity 252 reports
Nausea 159 reports
Vomiting 159 reports
Fatigue 137 reports
Fever 121 reports
See full Cefaclor 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
121 Moderate 1 Minor 2,707 No 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

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,707 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Kefir list.

See the full Kefir interactions page
See every supplement checked against Cefaclor, ranked by severity
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 Cefaclor Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Kefir with Cefaclor?
We do not list a known interaction between Kefir and Cefaclor. 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 Cefaclor 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.
Should I take Kefir and Cefaclor at the same time of day?
At least one FDA label for a product containing Cefaclor says to take it with food. If you take Kefir on an empty stomach out of habit, keep them separate and take Cefaclor with a meal where the label says to. Food instructions belong to the product rather than the ingredient — two Cefaclor products can differ — so check the directions on your own box. This is about absorption, not an interaction.
Are Kefir and Cefaclor 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 Kefir in each. That is a conversation for your prescriber, especially if Cefaclor is being adjusted to a target.
How was the Kefir and Cefaclor combination checked?
Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes. Cefaclor is filed under 6 classifications, and Kefir has documented interactions with 2 drug classes — none of Cefaclor'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 — Cefaclor 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 Cefaclor interact with any supplements?
Yes. Cefaclor has documented interactions with 60 supplements in our database — Kefir is not one of them. The Cefaclor 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

Kefir monograph Uses, safety profile, and every drug interaction in one place Cefaclor drug information The full plain-English guide to this medication Cefaclor supplement interactions Every supplement checked against Cefaclor, 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 10 citations behind this page Ask a pharmacist Free, personal answer from our licensed team

Still Have a Question About Cefaclor and Kefir?

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.