Drug & supplement interaction

Kefir + Disulfiram

Disulfiram brand name: Antabuse.

Minor Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated September 2026
The bottom line Minor

Kefir has a minor interaction with Disulfiram. Theoretically, taking kefir with disulfiram might cause a disulfiram reaction.

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

Kefir and Disulfiram

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

Minor

DISULFIRAM (Antabuse)

Theoretically, taking kefir with disulfiram might cause a disulfiram reaction.

Kefir may contain alcohol.
Severity Minor Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Interaction 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.

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

Here's the thing to know with disulfiram (Antabuse): it works by blocking how your body clears alcohol, so even a little alcohol can trigger a reaction (flushing, headache, nausea, vomiting, a racing heart, that kind of thing). Now, kefir is a fermented drink, and fermentation can leave behind small traces of alcohol. So in theory, drinking kefir while on disulfiram could spark a mild version of that reaction.

In reality, the alcohol in most kefir is very low, and this concern is theoretical rather than something we see often. Still, since everyone reacts differently and disulfiram is sensitive even to small amounts, it's worth running it by your pharmacist or doctor before making kefir a regular habit. If you ever feel flushed or queasy after drinking it, that's your cue to stop and check in.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. 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
  2. Rabl, W., Liniger, B., Sutter, K., and Sigrist, T. [Ethanol content of Kefir water]. Blutalkohol 1994;31(2):76-79.

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

Kefir Also Interacts With Other Medications

Kefir has 121 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Disulfiram one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 121 No known interaction 2,709 (incl. Disulfiram)
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.

From our Q&A

Questions About Kefir or Disulfiram

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Kefir or Disulfiram, 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 Disulfiram

This page covers Kefir only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Disulfiram page lists 45 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Bach Flower Remedies (major), Beer (major), Wine (major) and Biofeedback (moderate).

By severity: 4 major · 30 moderate · 11 minor.

Open the Disulfiram 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. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Disulfiram too, on top of Kefir — 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 Kefir and Disulfiram 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

#1,064 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Disulfiram
Top 25%

#325 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 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.

Read the full Kefir monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Disulfiram

What Is Disulfiram Used For?

Brand name: Antabuse

Disulfiram is used as part of a treatment program for people with chronic alcoholism who want to stop drinking. It works by making the body react very unpleasantly to alcohol, which helps reinforce the commitment to stay sober.

It is not a cure for alcoholism, and it works best when combined with counseling, motivation, and support. Used alone, without those supports, it is unlikely to make a lasting difference.

See full Disulfiram 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
0Minor
2,708No known interaction
121 Moderate 2,708 No interaction
Moderate

121 interactions

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

No interaction 2,708 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 2,708 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Kefir list.

See the full Kefir interactions page
See every supplement checked against Disulfiram, ranked by severity
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

Keep exploring
Kefir monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Disulfiram supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Disulfiram, ranked by severity Disulfiram drug information › The full plain-English guide to this medication Supplement interaction checker › Check any supplement or product against your medications Browse medications A–Z › Every drug we've checked against herbs & supplements Ask a pharmacist › Free, personal answer from our licensed team
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Kefir and Disulfiram Together: Common Questions

Can you take Kefir with Disulfiram?
There is only a minor interaction, which is usually not serious. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
How serious is the Kefir and Disulfiram interaction?
We rate it Minor. This interaction is generally not clinically significant, but it remains worth noting and discussing with your pharmacist.

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

Still Have a Question About Disulfiram 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.