Drug & supplement interaction

Kombucha + Guaifenesin

Guaifenesin brand names: Robitussin, Humibid LA, Amibid LA, Numobid, Muco-Fen 800, and others.

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 Kombucha and Guaifenesin 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.

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Interaction report

Kombucha and Guaifenesin

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 Guaifenesin and Kombucha 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.

Kombucha safety at a glance

Kombucha overall Use caution Usually fine in moderation for healthy adults, but contamination and acidity can cause problems.
Pregnancy Possibly Unsafe When used orally; avoid using. Read the full pregnancy detail
Breastfeeding Possibly Unsafe When used orally; avoid using. Read the full breastfeeding detail

Pregnancy & breastfeeding ratings are from Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center) — the full detail is in the Special populations card below. Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.

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

Why No Interaction Is Listed for Guaifenesin

Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes, not just single drug names. Guaifenesin is filed under 2 classifications — including oral drugs. Kombucha has documented interactions with 2 drug classes — the most serious being antidiabetes drugs (moderate) and disulfiram (antabuse) (minor) — and none of Guaifenesin’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

Kombucha Does Interact With Other Medications

Kombucha has 86 moderate, 1 minor known drug interactions in our database — Guaifenesin isn’t one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 86 Minor 1 No known interaction 2,743 (incl. Guaifenesin)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Kombucha

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

What to actually watch for

What Kombucha Itself Has Been Linked To

This is not an interaction — nothing below involves Guaifenesin. It is the side-effect record for Kombucha on its own, from the licensed Natural Medicines monograph. If something new turns up after you add Kombucha, this list is the first place to look. 2 entries are worth acting on rather than waiting out — marked below.

  • Bleeding in the gut Worth acting on Additional detail

    “Orally, use of kombucha has been associated with reports of stomach problems, nausea, and vomiting. The acidic content of kombucha increases with the duration of fermentation during preparation, which may contribute to development of stomach ulcers.”

    Kombucha · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in nausea and vomiting.

    5 sources cited
    1. 2652. Kombucha-toxicity alert. Crit Path AIDS Proj, 1994;30:31-32 1994-5.
    2. 2656. Srinivasan R, Smolinske S, Greenbaum DJ. Probable gastrointestinal toxicity of Kombucha tea: is this beverage healthy or harmful? J Gen Intern Med 1997;12:643-4. PubMed
    3. 57733. Ernst, E. Kombucha: a systematic review of the clinical evidence. Forsch.Komplementarmed.Klass.Naturheilkd. 2003;10(2):85-87. PubMed
    4. 57742. Sabouraud, S., Coppere, B., Rousseau, C., Testud, F., Pulce, C., Tholly, F., Blanc, M., Culoma, F., Facchin, A., Ninet, J., Chambon, P., Medina, B., and Descotes, J. [Environmental lead poisoning from lead-glazed earthenware used for storing drinks]. Rev
    5. 103179. Jakubczyk K, Kałduńska J, Kochman J, Janda K. Chemical Profile and Antioxidant Activity of the Kombucha Beverage Derived from White, Green, Black and Red Tea. Antioxidants (Basel). 2020;9(5):E447. doi: 10.3390/antiox9050447. PubMed
  • Kidney problems Worth acting on Additional detail

    “In one case, a 22 year-old male with HIV presented with hyperthermia, lactic acidosis, and acute renal failure 15 hours after ingesting kombucha.”

    Kombucha · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in hiv/aids.

    1 source cited
    1. 57748. SungHee, Kole A., Jones, H. D., Christensen, R., and Gladstein, J. A case of Kombucha tea toxicity. J.Intensive Care Med. 2009;24(3):205-207. PubMed
  • Dizziness Additional detail

    “Dizziness associated with consumption of kombucha, possibly due to its alcohol content, has been reported.”

    Kombucha · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in vertigo.

    2 sources cited
    1. 57733. Ernst, E. Kombucha: a systematic review of the clinical evidence. Forsch.Komplementarmed.Klass.Naturheilkd. 2003;10(2):85-87. PubMed
    2. 57762. McNaughton, C. and Eidsness, L. M. Ethics of alternative therapies. S.D.J.Med. 1995;48(7):209-211.
  • Vomiting / Nausea Additional detail

    “Orally, kombucha seems to be well tolerated. However, kombucha that is prepared in non-sterile environments or stored in containers made with toxic constituents might be unsafe.

    Most Common Adverse Effects:

    Orally: Gastrointestinal complaints, including nausea and vomiting.

    Serious Adverse Effects (Rare):

    Orally: Cardiac arrest and death.”

    Kombucha · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in cardiac arrest.

Everything above comes from the Natural Medicines adverse-effect record for Kombucha — expand a row for the licensed statement it rests on. We haven’t matched Guaifenesin to its FDA label in our system yet, so we can’t compare its own side-effect list here — the leaflet that comes with your prescription is the authoritative list for Guaifenesin.

Special populations

Kombucha in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Pregnancy And Lactation Possibly Unsafe

When used orally; avoid using.

DISCLAIMER: This tool is intended for informational purposes only, and should not be interpreted as specific medical advice. Patients should consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about therapies and/or health conditions.© 2026 Therapeutic Research Center

From our Q&A

Questions About Kombucha or Guaifenesin

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

This page covers Kombucha only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Guaifenesin page lists 26 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Grapefruit (major), Berberine (moderate), Bitter Orange (moderate) and Coffee Charcoal (moderate).

By severity: 2 major · 15 moderate · 9 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Guaifenesin page

“Guaifenesin (Robitussin, Humibid LA) loosens chest mucus, and by itself it is a mild medicine, but two of the 26 supplements on this list rate major, so those two deserve your attention first. Activated charcoal can bind the drug in your gut and blunt what it does, and grapefruit raises blood levels of dextromethorphan, the cough suppr…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Guaifenesin interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 30 real supplement products containing Kombucha, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Kombucha. Even though Kombucha itself has no known interaction with Guaifenesin, 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 Kombucha and Guaifenesin 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 Kombucha
Top half

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

29 days ago today
Medication Guaifenesin
Steady interest

#1,701 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 Kombucha reference on this page ↓
  • Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 20, 2026. The Kombucha and Guaifenesin 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 Kombucha

What is Kombucha?

  • General wellness and gut health
  • Digestion
  • Immune support
  • Energy and detox claims
  • Source of probiotics

Kombucha is a fermented tea that many people enjoy as a probiotic-rich beverage, but solid human research proving specific health benefits is lacking. It is generally fine in moderate amounts for healthy adults, though homemade or unpasteurized versions can carry contamination risks. Pregnant people, those who are breastfeeding, and people with weakened immune systems should be cautious or avoid it.

Fermented sweetened tea (made with Camellia sinensis tea and a SCOBY culture) · Bottled drink, homemade fermented tea, occasionally powders or supplements

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

Kombucha: dosing

There is no established standard dose for kombucha. Many people drink a small glass (a few ounces) once a day or less, and start with a small amount to see how their body reacts.Follow the serving size on the product label, and choose reputable, commercially made brands rather than untested homemade versions.

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

Read the full Kombucha monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Guaifenesin

What Is Guaifenesin Used For?

Brand names: Robitussin, Humibid LA, Amibid LA, Numobid, Muco-Fen 800, Bidex, Organidin, X-pect, Mucinex

Guaifenesin helps loosen phlegm (mucus) and thin bronchial secretions — the sticky fluid in your airways — so your cough can clear it out more effectively. It is used to relieve chest congestion associated with colds, respiratory infections, and other conditions that cause a mucus-filled cough.

This use is supported across multiple products including tablets, extended-release tablets, and oral solutions such as Childrens Mucus Relief, Tussin, Guaifenesin STRAWBERRY-BANANA FLAVOR, 12 Hour Mucus Relief, 365 Whole Foods Market Guaifenesin, Dr. Simi Mucus Relief, and others.

See full Guaifenesin drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Kombucha

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

0Major
86Moderate
1Minor
2,742No known interaction
86 Moderate 1 Minor 2,742 No interaction
Moderate

86 interactions

Showing 60 of 86 moderate interactions — see all 86 on the Kombucha page.

Minor

1 interaction

No interaction 2,742 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,742 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Kombucha list.

See the full Kombucha interactions page
See every supplement checked against Guaifenesin, ranked by severity
Evidence & sources

Kombucha References

The 15 references that drive our Kombucha 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. Phan TG, Estell J, Duggin G, et al. Lead poisoning from drinking Kombucha tea brewed in a ceramic pot. Med J Aust 1998;169:644-6. PubMed
  2. FDA Talk Paper. FDA Cautions Consumers on "Kombucha Mushroom Tea." Available at: www.vm.cfsan.fda.gov/~lrd/TPMUSHRM.html
  3. Kombucha-toxicity alert. Crit Path AIDS Proj, 1994;30:31-32 1994-5.
  4. CDC. Unexplained severe illness possibly associated with consumption of Kombucha tea-Iowa, 1995. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 1995;44:892-3,899-900.
  5. Srinivasan R, Smolinske S, Greenbaum DJ. Probable gastrointestinal toxicity of Kombucha tea: is this beverage healthy or harmful? J Gen Intern Med 1997;12:643-4. PubMed
  6. Ernst, E. Kombucha: a systematic review of the clinical evidence. Forsch.Komplementarmed.Klass.Naturheilkd. 2003;10(2):85-87. PubMed
  7. Derk, C. T., Sandorfi, N., and Curtis, M. T. A case of anti-Jo1 myositis with pleural effusions and pericardial tamponade developing after exposure to a fermented Kombucha beverage. Clin.Rheumatol. 2004;23(4):355-357. PubMed
  8. Sabouraud, S., Coppere, B., Rousseau, C., Testud, F., Pulce, C., Tholly, F., Blanc, M., Culoma, F., Facchin, A., Ninet, J., Chambon, P., Medina, B., and Descotes, J. [Environmental lead poisoning from lead-glazed earthenware used for storing drinks]. Rev
  9. SungHee, Kole A., Jones, H. D., Christensen, R., and Gladstein, J. A case of Kombucha tea toxicity. J.Intensive Care Med. 2009;24(3):205-207. PubMed
  10. Aloulou, A., Hamden, K., Elloumi, D., Ali, M. B., Hargafi, K., Jaouadi, B., Ayadi, F., Elfeki, A., and Ammar, E. Hypoglycemic and antilipidemic properties of kombucha tea in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. BMC.Complement Altern.Med. 2012;12:63. PubMed
  11. McNaughton, C. and Eidsness, L. M. Ethics of alternative therapies. S.D.J.Med. 1995;48(7):209-211.
  12. No author. Unexplained severe illness possibly associated with consumption of Kombucha tea--Iowa, 1995. From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. JAMA 1-10-1996;275(2):96-98.
  13. Jakubczyk K, Kałduńska J, Kochman J, Janda K. Chemical Profile and Antioxidant Activity of the Kombucha Beverage Derived from White, Green, Black and Red Tea. Antioxidants (Basel). 2020;9(5):E447. doi: 10.3390/antiox9050447. PubMed
  14. Jang SS, McIntyre L, Chan M, Brown PN, Finley J, Chen SX. Ethanol concentration of kombucha teas in British Columbia, Canada. J Food Prot 2021;84(11):1878-83. PubMed
  15. Xu S, Wang Y, Wang J, Geng W. Kombucha reduces hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetes of mice by regulating gut microbiota and Its metabolites. Foods 2022;11(5):754. 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 Kombucha and Guaifenesin Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Kombucha with Guaifenesin?
We do not list a known interaction between Kombucha and Guaifenesin. 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.
How was the Kombucha and Guaifenesin combination checked?
Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes. Guaifenesin is filed under 2 classifications, and Kombucha has documented interactions with 2 drug classes — none of Guaifenesin'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 Kombucha interact with any other medications?
Yes. Kombucha has 87 documented drug interactions in our database — Guaifenesin 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 Guaifenesin interact with any supplements?
Yes. Guaifenesin has documented interactions with 26 supplements in our database — Kombucha is not one of them. The Guaifenesin 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

Kombucha monograph Uses, safety profile, and every drug interaction in one place Guaifenesin drug information The full plain-English guide to this medication Guaifenesin supplement interactions Every supplement checked against Guaifenesin, 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 15 citations behind this page Ask a pharmacist Free, personal answer from our licensed team

Still Have a Question About Guaifenesin and Kombucha?

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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.