Drug & supplement interaction

Lacticaseibacillus Paracasei + Cefotaxime

Cefotaxime brand name: Claforan.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Lacticaseibacillus Paracasei has a moderate interaction with Cefotaxime. Theoretically, taking Lacticaseibacillus paracasei with antibiotic drugs might decrease the effectiveness of L.

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

Lacticaseibacillus Paracasei and Cefotaxime

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

Moderate

ANTIBIOTIC DRUGS

Why this applies to Cefotaxime

Cefotaxime falls under ANTIBIOTIC DRUGS — the group Lacticaseibacillus Paracasei interacts with.

Theoretically, taking Lacticaseibacillus paracasei with antibiotic drugs might decrease the effectiveness of L. paracasei.
L. paracasei preparations usually contain live and active organisms. Therefore, simultaneously taking antibiotics might kill a significant number of the organisms. Tell patients to separate administration of antibiotics and L. paracasei preparations by at least two hours.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Probable Evidence D

Interaction 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..

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

Here's the key thing to understand: this interaction runs in one direction. Cefotaxime won't be weakened by your probiotic. Instead, it's the other way around. Cefotaxime is an antibiotic that kills bacteria to clear your infection, and Lacticaseibacillus paracasei is a live, friendly bacterium. So if you take them at the same time, the antibiotic can kill off a good chunk of those probiotic organisms before they ever do their job in your gut.

This is a theoretical concern based on how the two work, not a dangerous one. Your cefotaxime will still treat your infection normally. A common, practical tip is to space the probiotic at least two hours apart from doses, and check with your pharmacist or doctor about timing.

References
  1. Pierce A. The American Pharmaceutical Association Practical Guide to Natural Medicines. New York: The Stonesong Press, 1999:19.

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

Lacticaseibacillus Paracasei Also Interacts With Other Medications

Lacticaseibacillus Paracasei has 181 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Cefotaxime one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Lacticaseibacillus Paracasei

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Cefotaxime

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

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

By severity: 2 major · 39 moderate · 4 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Cefotaxime page

“The two entries worth understanding first on this cefotaxime (Claforan) list are Siberian cocklebur and asarabacca. Both can damage the kidneys on their own, and stacking that on an injectable antibiotic often given to people who are already quite sick is a risk I would not take lightly.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Cefotaxime interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Lacticaseibacillus Paracasei and Cefotaxime 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 Lacticaseibacillus Paracasei
Steady interest

#1,167 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Cefotaxime
Steady interest

#1,606 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 Lacticaseibacillus Paracasei

What is Lacticaseibacillus Paracasei?

  • Digestive health and regularity
  • Immune support
  • Diarrhea (including antibiotic-associated)
  • Allergy and eczema symptoms
  • Gut microbiome balance

Lacticaseibacillus paracasei (formerly Lactobacillus paracasei) is a probiotic bacterium found in fermented foods and supplements that is widely used to support gut and immune health. Some strains have promising research for digestion, diarrhea, and allergies, but results vary by strain and many uses are not firmly proven. It is generally well tolerated in healthy people, but those who are seriously ill or immune-compromised should check with a doctor first.

Read the full Lacticaseibacillus Paracasei monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Cefotaxime Injection

What Is Cefotaxime Injection Used For?

Brand name: Claforan

Cefotaxime Injection is used to treat serious bacterial infections in many parts of the body — including the lungs, urinary tract, skin, bones and joints, abdomen, reproductive organs, and central nervous system (such as meningitis). It also treats bloodstream infections (septicemia) and certain sexually transmitted infections, including gonorrhea.

It is also given before certain surgeries — such as abdominal or vaginal hysterectomy, gastrointestinal surgery, and cesarean section — to reduce the risk of postoperative infection. Because cefotaxime has no activity against Chlamydia trachomatis, an additional antibiotic must be added when that organism is a suspected cause of pelvic inflammatory disease.

See full Cefotaxime Injection drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Lacticaseibacillus Paracasei

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

0Major
181Moderate
0Minor
2,648No known interaction
Moderate

181 interactions

Showing 60 of 181 moderate interactions — see all 181 on the Lacticaseibacillus Paracasei page.

No interaction 2,648 drugs checked — show the list
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

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Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Lacticaseibacillus Paracasei and Cefotaxime Together: Common Questions

Can you take Lacticaseibacillus Paracasei with Cefotaxime?
There is a moderate interaction, so it may be acceptable with monitoring or timing changes — but check with your pharmacist first. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
How serious is the Lacticaseibacillus Paracasei and Cefotaxime interaction?
We rate it Moderate. This combination may require monitoring, a dose adjustment, or separating the times you take each one. Consult your pharmacist before using them together.

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

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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.