Drug & supplement interaction

Lacticaseibacillus Paracasei + Nitrofurantoin

Nitrofurantoin brand names: Macrodantin, Furadantin, Furatoin, Macrobid.

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

Lacticaseibacillus Paracasei has a moderate interaction with Nitrofurantoin. 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 Nitrofurantoin

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

Moderate

ANTIBIOTIC DRUGS

Why this applies to Nitrofurantoin

Nitrofurantoin 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 thing to keep in mind when you pair this probiotic with nitrofurantoin (Macrobid, Macrodantin). Nitrofurantoin is an antibiotic, and its whole job is to kill bacteria. Trouble is, it can't always tell the difference between the bacteria causing your bladder infection and the friendly L. paracasei bugs you just swallowed. So taking them at the same moment may simply knock out a good chunk of the probiotic before it does any good.

The good news: this works in only one direction. It may make the probiotic less effective, but it does not make nitrofurantoin weaker or cause more side effects. This concern is theoretical, based on how the two work. A simple fix is to space them out by at least two hours. If you're unsure about timing, just ask your pharmacist.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
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 Nitrofurantoin one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 181 No known interaction 2,649 (incl. Nitrofurantoin)
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.

From our Q&A

Questions About Lacticaseibacillus Paracasei or Nitrofurantoin

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

This page covers Lacticaseibacillus Paracasei only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Nitrofurantoin page lists 82 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Beer (major), Siberian Cocklebur (major), Wine (major) and Ashwagandha (moderate).

By severity: 4 major · 68 moderate · 10 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Nitrofurantoin page

“Nitrofurantoin (Macrobid, Macrodantin) treats urinary tract infections and can strain the liver on its own, which is why this interaction list deserves genuine care rather than a glance. Of the 82 ingredients on file, 38 can add their own liver stress on top of the drug's, and three of the four major-rated entries fall in that group, i…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Nitrofurantoin interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Lacticaseibacillus Paracasei and Nitrofurantoin 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

#1,198 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Nitrofurantoin
Top half

#1,284 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 Nitrofurantoin

What Is Nitrofurantoin Used For?

Brand names: Macrodantin, Furadantin, Furatoin, Macrobid

Nitrofurantoin is used to treat urinary tract infections (UTIs) caused by certain susceptible bacteria. The capsule forms (including Macrodantin) are indicated for UTIs due to susceptible strains of Escherichia coli, enterococci, Staphylococcus aureus, and certain strains of Klebsiella and Enterobacter species. Nitrofurantoin oral suspension (Furadantin) is indicated for adults and children 1 month of age and older for the same types of UTIs.

Nitrofurantoin is not used for kidney infections (pyelonephritis) or infections of the tissue around the kidney (perinephric abscesses). Because it works primarily in the urine and does not spread widely through body tissues, it may not fully clear the infection in some patients, and the UTI may return after treatment.

See full Nitrofurantoin 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
181 Moderate 2,648 No 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

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,648 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Lacticaseibacillus Paracasei list.

See the full Lacticaseibacillus Paracasei interactions page
See every supplement checked against Nitrofurantoin, 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
Lacticaseibacillus Paracasei monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Nitrofurantoin supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Nitrofurantoin, ranked by severity Nitrofurantoin 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 Lacticaseibacillus Paracasei and Nitrofurantoin Together: Common Questions

Can you take Lacticaseibacillus Paracasei with Nitrofurantoin?
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 Nitrofurantoin 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.