Drug & supplement interaction

Lacticaseibacillus Rhamnosus + Meropenem

Meropenem brand name: Merrem IV.

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

Lacticaseibacillus Rhamnosus has a moderate interaction with Meropenem. Theoretically, taking Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus 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 Rhamnosus and Meropenem

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

Moderate

ANTIBIOTIC DRUGS

Why this applies to Meropenem

Meropenem falls under ANTIBIOTIC DRUGS — the group Lacticaseibacillus Rhamnosus interacts with.

Theoretically, taking Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus with antibiotic drugs might decrease the effectiveness of L. rhamnosus.
L. rhamnosus 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. rhamnosus 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: this interaction works in the opposite direction from what most people expect. Meropenem won't be weakened by the probiotic. Instead, the antibiotic can knock out the live L. rhamnosus bacteria you're trying to take. Meropenem is a powerful antibiotic that kills bacteria, and it can't tell the difference between the bugs causing your infection and the friendly ones in a probiotic capsule.

So your meropenem will still do its job treating the infection. The probiotic is just less likely to survive and help if you swallow it right alongside the antibiotic. This is a theoretical concern based on how the two work, not a dangerous one. A simple fix is to space them apart by at least two hours. If you're taking a probiotic for a reason, run the timing by your pharmacist or doctor.

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 Rhamnosus Also Interacts With Other Medications

Lacticaseibacillus Rhamnosus has 181 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Meropenem 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. Meropenem)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Lacticaseibacillus Rhamnosus

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Meropenem

This page covers Lacticaseibacillus Rhamnosus only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Meropenem page lists 33 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Bacillus Coagulans (moderate), Bacillus Subtilis (moderate), Bifidobacterium Animalis Subsp. Lactis (moderate), Bifidobacterium Bifidum (moderate) and Bifidobacterium Breve (moderate).

By severity: 32 moderate · 1 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Meropenem page

“Meropenem (Merrem IV) is a powerful intravenous antibiotic reserved for serious infections, usually given in a hospital, and its supplement list is more manageable than that setting might suggest. None of the 33 ingredients on file carries a major rating; 32 are moderate and one is minor.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Meropenem interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Lacticaseibacillus Rhamnosus and Meropenem 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 Rhamnosus
Steady interest

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

29 days ago today
Medication Meropenem
Top 5%

#70 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 Rhamnosus

What is Lacticaseibacillus Rhamnosus?

  • Diarrhea (including antibiotic-related)
  • Digestive health
  • Vaginal and urinary health
  • Eczema and allergy prevention in children
  • Immune support

Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus (often labeled L. rhamnosus GG) is a well-studied probiotic bacterium used mainly for diarrhea and general gut health. It is considered safe for most healthy people, with the best evidence for preventing certain types of diarrhea, but benefits for many other uses are uncertain. People who are seriously ill or have weakened immune systems should check with a doctor first.

Read the full Lacticaseibacillus Rhamnosus monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Meropenem Injection

What Is Meropenem Injection Used For?

Brand name: Merrem IV

Meropenem for injection is used intravenously to treat three serious types of bacterial infection: complicated skin and skin structure infections (in adults and children 3 months and older), complicated intra-abdominal infections such as appendicitis and peritonitis (in adults and children of all ages), and bacterial meningitis (in children 3 months and older only).

It works against a range of specific bacteria. Your doctor will choose it based on which bacteria are causing — or are strongly suspected of causing — your infection. Using it only when truly needed helps prevent antibiotic resistance.

See full Meropenem Injection drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Lacticaseibacillus Rhamnosus

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Lacticaseibacillus Rhamnosus — 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 Rhamnosus page.

No interaction 2,648 drugs checked — show the list

We also checked Lacticaseibacillus Rhamnosus 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 Rhamnosus list.

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

Can you take Lacticaseibacillus Rhamnosus with Meropenem?
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 Rhamnosus and Meropenem 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

Still Have a Question About Meropenem and Lacticaseibacillus Rhamnosus?

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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.