Drug & supplement interaction

Levilactobacillus Brevis + Cefazolin

Cefazolin brand name: Ancef.

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

Levilactobacillus Brevis has a moderate interaction with Cefazolin. Theoretically, taking Levilactobacillus brevis 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

Levilactobacillus Brevis and Cefazolin

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

Moderate

ANTIBIOTIC DRUGS

Why this applies to Cefazolin

Cefazolin falls under ANTIBIOTIC DRUGS — the group Levilactobacillus Brevis interacts with.

Theoretically, taking Levilactobacillus brevis with antibiotic drugs might decrease the effectiveness of L. brevis.
Levilactobacillus brevis 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. brevis 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 runs in one direction, and it's the probiotic that loses out, not your antibiotic. Cefazolin (Ancef) is a cephalosporin that kills bacteria, and it can't tell the difference between the bacteria making you sick and the friendly Levilactobacillus brevis from a supplement. So taking them close together may simply wipe out a good chunk of those live cultures before they do anything useful.

Cefazolin's own effectiveness is not reduced here, and you won't get new side effects from this combo. This is a theoretical concern based on how these drugs work, not strong human studies. If you want the probiotic to survive, a common tip is to space it a couple hours apart from your dose. Cefazolin is usually given by injection in a clinical setting, so check timing with your pharmacist or nurse.

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

Levilactobacillus Brevis Also Interacts With Other Medications

Levilactobacillus Brevis has 181 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Cefazolin 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. Cefazolin)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Levilactobacillus Brevis

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Cefazolin

This page covers Levilactobacillus Brevis only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Cefazolin page lists 43 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 · 2 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Cefazolin page

“Cefazolin (Ancef), an antibiotic given by injection, usually before surgery or for skin and bloodstream infections, carries 43 supplement interactions on file, and the two rated major are where I would start reading. Siberian cocklebur and asarabacca can each damage the kidneys, the same organ that clears cefazolin, and asarabacca is f…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Cefazolin interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Levilactobacillus Brevis and Cefazolin 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 Levilactobacillus Brevis
Steady interest

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

29 days ago today
Medication Cefazolin
Steady interest

#1,654 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 Levilactobacillus Brevis

What is Levilactobacillus Brevis?

  • Digestive health
  • Gut microbiome support
  • Immune support
  • Oral and dental health
  • Vaginal health

Levilactobacillus brevis (formerly Lactobacillus brevis) is a lactic acid bacterium found in fermented foods like sauerkraut, pickles, and kimchi, and is used as a probiotic. Early research suggests possible benefits for gut and immune health, but strong human evidence is still limited. It is generally well tolerated in healthy people, but anyone with a weakened immune system or serious illness should talk to a doctor first.

Read the full Levilactobacillus Brevis monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Cefazolin Injection

What Is Cefazolin Injection Used For?

Brand name: Ancef

Cefazolin Injection is used to treat bacterial infections in adults and children 1 month of age and older, including respiratory tract infections, urinary tract infections, skin and skin structure infections, biliary tract infections, bone and joint infections, genital infections (such as prostatitis and epididymitis), septicemia (a serious bloodstream infection), and endocarditis (infection of the heart's inner lining).

It is also used in adult patients — and in pediatric patients aged 10 to 17 years for the premixed formulation — to help prevent infection around the time of surgery, particularly for procedures that carry a higher risk of postoperative infection.

See full Cefazolin Injection drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Levilactobacillus Brevis

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Levilactobacillus Brevis — 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 Levilactobacillus Brevis page.

No interaction 2,648 drugs checked — show the list

We also checked Levilactobacillus Brevis 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 Levilactobacillus Brevis list.

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

Can you take Levilactobacillus Brevis with Cefazolin?
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 Levilactobacillus Brevis and Cefazolin 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 Cefazolin and Levilactobacillus Brevis?

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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.