Drug & supplement interaction

Probiotics + Ribavirin Aerosol

Ribavirin Aerosol brand name: Virazole.

No Known Interaction

Medically reviewed by Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS · Updated July 2026 · Pair last verified Sep 13, 2026

The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Probiotics and Ribavirin Aerosol 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. Additionally, although there is no interaction, the label for Ribavirin Aerosol states a food rule worth keeping to, and the two are separately associated with some of the same side effects, which would make a new symptom harder to attribute to one or the other.

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Interaction report

Probiotics and Ribavirin Aerosol

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 Ribavirin Aerosol and Probiotics 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.

Probiotics safety at a glance

Probiotics overall Use caution Generally well tolerated in healthy people, but those who are seriously ill or immunocompromised should use them only under medical guidance.

Pregnancy Possibly Safe When Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lacticaseibacillus casei, Lacticaseibacillus paracasei, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, Ligilactobacillus salivarius, Limosilacto... Read the full pregnancy detail

Breastfeeding Possibly Safe When Lacticaseibacillus paracasei, Limosilactobacillus fermentum, Limosilactobacillus reuteri, Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus, and Bifidobacterium longum are used... 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 Ribavirin Aerosol and Probiotics? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›

How we checked

Why No Interaction Is Listed for Ribavirin Aerosol

Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes, not just single drug names. Ribavirin Aerosol is filed under a single classification — oral drugs. Probiotics has documented interactions with 2 drug classes — the most serious being antibiotic drugs (moderate) and antifungals (minor) — and none of Ribavirin Aerosol’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

Probiotics Does Interact With Other Medications

Probiotics has 182 moderate, 40 minor known drug interactions in our database — Ribavirin Aerosol isn’t one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 182 Minor 40 No known interaction 2,608 (incl. Ribavirin Aerosol)

Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Probiotics

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

What to actually watch for

No Interaction Found — But Data Suggests Probiotics and Ribavirin Aerosol May Share Several of the Same Side Effects

This is not an interaction. Neither one changes how your body handles the other, and nothing here says they react together. What our sources do show is that each has separately been linked to the effects below — so taking both can make those effects more likely to turn up, and harder to pin on one or the other if they do. One of them is worth acting on rather than waiting out — marked below.

A higher chance of infection Worth acting on Additional detail
Probiotics
“Since many probiotic preparations contain live and active microorganisms, there is some concern that they might cause pathogenic infection in some patients. Bacteremia and sepsis have been reported in patients with indwelling or central venous catheters or patients who are severely ill and/or immunocompromised, including preterm infants, that were using probiotic products.”

Probiotics · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in prematurity.
6 sources cited

4380. Saxelin M, Chuang NH, Chassy B, et al. Lactobacilli and bacteremia in southern Finland 1989-1992. Clin Infect Dis 1996;22:564-6. PubMed

8561. MacGregor G, Smith AJ, Thakker B, Kinsella J. Yoghurt biotherapy: contraindicated in immunosuppressed patients? Postgrad Med J 2002;78:366-7. PubMed

13008. Land MH, Rouster-Stevens K, Woods CR, et al. Lactobacillus sepsis associated with probiotic therapy. Pediatrics 2005;115:178-81.

13070. De Groote MA, Frank DN, Dowell E, et al. Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG bacteremia associated with probiotic use in a child with short gut syndrome. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2005;24:278-80. PubMed

90298. Vahabnezhad E, Mochon AB, Wozniak LJ, Ziring DA. Lactobacillus bacteremia associated with probiotic use in a pediatric patient with ulcerative colitis. J Clin Gastroenterol. 2013;47(5):437-9. PubMed

102416. Pruccoli G, Silvestro E, Pace Napoleone C, Aidala E, Garazzino S, Scolfaro C. Are probiotics safe? Bifidobacterium bacteremia in a child with severe heart failure. Infez Med. 2019;27(2):175-178.
Ribavirin Aerosol

Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Ribavirin Aerosol. Read the label on DailyMed ›
Itching / A skin rash reported in 8.4% of FDA reports for Ribavirin Aerosol Additional detail
Probiotics
“Orally, probiotics have been reported to cause rare cases of rash, itching and redness, and dermatitis. See individual topics for details.”

Probiotics · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in dermatitis.
3 sources cited

90236. Begtrup LM, de Muckadell OB, Kjeldsen J, Christensen RD, Jarbøl DE. Long-term treatment with probiotics in primary care patients with irritable bowel syndrome--a randomised, double-blind, placebo controlled trial. Scand J Gastroenterol 2013;48(10):1127-35 PubMed

110848. Hanifi A, Culpepper T, Mai V, et al. Evaluation of Bacillus subtilis R0179 on gastrointestinal viability and general wellness: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in healthy adults. Benef Microbes 2015;6(1):19-27. PubMed

93707. Merenstein DJ, Smith KH, Scriven M, Roberts RF, Sanders ME, Petterson S. The study to investigate the potential benefits of probiotics in yogurt, a patient-oriented, double-blind, cluster-randomised, placebo-controlled, clinical trial. Eur J Clin Nutr. 20 PubMed
Ribavirin Aerosol

Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Ribavirin Aerosol, and in voluntary FDA adverse-event reports. Read the label on DailyMed ›
Stomach upset / Stomach pain / Nausea / Vomiting / Diarrhea reported in 11.6% of FDA reports for Ribavirin Aerosol Additional detail
Probiotics
“Orally, gastrointestinal adverse effects such as diarrhea, dyspepsia, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, bloating, belching, and flatulence have been reported rarely with probiotics (2,3169,16841,90235,90239,90271,90291,95381,107520,110846). See individual topics for details.”

Probiotics · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in diarrhea.
6 sources cited

2. Blumenthal M, ed. The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. Trans. S. Klein. Boston, MA: American Botanical Council, 1998.

3169. Phuapradit P, Varavithya W, Vathanophas K, et al. Reduction of rotavirus infection in children receiving bifidobacteria-supplemented formula. J Med Assoc Thai 1999;82:S43-8.

16841. Miele E, Pascarella F, Giannetti E. et al. Effect of a probiotic preparation (VSL#3) on induction and maintenance of remission in children with ulcerative colitis. Am J Gastroenterol 2009;104:437-43. PubMed

90235. Beerepoot MA, ter Riet G, Nys S, van der Wal WM, de Borgie CA, de Reijke TM,Prins JM, Koeijers J, Verbon A, Stobberingh E, Geerlings SE. Lactobacilli vs antibiotics to prevent urinary tract infections: a randomized, double-blind, noninferiority trial in p DOI

90239. Chatterjee S, Kar P, Das T, Ray S, Gangulyt S, Rajendiran C, Mitra M. Randomised placebo-controlled double blind multicentric trial on efficacy and safety of Lactobacillus acidophilus LA-5 and Bifidobacterium BB-12 for prevention of antibiotic-associated

90271. Krag A, Munkholm P, Israelsen H, von Ryberg B, Andersen KK, Bendtsen F. Profermin is efficacious in patients with active ulcerative colitis--a randomized controlled trial. Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2013;19(12):2584-92. PubMed
Ribavirin Aerosol

Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Ribavirin Aerosol, and in voluntary FDA adverse-event reports. Read the label on DailyMed ›

Reported for Probiotics but not commonly for Ribavirin Aerosol: bloating or gas.

Effects for Ribavirin Aerosol come from the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of its FDA label; effects for Probiotics come from the Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, quoted above. Where a percentage is shown, it is the share of 63,877 voluntary FDA FAERS reports for Ribavirin Aerosol that mention that effect — a reporting proportion, not an incidence rate and not evidence the drug caused it. Wording is matched across sources by our own clinical vocabulary, so treat this as a prompt to pay attention, not a diagnosis.

Special populations

Probiotics in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Pregnancy Possibly Safe

When Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lacticaseibacillus casei, Lacticaseibacillus paracasei, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, Ligilactobacillus salivarius, Limosilactobacillus reuteri, Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus, Bifidobacterium bifidum, and Bifidobacterium longum are used orally and appropriately, short-term. See individual topics for details. There is insufficient reliable information available about the safety of other probiotics during pregnancy.

Lactation Possibly Safe

When Lacticaseibacillus paracasei, Limosilactobacillus fermentum, Limosilactobacillus reuteri, Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus, and Bifidobacterium longum are used orally and appropriately, short-term. See individual topics for details. There is insufficient reliable information available about the safety of other probiotics during lactation.

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

How to take them

Some Ribavirin Aerosol Products Have a Food Rule — Probiotics Should Not Break It

At least one FDA label for a product containing Ribavirin Aerosol says to take it with food. If you take Probiotics on an empty stomach out of habit, keep them separate — and take Ribavirin Aerosol with a meal where the label says to.

This may not be true of your version. Food instructions belong to the product, not the ingredient: two Ribavirin Aerosol products can carry different directions, and extended-release forms often differ from immediate-release ones. The label we read is quoted below — check the directions on your own box or bottle, or ask your pharmacist, for how to take the exact product you were given.

Ribavirin capsules should be taken with food [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ].

From the Dosage and Administration section of the FDA label we read for Ribavirin Aerosol — where that label names a specific product, the instruction is that product's. Read the label on DailyMed ›

A food rule is not an interaction — it is about how much of the medicine you absorb. The directions that came with your own product, and your pharmacist, outrank anything on this page.

Overlapping uses

What Ribavirin Aerosol Is Prescribed For, and What Probiotics Has Been Studied For

These two come up together because they touch the same health topic — not because they do the same job. Ribavirin Aerosol is a prescription medicine with approved uses on its FDA label. Probiotics is a supplement: what follows is what researchers have looked at it for, and how strong that evidence is.

Ribavirin Aerosol is prescribed for: Ribavirin comes in different forms for different uses. Ribavirin capsules are used in combination with interferon alfa-2b (pegylated or non-pegylated) to treat chronic hepatitis C (CHC) in patients 3 years and older with compensated liver disease. Ribavirin tablets are used in combination with PEGASYS® (peginterferon alfa-2a) to treat chronic hepatitis C in patients 5 years and older with compensated liver disease who have not previously been treated with interferon — including adults who also have HIV. Ribavirin for inhalation solution is a separate product used to treat hospitalized infants and young children with severe lower respiratory tract infections caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

Read the rest of what Ribavirin Aerosol is prescribed for

Ribavirin must never be used alone to treat hepatitis C — it only works as part of combination therapy. Only the most severe RSV infections requiring hospitalization should be treated with the inhaled form; mild RSV illness in children does not require this treatment.

Probiotics has been studied for:

Respiratory tract infections Natural Medicines rates the evidence for Probiotics: Possibly Effective Read what the research shows

Probiotics for respiratory tract infections

Oral probiotics seem to be beneficial for respiratory tract infection prevention. It is unclear if oral probiotics are beneficial for respiratory tract infection treatment.

Effectiveness ratings and the research summaries above are the verbatim record from the Natural Medicines database, which grades evidence from “Effective” down to “Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate”. A rating below the top of that scale means researchers have looked at it — not that it works, and never that it can stand in for a prescribed medicine. Do not stop or replace Ribavirin Aerosol on your own; if you are taking Probiotics for the same health topic, tell your prescriber, especially if the medicine is being adjusted to a target.

From our Q&A

Questions About Probiotics or Ribavirin Aerosol

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

This page covers Probiotics only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Ribavirin Aerosol page lists 17 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Coffee Charcoal (moderate), European Mandrake (moderate), Glucomannan (moderate) and Guar Gum (moderate).

By severity: 1 major · 7 moderate · 9 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Ribavirin Aerosol page

“Ribavirin Aerosol (Virazole) is an inhaled antiviral used mostly in hospitals against severe RSV infection, and with an infection that serious, losing drug exposure is not a small problem, so I would approach this list with genuine care. Its one major-rated interaction, activated charcoal, can pull ribavirin out of the body even though…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Ribavirin Aerosol interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 15 real supplement products containing Probiotics, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Probiotics. Even though Probiotics itself has no known interaction with Ribavirin Aerosol, 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 Probiotics and Ribavirin Aerosol 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 Probiotics

Top 25%

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

29 days ago today

Medication Ribavirin Aerosol

Top 10%

#160 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 Probiotics reference on this page ↓
Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 13, 2026. The Probiotics and Ribavirin Aerosol records this page draws on were last updated July 11, 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 Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS.

Supplement

About Probiotics

What is Probiotics?

Digestive health and regularity
Antibiotic-associated diarrhea
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
Vaginal and urinary health
Immune support
General gut microbiome balance

Probiotics are live 'friendly' microbes that may help certain digestive conditions, such as antibiotic-associated diarrhea and some cases of IBS, though benefits depend heavily on the specific strain and dose. They are generally well tolerated for healthy people but should be used with caution by those with serious illness or weakened immune systems. Talk with your pharmacist or doctor to pick a product that matches your goal.

Live microorganisms (bacteria and yeasts) · Capsules, tablets, powders, chewables, gummies, drops, and fermented foods (yogurt, kefir, kombucha, sauerkraut)

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

Probiotics: dosing

There is no single standardized dose for probiotics, because the right amount depends on the specific strain and the reason for use. Doses are often listed in colony-forming units (CFU), and products can range widely.The best approach is to follow the directions on the product label and choose a product whose strain has been studied for your specific goal. A pharmacist can help you match a product to your needs and check that it is appropriate for you. Store probiotics as directed—some require refrigeration to keep the organisms alive.

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

Read the full Probiotics monograph & all interactions

Medication

About Ribavirin

What Is Ribavirin Used For?

Brand name: Virazole

Ribavirin comes in different forms for different uses. Ribavirin capsules are used in combination with interferon alfa-2b (pegylated or non-pegylated) to treat chronic hepatitis C (CHC) in patients 3 years and older with compensated liver disease. Ribavirin tablets are used in combination with PEGASYS® (peginterferon alfa-2a) to treat chronic hepatitis C in patients 5 years and older with compensated liver disease who have not previously been treated with interferon — including adults who also have HIV. Ribavirin for inhalation solution is a separate product used to treat hospitalized infants and young children with severe lower respiratory tract infections caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

Ribavirin must never be used alone to treat hepatitis C — it only works as part of combination therapy. Only the most severe RSV infections requiring hospitalization should be treated with the inhaled form; mild RSV illness in children does not require this treatment.

See full Ribavirin drug information

Keep checking

Other Drugs & Probiotics

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

0Major

182Moderate

40Minor

2,607No known interaction

182 Moderate 40 Minor 2,607 No interaction

Moderate

182 interactions

Showing 60 of 182 moderate interactions — see all 182 on the Probiotics page.

Minor

40 interactions

No interaction 2,607 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,607 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Probiotics list.

See the full Probiotics interactions page

See every supplement checked against Ribavirin Aerosol, ranked by severity

Evidence & sources

Probiotics References

The 77 references that drive our Probiotics 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.

Blumenthal M, ed. The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. Trans. S. Klein. Boston, MA: American Botanical Council, 1998.
Niault M, Thomas F, Prost J, et al. Fungemia due to Saccharomyces species in a patient treated with enteral Saccharomyces boulardii. Clin Infect Dis 1999;28:930.
Pierce A. The American Pharmaceutical Association Practical Guide to Natural Medicines. New York: The Stonesong Press, 1999:19.
Phuapradit P, Varavithya W, Vathanophas K, et al. Reduction of rotavirus infection in children receiving bifidobacteria-supplemented formula. J Med Assoc Thai 1999;82:S43-8.
Pletinex M, Legein J, Vandenplas Y. Fungemia with Saccharomyces boulardii in a 1-year-old girl with protracted diarrhea. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 1995;21:113-5. DOI
Fredenucci I, Chomarat M, Boucaud C, et al. Saccharomyces boulardii fungemia in a patient receiving ultra-levure therapy. Clin Infect Dis 1998;27:222-3.
Elmer GW, McFarland LV, Surawicz CM, et al. Behaviour of Saccharomyces boulardii in recurrent Clostridium difficile disease patients. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 1999;13:1663-8.
Lewis SJ, Freedman AR. Review article: the use of biotherapeutic agents in the prevention and treatment of gastrointestinal disease. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 1998;12:807-22. PubMed
Saxelin M, Chuang NH, Chassy B, et al. Lactobacilli and bacteremia in southern Finland 1989-1992. Clin Infect Dis 1996;22:564-6. PubMed
Tynkkynen S, Singh KV, Varmanen P. Vancomycin resistance factor of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG in relation to enterococcal vancomycin resistance (van) genes. Int J Food Microbiol 1998;41:195-204. PubMed
Klein G, Zill E, Schindler R, et al. Peritonitis associated with vancomycin-resistant Lactobacillus rhamnosus in a continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patient; organism identification, antibiotic therapy, and case report. J Clin Microbiol 1998;36:
Kalima P, Masterton RG, Roddie PH, et al. Lactobacillus rhamnosus infection in a child following bone marrow transplant. J Infect 1996;32:165-7. PubMed
Goldin BR. Health Benefits of probiotics. Br J Nutr 1998;80:S203-7. DOI
Rautio M, Jousimies-Somer H, Kauma H, et al. Liver abscess due to Lactobacillus rhamnosus strain indistinguishable from L. rhamnosus strain GG. Clin Infect Dis 1999;28:1159-60.
Cesaro S, Chinello P, Rossi L, Zanesco L. Saccharomyces cerevisiae fungemia in a neutropenic patient treated with Saccharomyces boulardii. Support Care Cancer 2000;8:504-5. PubMed
MacGregor G, Smith AJ, Thakker B, Kinsella J. Yoghurt biotherapy: contraindicated in immunosuppressed patients? Postgrad Med J 2002;78:366-7. PubMed
Borriello SP, Hammes WP, Holzapfel W, et al. Safety of probiotics that contain lactobacilli or bifidobacteria. Clin Infect Dis 2003;36:775-80. PubMed
Marteau P, Seksik P. Tolerance of probiotics and prebiotics. J Clin Gastroenterol 2004;38:S67-9. PubMed
Land MH, Rouster-Stevens K, Woods CR, et al. Lactobacillus sepsis associated with probiotic therapy. Pediatrics 2005;115:178-81.
De Groote MA, Frank DN, Dowell E, et al. Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG bacteremia associated with probiotic use in a child with short gut syndrome. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2005;24:278-80. PubMed
Munoz P, Bouza E, Cuenca-Estrella M, et al. Saccharomyces cerevisiae fungemia: an emerging infectious disease. Clin Infect Dis 2005;40:1625-34. PubMed
Miele E, Pascarella F, Giannetti E. et al. Effect of a probiotic preparation (VSL#3) on induction and maintenance of remission in children with ulcerative colitis. Am J Gastroenterol 2009;104:437-43. PubMed
Xiao JZ, Takahashi S, Odamaki T, et al. Antibiotic susceptibility of bifidobacterial strains distributed in the Japanese market. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 2010;74(2):336-42. PubMed
Lherm, T., Monet, C., Nougiere, B., Soulier, M., Larbi, D., Le Gall, C., Caen, D., and Malbrunot, C. Seven cases of fungemia with Saccharomyces boulardii in critically ill patients. Intensive Care Med 2002;28(6):797-801. PubMed
Riquelme, A. J., Calvo, M. A., Guzman, A. M., Depix, M. S., Garcia, P., Perez, C., Arrese, M., and Labarca, J. A. Saccharomyces cerevisiae fungemia after Saccharomyces boulardii treatment in immunocompromised patients. J Clin.Gastroenterol. 2003;36(1):41- PubMed
Cherifi, S., Robberecht, J., and Miendje, Y. Saccharomyces cerevisiae fungemia in an elderly patient with Clostridium difficile colitis. Acta Clin Belg. 2004;59(4):223-224. PubMed
Beerepoot MA, ter Riet G, Nys S, van der Wal WM, de Borgie CA, de Reijke TM,Prins JM, Koeijers J, Verbon A, Stobberingh E, Geerlings SE. Lactobacilli vs antibiotics to prevent urinary tract infections: a randomized, double-blind, noninferiority trial in p DOI
Begtrup LM, de Muckadell OB, Kjeldsen J, Christensen RD, Jarbøl DE. Long-term treatment with probiotics in primary care patients with irritable bowel syndrome--a randomised, double-blind, placebo controlled trial. Scand J Gastroenterol 2013;48(10):1127-35 PubMed
Chatterjee S, Kar P, Das T, Ray S, Gangulyt S, Rajendiran C, Mitra M. Randomised placebo-controlled double blind multicentric trial on efficacy and safety of Lactobacillus acidophilus LA-5 and Bifidobacterium BB-12 for prevention of antibiotic-associated
Krag A, Munkholm P, Israelsen H, von Ryberg B, Andersen KK, Bendtsen F. Profermin is efficacious in patients with active ulcerative colitis--a randomized controlled trial. Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2013;19(12):2584-92. PubMed
Shavakhi A, Tabesh E, Yaghoutkar A, Hashemi H, Tabesh F, Khodadoostan M,Minakari M, Shavakhi S, Gholamrezaei A. The effects of multistrain probiotic compound on bismuth-containing quadruple therapy for Helicobacter pylori infection: a randomized placebo-c
Vahabnezhad E, Mochon AB, Wozniak LJ, Ziring DA. Lactobacillus bacteremia associated with probiotic use in a pediatric patient with ulcerative colitis. J Clin Gastroenterol. 2013;47(5):437-9. PubMed
Ellouze O, Berthoud V, Mervant M, Parthiot JP, Girard C. Septic shock due to Sacccaromyces boulardii. Med Mal Infect. 2016;46(2):104-105.
Merenstein DJ, Smith KH, Scriven M, Roberts RF, Sanders ME, Petterson S. The study to investigate the potential benefits of probiotics in yogurt, a patient-oriented, double-blind, cluster-randomised, placebo-controlled, clinical trial. Eur J Clin Nutr. 20 PubMed
Appel-da-Silva MC, Narvaez GA, Perez LRR, Drehmer L, Lewgoy J. Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. boulardii fungemia following probiotic treatment. Med Mycol Case Rep. 2017;18:15-7. PubMed
Atici S, Soysal A, Karadeniz Cerit K, et al. Catheter-related Saccharomyces cerevisiae Fungemia Following Saccharomyces boulardii Probiotic Treatment: In a child in intensive care unit and review of the literature. Med Mycol Case Rep. 2017;15:33-35. PubMed
Martin IW, Tonner R, Trivedi J, et al. Saccharomyces boulardii probiotic-associated fungemia: questioning the safety of this preventive probiotic's use. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis. 2017;87(3):286-8. PubMed
Romanio MR, Coraine LA, Maielo VP, Abramczyc ML, Souza RL, Oliveira NF. Saccharomyces cerevisiae fungemia in a pediatric patient after treatment with probiotics. Rev Paul Pediatr 2017;35(3):361-4.
Roy U, Jessani LG, Rudramurthy SM, et al. Seven cases of Saccharomyces fungaemia related to use of probiotics. Mycoses 2017;60(6):375-380.
Taipale TJ, Pienihäkkinen K, Isolauri E, Jokela JT, Söderling EM. Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12 in reducing the risk of infections in early childhood. Pediatr Res. 2016;79(1-1):65-9. PubMed
Pruccoli G, Silvestro E, Pace Napoleone C, Aidala E, Garazzino S, Scolfaro C. Are probiotics safe? Bifidobacterium bacteremia in a child with severe heart failure. Infez Med. 2019;27(2):175-178.
Sendil S, Shrimanker I, Mansoora Q, Goldman J, Nookala VK. Lactobacillus rhamnosus bacteremia in an immunocompromised renal transplant patient. Cureus. 2020;12(2):e6887. PubMed
Albarillo FS, Shah U, Joyce C, Slade D. Lactobacillus rhamnosus Infection: A single-center 4-year descriptive analysis. J Glob Infect Dis. 2020;12(3):119-123. PubMed
Pasala S, Singer L, Arshad T, Roach K. Lactobacillus endocarditis in a healthy patient with probiotic use. IDCases. 2020;22:e00915. PubMed
Agrawal S, Tuchman ES, Bruce MJ, Theodorou ME. Fatal Lactobacillus endocarditis in a patient with transcatheter aortic valve replacement. BMJ Case Rep. 2020;13(11):e236835.
Antoun M, Hattab Y, Akhrass FA, Hamilton LD. Uncommon pathogen, Lactobacillus, causing infective endocarditis: Case report and review. Case Rep Infect Dis. 2020;2020:8833948. PubMed
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Shahriari A, Karimi E, Shahriari M, Aslani N, Khooshideh M, Arab A. The effect of probiotic supplementation on the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus among high-risk pregnant women: A parallel double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial PubMed
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Sakurai Y, Watanabe T, Miura Y, et al. Clinical and bacteriologic characteristics of six cases of Bifidobacterium breve bacteremia due to probiotic administration in the neonatal intensive care unit. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2022;41(1):62-65. PubMed
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Hanifi A, Culpepper T, Mai V, et al. Evaluation of Bacillus subtilis R0179 on gastrointestinal viability and general wellness: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in healthy adults. Benef Microbes 2015;6(1):19-27. PubMed
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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 Probiotics and Ribavirin Aerosol Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Probiotics with Ribavirin Aerosol?

We do not list a known interaction between Probiotics and Ribavirin Aerosol. 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.

Do Probiotics and Ribavirin Aerosol have any of the same side effects?

Yes — our sources link each of them separately to 8 of the same effects. That is not an interaction: neither changes how your body handles the other. It does mean that if one of those effects turns up, it can be harder to tell which one is behind it. They are listed on this page with the source behind each.

Should I take Probiotics and Ribavirin Aerosol at the same time of day?

At least one FDA label for a product containing Ribavirin Aerosol says to take it with food. If you take Probiotics on an empty stomach out of habit, keep them separate and take Ribavirin Aerosol with a meal where the label says to. Food instructions belong to the product rather than the ingredient — two Ribavirin Aerosol products can differ — so check the directions on your own box. This is about absorption, not an interaction.

Are Probiotics and Ribavirin Aerosol used for the same thing?

They overlap in purpose, which usually means the real question is whether you need both rather than whether they are safe together. This page lists the shared uses and how strong the evidence is for Probiotics in each. That is a conversation for your prescriber, especially if Ribavirin Aerosol is being adjusted to a target.

How was the Probiotics and Ribavirin Aerosol combination checked?

Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes. Ribavirin Aerosol is filed under 1 classification, and Probiotics has documented interactions with 2 drug classes — none of Ribavirin Aerosol'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 Probiotics interact with any other medications?

Yes. Probiotics has 222 documented drug interactions in our database — Ribavirin Aerosol 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 Ribavirin Aerosol interact with any supplements?

Yes. Ribavirin Aerosol has documented interactions with 17 supplements in our database — Probiotics is not one of them. The Ribavirin Aerosol interaction page linked on this page lists every one, ranked by severity.

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

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Probiotics monograph Uses, safety profile, and every drug interaction in one place Ribavirin drug information The full plain-English guide to this medication Ribavirin Aerosol supplement interactions Every supplement checked against Ribavirin Aerosol, 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 77 citations behind this page Ask a pharmacist Free, personal answer from our licensed team

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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.