Interactions on record — worth a quick check against your medications. Based on 2 of 3 ingredients. Check your meds →
Dietary supplement

Acidophilus/Bifidobacter/FOS Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Vital Nutrients

Capsule Category: Other Combinations
Most serious interaction: Moderate
The interaction bottom line Most serious interaction: Moderate

Acidophilus/Bifidobacter/FOS is a dietary supplement by Vital Nutrients with 3 active ingredients. Its ingredients are commonly taken for digestive health and balance, diarrhea (including antibiotic-related), vaginal yeast and bacterial infections.Based on those ingredients, 182 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated moderate. The ingredients most likely to interact are Lactobacillus acidophilus. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Acidophilus/Bifidobacter/FOS by Vital Nutrients

Our pharmacy team’s full take, with four database checks built into the cards below — a summary of what is known, not a grade of the product itself.

From our pharmacy team — supplement deep dive

What’s inside

Full disclosure
Ingredient Transparency · database check
Full

Every active ingredient lists its own amount on the label.

Why this rating?
  • The label discloses an exact amount for 3 of its 3 active ingredients.
  • No proprietary blends here — you can verify the dose of every single component.

This product contains 3 active ingredients: two live probiotic bacteria (Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium animalis lactis) and fructooligosaccharides (FOS), a type of plant fiber that acts as a prebiotic — food that feeds beneficial bacteria in your gut. The capsule also contains cellulose and leucine as inactive ingredients.

Does it work?

Moderate evidence
Evidence for Intended Use · database check
By FDA rules, dietary supplements can’t claim to treat, cure, or prevent disease — so labels speak in careful marketing language. We discern each product’s intended use from its name, label claims, and label statements, then grade the clinical evidence for that use. How these ratings are computed
Moderate

Some clinical evidence supports this product's ingredients for its stated purpose, but it isn't conclusive.

Why this rating?
  • The label markets this product for: Digestive health and gut bacteria balance.
  • We looked for evidence on: Antibiotic-associated diarrhea, Bacterial vaginosis, Clostridioides difficile infection, Colic, Constipation, Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) — and 4 related terms.
  • The strongest evidence on file: Lactobacillus Acidophilus is rated "Possibly Effective" for Antibiotic-associated diarrhea (Natural Medicines).
  • Also on file: Lactobacillus Acidophilus is rated "Possibly Effective" for Bacterial vaginosis, Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
  • Also on file: Fructo-oligosaccharides (fos) is rated "Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate" for Constipation.

Lactobacillus acidophilus is possibly effective for irritable bowel syndrome, Helicobacter pylori infection, antibiotic-associated diarrhea, and bacterial vaginosis. For other conditions the product might be marketed for, the evidence isn't established in our data.

FOS effectiveness ratings are not established for any condition in the data we hold — the evidence is rated insufficient to know either way.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fructo-oligosaccharides (fos)

How safe is it?

Well-documented data
Safety Information · database check
Well characterized

Adverse-effect, pregnancy, and general safety data are on file for most of these ingredients.

Why this rating?
  • We hold adverse-effect (side-effect) data for 2 of the 2 matched ingredients.
  • Pregnancy & breastfeeding safety ratings cover 2 of 2.
  • General safety write-ups exist for 2 of 2.
  • Remember: this measures how much safety information exists. Thin data is not the same as being safe.

Lactobacillus acidophilus is generally well tolerated in healthy adults and children, though mild gastrointestinal side effects like bloating, gas, abdominal discomfort, or diarrhea are uncommon. Very rarely, the live bacteria have been associated with serious infections in specific populations, which is why you should check with your doctor before starting.

FOS is generally well tolerated in food amounts but commonly causes gas, bloating, and abdominal pain at higher doses — these symptoms are usually mild under 10 grams daily, though some people experience them even at lower amounts.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fructo-oligosaccharides (fos)

Meds to double-check

Moderate interaction found
Known Interaction Concern · database check
Moderate identified

The most serious documented interaction for these ingredients is Moderate. Check your medications for a personalized result.

Why this rating?
  • 1 of the 2 matched ingredients can interact with medications — Lactobacillus Acidophilus.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Moderate.
  • For scale: 182 individual medications appear in the full list. A big number alone doesn't make a product dangerous — what matters is whether YOUR medication is on it, so run yours through the interaction checker on this page.

Antibiotics (Moderate severity) are the main ones to flag — they can kill the live organisms in this product and reduce its benefit. Separate your doses from your antibiotics; ask your pharmacist or doctor for the best timing.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFully disclosed formula with some supporting evidence for its stated purpose. Moderate medication interactions have been identified, and safety information is well characterized.

This probiotic-prebiotic combination may help if you have irritable bowel syndrome, antibiotic-related diarrhea, or certain bacterial infections — the evidence is modest but worth trying with your doctor's approval. If you take antibiotics, separate the timing to give the live bacteria a chance to survive.

Talk to your pharmacist about your exact medications and any digestive sensitivity before you start.

Educational only — not medical advice; always confirm with your pharmacist. Our editorial policy · How we use AI

Assessment coverage: 2 of 3 active ingredients matched to our full ingredient reviews (monographs). Based on the product label dated Jan 24, 2024.

This Scorecard evaluates available label information, ingredient evidence, and known medication-safety considerations. It does not independently verify product identity, purity, potency, contamination, or manufacturing quality. How these ratings are computed

At a glance

General information

Key facts about Acidophilus/Bifidobacter/FOS, straight from the product label.

Brand Vital Nutrients
Barcode (UPC) 693465400111
Net contents 60 Vegetarian Capsule(s)
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Jan 24, 2024
DSLD ID 304936
Product type Other Combinations
Supplement form Capsule
Dietary claims / uses All Other
Intended target group(s) Adult (18 - 50 Years), Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Sugar Free
From the label
Everything in this section is reproduced from the manufacturer’s own product label — it’s the label speaking, not HelloPharmacist. We show it so you can see exactly what the maker states; we don’t verify or endorse those statements.

Supplement Facts

The label details for Acidophilus/Bifidobacter/FOS by Vital Nutrients, sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database.

Supplement Facts

Daily Value (DV) Target Group(s):
Adults and children 4 or more years of age
Minimum serving Sizes:
2 Vegetarian Capsule(s)
Maximum serving Sizes:
2 Vegetarian Capsule(s)
Servings per container
30
UPC/BARCODE
693465400111
IngredientAmount% DV
Lactobacillus acidophilus20 mg--
Fructooligosaccharides300 mg--
Bifidobacterium animalis lactis8.9 mg--

Other ingredients: Cellulose, Cellulose, Leucine

Tap any ingredient to jump to its full detail below.

Label statements
These statements are the manufacturer’s wording, reproduced from the product label — the label is saying it, not HelloPharmacist. We don’t verify or endorse them.
Storage

Store refrigerated

Precautions

Keep out of reach of children

Use only if safety seal is intact

Warning If pregnant, consult your physician before taking.

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Recommendations Take 2 capsules 1 to 2 times daily, or as directed by your healthcare professional.

Formulation

Excludes coatings, binders, gluten (wheat, rye, barley), milk/dairy (casein, whey), soy protein, egg protein, sugar. Verified by independent testing

Raw materials and finished products are independently tested by U.S. labs.

Non-dairy

General Statements

Learn more at vitalnutrients.net

FDA Statement of Identity

Dietary Supplement

See for yourself

Acidophilus/Bifidobacter/FOS by Vital Nutrients label

The label scan from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Tap to enlarge.

What’s inside

The Ingredients in Acidophilus/Bifidobacter/FOS by Vital Nutrients

These are the 3 active ingredients this product is made of. Select any to open its full monograph.

Serving size2 Vegetarian Capsule(s) Dosage formCapsule Servings per container30 Amounts shown are per serving.

Most supplement products combine several ingredients, and a medication can interact with the product through any one of them. Each ingredient below shows whether it has known drug interactions.

Lactobacillus acidophilus

Interacts with
182 drugs
20 mg per serving

Lactobacillus acidophilus is a 'friendly' bacterium used as a probiotic to support gut and vaginal health. It is generally well tolerated in healthy p...

Lactobacillus acidophilus monograph & interactions

Fructooligosaccharides

No known
interactions
300 mg per serving

Fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) are a type of soluble fiber that acts as a prebiotic, meaning they feed the helpful bacteria in your gut. They are gener...

Fructooligosaccharides monograph & interactions

Bifidobacterium animalis lactis

8.9 mg per serving

Other (inactive) ingredients: Cellulose, Cellulose, Leucine. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.

Interaction report

Acidophilus/Bifidobacter/FOS by Vital Nutrients Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Acidophilus/Bifidobacter/FOS?

Ask about interactions with your drugs in plain English — “Can I take it with lisinopril?” — and we find you the answer in seconds, ingredient by ingredient.

Go to the checker
182Drugs
182 Moderate

Ingredients driving the most interactions

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Acidophilus/Bifidobacter/FOS with known interactions, here are the types of medications it can affect. Open any type for the detail — or search your exact drug in the checker above.

Lactobacillus acidophilus1 drug type · 182 drugs

Antibiotic Drugs

Theoretically, taking Lactobacillus acidophilus with antibiotic drugs might decrease the effectiveness of L. acidophilus.
L. acidophilus 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. acidophilus preparations by at least two hours.

Likelihood Probable Evidence D
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for Acidophilus/Bifidobacter/FOS, from the product label.

Vital Nutrients

See all Vital Nutrients products
Name
Vital Nutrients
Street Address
45 Kenneth Dooley Dr
City
Middletown
State
CT
ZipCode
06457
Web Address
vitalnutrients.net
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Acidophilus/Bifidobacter/FOS by Vital Nutrients: Common Questions

Does Acidophilus/Bifidobacter/FOS by Vital Nutrients interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Acidophilus/Bifidobacter/FOS has a known interaction with 182 medications. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
Acidophilus/Bifidobacter/FOS contains 3 active ingredients, and an interaction can come from any of them. We check every ingredient, combine the results into one list per medication, and show which ingredient and mechanism is responsible.
Where does this information come from?
The product label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD); the interaction data is built on the Natural Medicines database and reviewed by HelloPharmacist pharmacists.
Will this probiotic work if I'm on antibiotics?
It's not ideal to take them at the same time, because antibiotics can kill the live bacteria in this product. You'll want to space them out — ask your pharmacist how long apart. Taking the probiotic a few hours before or after your antibiotic dose usually helps, but timing depends on which antibiotic you're on.
Can this give me gas or bloating?
Yes, it can. The FOS fiber commonly causes bloating, gas, and abdominal pain, especially if you're new to it or take a higher dose. These effects are usually mild and may improve as your gut adjusts. If they're bothersome, start with a smaller dose and increase slowly.
Is it safe to take during pregnancy?
Lactobacillus acidophilus is rated possibly safe in pregnancy, but we don't have enough data on FOS or Bifidobacterium animalis lactis during pregnancy to know either way. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist before starting — they can give you personalized advice based on your situation.
Can I take this while breastfeeding?
We don't have safety data on file for any of these ingredients during breastfeeding. Check with your doctor or pharmacist first — they can help you decide if it's right for you.
What does the FOS do?
FOS is a prebiotic fiber that feeds the good bacteria in your gut, helping them grow. The evidence for whether it actually improves your health isn't established in our data yet, but it's a common ingredient in probiotic formulas.

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

Not sure if Acidophilus/Bifidobacter/FOS is safe with your meds?

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Ask a pharmacist

Label information is sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database and reflects the product version on file; always read your actual product label. This page is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Confirm with your pharmacist or doctor before combining supplements and medications.

Acidophilus/Bifidobacter/FOS label
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Acidophilus/Bifidobacter/FOS's label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database; the ingredient interaction data is from the Natural Medicines database, reviewed by our pharmacists.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

The 21 references behind this product’s interaction data

Every citation that drives the interaction findings for this product’s ingredients, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Open an ingredient to browse its citations — links open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

Lactobacillus Acidophilus 15 references
  1. Pierce A. The American Pharmaceutical Association Practical Guide to Natural Medicines. New York: The Stonesong Press, 1999:19.
  2. 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
  3. 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
  4. 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
  5. Karamali M, Dadkhah F, Sadrkhanlou M, et al. Effects of probiotic supplementation on glycaemic control and lipid profiles in gestational diabetes: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Diabetes Metab 2016;42(4):234-41. PubMed
  6. Badehnoosh B, Karamali M, Zarrati M, et al. The effects of probiotic supplementation on biomarkers of inflammation, oxidative stress and pregnancy outcomes in gestational diabetes. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2018 May;31(9):1128-1136.
  7. Kumar S, Kumar R, Rohilla L, Jacob N, Yadav J, Sachdeva N. A high potency multi-strain probiotic improves glycemic control in children with new-onset type 1 diabetes mellitus: A randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled pilot study. Pediatr Diabete
  8. 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
  9. Xiao SD, Zhang DZ, Lu H, et al. Multicenter, randomized, controlled trial of heat-killed Lactobacillus acidophilus LB in patients with chronic diarrhea. Adv Ther. 2003;20(5):253-60.
  10. Rossi F, Amadoro C, Gasperi M, Colavita G. Lactobacilli infection case reports in the last three years and safety implications. Nutrients. 2022;14(6):1178. PubMed
  11. Ozer M, Goksu SY, Shahverdiani A, Mustafa M. Lactobacillus acidophilus-induced endocarditis and associated splenic abscess. Case Rep Infect Dis 2020;2020:1382709.
  12. Sadrin S, Sennoune S, Gout B, et al. A 2-strain mixture of Lactobacillus acidophilus in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome: A placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial. Dig Liver Dis 2020;52(5):534-540. PubMed
  13. Stoffer JN, Slingsby TJ, Giuliari GP. Lactobacillus acidophilus endophthalmitis after intravitreal bevacizumab injection requiring intraocular lens explantation. Can J Ophthalmol 2022;57(1):e21-e22. PubMed
  14. Cukovic-Cavka S, Likic R, Francetic I, Rustemovic N, Opacic M, Vucelic B. Lactobacillus acidophilus as a cause of liver abscess in a NOD2/CARD15-positive patient with Crohn's disease. Digestion 2006;73(2-3):107-10.
  15. Hui J, Ren Y, Wang Y, Han Q. Lactobacillus acidophilus endophthalmitis postcataract operation: A case report with a literature review. Ocul Immunol Inflamm 2023.

See these in context on the Lactobacillus Acidophilus monograph →

Fructo-oligosaccharides (fos) 6 references
  1. Briet F, et al. Symptomatic response to varying levels of fructo-oligosaccharides consumed occasionally or regularly. Eur J Clin Nutr 1995;49:501-7.
  2. Bouhnik Y, Vahedi K, Achour L, et al. Short-chain fructo-oligosaccharide administration dose-dependently increases fecal bifidobacteria in healthy humans. J Nutr 1999;129:113-6. PubMed
  3. Cummings JH, Macfarlane GT, Englyst HN. Prebiotic digestion and fermentation. Am J Clin Nutr 2001;73:415S-420S. PubMed
  4. Souza DDS, Tahan S, Weber TK, Araujo-Filho HB, de Morais MB. Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel clinical trial assessing the effect of fructooligosaccharides in infants with constipation. Nutrients. 2018;10(11). pii: E1602. PubMed
  5. Andermann TM, Fouladi F, Tamburini FB, et al. A Fructo-Oligosaccharide Prebiotic Is Well Tolerated in Adults Undergoing Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: A Phase I Dose-Escalation Trial. Transplant Cell Ther 2021;27(11):932. PubMed
  6. Dou Y, Yu X, Luo Y, Chen B, Ma D, Zhu J. Effect of Fructooligosaccharides Supplementation on the Gut Microbiota in Human: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Nutrients 2022;14(16):3298. PubMed

See these in context on the Fructo-oligosaccharides (fos) monograph →

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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