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Dietary supplement

Probiotic Pearls Acidophilus Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Nature's Way

Softgel Capsule Category: Non-nutrient/non-botanical
Most serious interaction: Moderate
The interaction bottom line Most serious interaction: Moderate

Probiotic Pearls Acidophilus is a dietary supplement by Nature's Way with 2 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 HOWARU Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM, Bifidobacterium longum BB536. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Probiotic Pearls Acidophilus by Nature's Way

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

Low disclosure
Ingredient Transparency · database check
Low

Most active ingredients don't disclose an individual amount — you can't tell how much of each you're getting.

Why this rating?
  • The label discloses an exact amount for 0 of its 2 active ingredients.
  • “Proprietary Probiotic Blend” is a proprietary blend — the label gives one combined amount (11 mg) without saying how much of each component you get.

Probiotic Pearls Acidophilus delivers 2 active ingredients: Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM and Bifidobacterium longum BB536. Both are live, beneficial bacteria (probiotics) designed to support your gut flora.

The product also contains several inactive ingredients — palm oil, fish gelatin, glycerin, soy lecithin, and pectin — which serve as the softgel capsule and stabilizers.

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 occasional bloating and constipation.
  • We looked for evidence on: Antibiotic-associated diarrhea, Constipation, Diarrhea, Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Lactose intolerance, Intestinal regularity — and 1 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 Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
  • Also on file: Lactobacillus Acidophilus is rated "Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate" for Constipation, Radiation-induced diarrhea, Lactose intolerance, Rotaviral diarrhea, and more.

The evidence for Lactobacillus acidophilus is most established for irritable bowel syndrome, Helicobacter pylori infection, antibiotic-associated diarrhea, and bacterial vaginosis, where it's rated possibly effective. For Bifidobacterium longum, the data we hold don't establish effectiveness for the conditions listed — the evidence is either insufficient to rate or hasn't been reliably studied for this strain.

If you're considering this for a specific health concern, talk with your pharmacist about whether the evidence supports its use for your situation.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Lactobacillus Acidophilus Bifidobacterium Longum

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. A small number of people taking it in combination with other probiotics have reported mild gastrointestinal side effects like bloating, gas, abdominal discomfort, or diarrhea, though these are uncommon.

Very rarely, the live bacteria can cause serious infections in people with weakened immune systems or critical illness — this is why caution is advised if you're seriously ill or immune-compromised. Bifidobacterium longum is also generally well tolerated in healthy people but carries the same rare risk of infection in severely ill patients.

Limited safety data exist for breastfeeding, so check with your doctor. Neither ingredient has pregnancy or lactation safety data on file — talk with your healthcare provider about use during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Lactobacillus Acidophilus Bifidobacterium Longum

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?
  • 2 of the 2 matched ingredients can interact with medications — Lactobacillus Acidophilus, Bifidobacterium Longum.
  • 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.

Separate antibiotic drugs from this product by several hours — taking them at the same time may reduce the supplement's effectiveness. No other medication interactions are documented for the ingredients we could check.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFormula with limited ingredient disclosure with some supporting evidence for its stated purpose. Moderate medication interactions have been identified, and safety information is well characterized.

This product may help with irritable bowel syndrome, traveler's diarrhea, or other gut health concerns in healthy adults and children. If you take antibiotics, separate them from this supplement by a few hours.

If you're seriously ill, have a weakened immune system, or are pregnant or breastfeeding, check with your doctor first.

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

Assessment coverage: 2 of 2 active ingredients matched to our full ingredient reviews (monographs). Based on the product label dated Jun 16, 2022.

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 Probiotic Pearls Acidophilus, straight from the product label.

Brand Nature's Way
Barcode (UPC) 763948042999
Net contents 90 Softgel(s)
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Jun 16, 2022
DSLD ID 267641
Product type Non-nutrient/non-botanical
Supplement form Softgel Capsule
Dietary claims / uses All Other, Structure/Function
Intended target group(s) Adult (18 - 50 Years)
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 Probiotic Pearls Acidophilus by Nature's Way, 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:
1 Softgel(s)
Maximum serving Sizes:
1 Softgel(s)
Servings per container
90
UPC/BARCODE
763948042999
IngredientAmount% DV
Proprietary Probiotic Blend11 mg--
HOWARU Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM0 NP--
Bifidobacterium longum BB5360 NP--

Other ingredients: Palm Oil, Fish Gelatin, Glycerin, Soy Lecithin, Pectin

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

No refrigeration

Store at room temperature. Avoid excessive heat and direct sunlight.

Formulation

Survives stomach acid

Survives stomach acid to release in the intestine Designed to survive stomach acid Digestive health Helps protect against occasional bloating - constipation - digestive discomfort

Small & easy to swallow

Survives Stomach Acid Probiotic Pearls uses an advanced triple-layer softgel that protects probiotics from heat, air, moisture and stomach acid to maximize survival and delivery to the intestine where needed most.

Contains no salt, yeast-derived ingredients, wheat, or artificial colors.

Product of Japan

Brand IP Statement(s)

The smarter probiotic

Copyright 2021 Nature's Way Brands, LLC

HOWARU is a registered trademark of DuPont. HOWARU probiotic quality you can feel

Formula

1 billion cultures

Formulated 2 strains for digestive balance Taking Probiotic Pearls Acidophilus provides L. acidophilus for the small intestine and Bifidobacterium longum for the large intestine (colon) to help: Promote digestive balance and colon health Protect against occasional bloating, constipation and digestive discomfort Support immune health

FDA Statement of Identity

Probiotic Supplement

FDA Disclaimer Statement

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Once daily

Recommendation: Adults swallow 1 softgel daily. May be taken with or without food. Do not chew or crush.

Precautions

Contains milk, soy, and fish (Tilapia).

If you are pregnant, nursing, or taking any medications, consult a healthcare professional before use.

Keep out of reach of children.

This product has a tamper-evident foil pouch. Do not use if foil or plastic is punctured.

See for yourself

Probiotic Pearls Acidophilus by Nature's Way label

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

What’s inside

The Ingredients in Probiotic Pearls Acidophilus by Nature's Way

These are the 2 active ingredients this product is made of. Select any to open its full monograph.

Serving size1 Softgel(s) Dosage formSoftgel Capsule Servings per container90 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.

Proprietary Probiotic Blend

11 mg per serving

Other (inactive) ingredients: Palm Oil, Fish Gelatin, Glycerin, Soy Lecithin, Pectin. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.

Interaction report

Probiotic Pearls Acidophilus by Nature's Way Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Probiotic Pearls Acidophilus?

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 Probiotic Pearls Acidophilus with known interactions, here are the types of medications they can affect. Open any type for the detail — or search your exact drug in the checker above.

HOWARU Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM1 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

Bifidobacterium longum BB5361 drug type · 182 drugs

Antibiotic Drugs

Theoretically, taking Bifidobacterium longum with antibiotic drugs might decrease the effectiveness of B. longum.
Since B. longum preparations usually contain live and active organisms, simultaneously taking antibiotics might kill a significant number of the organisms. Tell patients to separate administration of antibiotics and B. longum preparations by at least 2 hours.

Likelihood Probable Evidence D
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for Probiotic Pearls Acidophilus, from the product label.

Nature's Way

See all Nature's Way products
Name
Nature's Way Brands, LLC
City
Green Bay
State
WI
ZipCode
54311
Phone Number
1-800-962-8873
Web Address
pearlsprobiotics.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Probiotic Pearls Acidophilus by Nature's Way: Common Questions

Does Probiotic Pearls Acidophilus by Nature's Way interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Probiotic Pearls Acidophilus 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?
Probiotic Pearls Acidophilus contains 2 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 work if I'm taking an antibiotic?
Both strains in this product are live bacteria, and antibiotics can kill them off if you take them together. Space your antibiotic and this supplement a few hours apart — your pharmacist can give you a specific timing plan based on your antibiotic.
What are these probiotics supposed to do?
Lactobacillus acidophilus has decent evidence for irritable bowel syndrome, antibiotic-associated diarrhea, bacterial vaginosis, and Helicobacter pylori. Bifidobacterium longum hasn't been reliably studied in the data we hold, so its effectiveness isn't established. Talk to your pharmacist about whether this product fits your specific need.
Are there any side effects?
Most people tolerate it well. A small number have reported mild stomach discomfort, gas, bloating, or diarrhea when taking probiotics together. Very rarely, in people with severely weakened immune systems or critical illness, these live bacteria can cause serious infection.
Can I take this while breastfeeding?
Bifidobacterium longum is rated possibly safe in pregnancy and lactation, but limited data exist, so check with your doctor. We don't have specific safety information on file for Lactobacillus acidophilus during breastfeeding — talk with your healthcare provider.
Is this safe for my child?
Lactobacillus acidophilus is generally well tolerated in healthy children. Bifidobacterium longum carries a rare risk of infection in seriously ill or immune-compromised people, including infants. For a healthy child, ask your pediatrician or pharmacist to confirm it's right for your situation.
What's in the capsule besides the probiotics?
The softgel is made with fish gelatin and contains palm oil, glycerin, soy lecithin, and pectin as stabilizers. If you're allergic to fish or soy, check the label or ask your pharmacist.

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

Not sure if Probiotic Pearls Acidophilus is safe with your meds?

Our pharmacists answer your medication & supplement questions — free.

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.

Probiotic Pearls Acidophilus label
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Probiotic Pearls Acidophilus'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 36 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 →

Bifidobacterium Longum 21 references
  1. Ha GY, Yang CH, Kim H, Chong Y. Case of sepsis caused by Bifidobacterium longum. J Clin Microbiol 1999;37:1227-8.
  2. Pierce A. The American Pharmaceutical Association Practical Guide to Natural Medicines. New York: The Stonesong Press, 1999:19.
  3. 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
  4. Rautava S, Kainonen E, Salminen S, Isolauri E. Maternal probiotic supplementation during pregnancy and breast-feeding reduces the risk of eczema in the infant. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2012;130(6):1355-60. PubMed
  5. 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.
  6. Pellonperä O, Vahlberg T, Mokkala K, et al. Weight gain and body composition during pregnancy: a randomised pilot trial with probiotics and/or fish oil. Br J Nutr. 2020 Nov 4:1-11. PubMed
  7. Pellonperä O, Mokkala K, Houttu N, et al. Efficacy of fish oil and/or probiotic intervention on the incidence of gestational diabetes mellitus in an at-risk group of overweight and obese women: A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial PubMed
  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. Esaiassen E, Hjerde E, Cavanagh JP, Simonsen GS, Klingenberg C; Norwegian Study Group on Invasive Bifidobacterial Infections. Bifidobacterium bacteremia: Clinical characteristics and a genomic approach to assess pathogenicity. J Clin Microbiol. 2017;55(7) PubMed
  10. Enomoto T, Sowa M, Nishimori K, et al. Effects of bifidobacterial supplementation to pregnant women and infants in the prevention of allergy development in infants and on fecal microbiota. Allergol Int 2014;63(4):575-85. PubMed
  11. US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Dear Healthcare Provider Letter: Warning Regarding Use of Probiotics in Preterm Infants. September 2023. Available at: https://www.fda.gov/media/172606/download?attachment. Accessed November 1, 2023.
  12. Pillai A, Tan J, Paquette V, Panczuk J. Does probiotic bacteremia in premature infants impact clinically relevant outcomes? A case report and updated review of literature. Clin Nutr ESPEN. 2020;39:255-259. PubMed
  13. Sabaté JM, Iglicki F. Effect of Bifidobacterium longum 35624 on disease severity and quality of life in patients with irritable bowel syndrome. World J Gastroenterol 2022;28(7):732-744.
  14. Malaguarnera M, Greco F, Barone G, Gargante MP, Malaguarnera M, Toscano MA. Bifidobacterium longum with fructo-oligosaccharide (FOS) treatment in minimal hepatic encephalopathy: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Dig Dis Sci 2007;52(11) PubMed
  15. Zbinden A, Zbinden R, Berger C, Arlettaz R. Case series of Bifidobacterium longum bacteremia in three preterm infants on probiotic therapy. Neonatology 2015;107(1):56-9.
  16. Tamaki H, Nakase H, Inoue S, et al. Efficacy of probiotic treatment with Bifidobacterium longum 536 for induction of remission in active ulcerative colitis: A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled multicenter trial. Dig Endosc 2016;28(1):67-74.
  17. Bertelli C, Pillonel T, Torregrossa A, et al. Bifidobacterium longum bacteremia in preterm infants receiving probiotics. Clin Infect Dis 2015;60(6):924-7. PubMed
  18. Esaiassen E, Cavanagh P, Hjerde E, Simonsen GS, Støen R, Klingenberg C. Bifidobacterium longum subspecies infantis bacteremia in 3 extremely preterm infants receiving probiotics. Emerg Infect Dis 2016;22(9):1664-6.
  19. Tena D, Losa C, Medina MJ, Sáez-Nieto JA. Peritonitis caused by Bifidobacterium longum: case report and literature review. Anaerobe 2014;27:27-30. PubMed
  20. Sangkanjanavanich S, Pradubpongsa P, Mitthamsiri W, Sangasapaviliya A, Boonpiyathad T. Bifidobacterium infantis 35624 efficacy in patients with uncontrolled asthma: A randomized placebo-controlled trial. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 2022;129(6):790-792. PubMed
  21. Wilson HL, Ong CW. Bifidobacterium longum vertebrodiscitis in a patient with cirrhosis and prostate cancer. Anaerobe 2017;47:47-50. PubMed

See these in context on the Bifidobacterium Longum 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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