Interactions on record — worth a quick check against your medications. Based on 3 of 4 ingredients. Check your meds →
Dietary supplement

HLC Maintenance Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Pharmax

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

HLC Maintenance is a dietary supplement by Pharmax with 4 active ingredients. Its ingredients are commonly taken for digestive and gut health, prebiotic to support good bacteria, constipation relief.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, Bifidobacterium bifidum CUL-20. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

HelloPharmacist Scorecard of HLC Maintenance by Pharmax

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 1 of its 4 active ingredients.
  • “HLC Consortium” is listed as a grouped ingredient — the label doesn't break down how much of each component you get.

HLC Maintenance contains 4 active ingredients: Fructooligosaccharides (a type of fiber that feeds beneficial gut bacteria), Lactobacillus acidophilus (a live probiotic strain), Bifidobacterium bifidum CUL-20 (another live probiotic strain), and HLC Consortium (a proprietary blend of additional probiotic organisms). The capsules also contain inactive ingredients—cellulose, hypromellose, sunflower lecithin, and silica—which are binders, coatings, and flow agents.

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: Supports gastrointestinal health.
  • We looked for evidence on: Antibiotic-associated diarrhea, Constipation, Clostridioides difficile infection, Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Lactose intolerance — 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 Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
  • Also on file: Bifidobacterium Bifidum is rated "Possibly Effective" for Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

The probiotics in this product—Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidum—are rated Possibly Effective for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). L. acidophilus is also Possibly Effective for antibiotic-associated diarrhea and bacterial vaginosis.

Bifidobacterium bifidum is Possibly Effective for respiratory tract infections. The evidence for Fructooligosaccharides and several other conditions is insufficient to rate, meaning the data we hold doesn't establish whether they work for osteoporosis, constipation, diabetes, travelers' diarrhea, or high cholesterol.

Talk to your doctor about whether this product fits your specific health goals.

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 3 of the 3 matched ingredients.
  • Pregnancy & breastfeeding safety ratings cover 3 of 3.
  • General safety write-ups exist for 3 of 3.
  • Remember: this measures how much safety information exists. Thin data is not the same as being safe.

Both Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidum are generally well tolerated in healthy adults and children. The main side effects from probiotics are mild: bloating, flatulence, abdominal pain, and occasionally burping or diarrhea when first starting—these are uncommon and usually settle down.

Fructooligosaccharides can cause gas and bloating, especially at higher doses, though clinical trials suggest doses under 10 grams daily are often no worse than placebo. For pregnancy, Lactobacillus acidophilus is rated Possibly Safe.

Bifidobacterium bifidum is also rated Possibly Safe in pregnancy. The safety data for Fructooligosaccharides in pregnancy isn't on file—there isn't enough information to know either way.

People with weakened immune systems should check with their doctor before taking probiotics, since live organisms carry a small theoretical risk in that population. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about whether this product is right for your situation.

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 3 matched ingredients can interact with medications — Lactobacillus Acidophilus, Bifidobacterium Bifidum.
  • 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.

Before taking HLC Maintenance, double-check with your doctor or pharmacist if you're on antibiotic drugs. The live probiotics in this product can be killed by antibiotics, making both less effective; timing them several hours apart usually solves this.

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.

HLC Maintenance is a multi-strain probiotic intended to support gut health, with evidence suggesting benefit for IBS and some digestive conditions. If you take antibiotics, space them apart from this product—ask your doctor or pharmacist for the right timing.

Check your full medication list with your healthcare provider before starting, and let them know if you have a weakened immune system.

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

Assessment coverage: 3 of 4 active ingredients matched to our full ingredient reviews (monographs). Based on the product label dated Jul 18, 2023.

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 HLC Maintenance, straight from the product label.

Brand Pharmax
Barcode (UPC) 883196202812
Net contents 120 Vegetarian Capsule(s)
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Jul 18, 2023
DSLD ID 288291
Product type Other Combinations
Supplement form Capsule
Dietary claims / uses All Other, Structure/Function
Intended target group(s) Children 4 or More Years of Age, Adult (18 - 50 Years), Gluten Free, Dairy 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 HLC Maintenance by Pharmax, 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 Capsule(s)
Maximum serving Sizes:
1 Capsule(s)
Servings per container
120
UPC/BARCODE
883196202812
IngredientAmount% DV
Fructooligosaccharides100 mg--
Lactobacillus acidophilus0 NP--
Bifidobacterium bifidum CUL-200 NP--
HLC Consortium0 NP--
Bifidobacterium animalis lactis CUL-340 NP--

Other ingredients: Cellulose, Hypromellose, Sunflower Lecithin, Silica

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.
Formula

Human Lactic Commensals (HLC) probiotics have been extensively researched, including randomized, placebo-controlled human clinical trials. These proprietary strains are compatible with the human gastrointestinal tract and are selected based on their high quality and viability.

Research Driven Probiotics

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Recommended intake: Adults, adolescents and children (6 years and older): One capsule taken 1-2 times daily with meals or as professionally directed.

Precautions

Warning: If you are pregnant or lactating, have any health condition or are taking any medication, consult your health professional before use.

Caution: If you are immunocompromised, consult your health professional before using probiotic-containing products. Use only if safety seal is intact.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Storage

Store under refrigeration (below 46 degrees F).

General Statements

Contents may not fill package in order to accommodate required labeling. Please rely on stated quantity.

Formulation

Supports gastrointestinal health

Gluten free and Dairy free

FDA Disclaimer Statement

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

FDA Statement of Identity

Probiotic Supplement

See for yourself

HLC Maintenance by Pharmax label

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

What’s inside

The Ingredients in HLC Maintenance by Pharmax

These are the 4 active ingredients this product is made of. Select any to open its full monograph.

Serving size1 Capsule(s) Dosage formCapsule Servings per container120 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.

Fructooligosaccharides

No known
interactions
100 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

HLC Consortium

0 NP per serving

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

Interaction report

HLC Maintenance by Pharmax Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against HLC Maintenance?

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 HLC Maintenance 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.

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

Bifidobacterium bifidum CUL-201 drug type · 182 drugs

Antibiotic Drugs

Theoretically, taking Bifidobacterium. bifidum with antibiotic drugs might decrease the effectiveness of B. bifidum.
Since B. bifidum 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. bifidum preparations by at least 2 hours.

Likelihood Probable Evidence D
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for HLC Maintenance, from the product label.

Pharmax

See all Pharmax products
Name
Seroyal USA
City
Pittsburg
State
PA
ZipCode
15275
Phone Number
1-888-737-6925
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

HLC Maintenance by Pharmax: Common Questions

Does HLC Maintenance by Pharmax interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, HLC Maintenance 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?
HLC Maintenance contains 4 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.
Can I take this while I'm on antibiotics?
Not at the same time—the antibiotics will kill the live probiotics and make them ineffective. Ask your pharmacist to space them out, usually a few hours apart. Your antibiotic's effectiveness won't be affected, but the probiotic won't do its job if taken together.
Is this safe in pregnancy?
Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidum are both rated Possibly Safe in pregnancy. We don't have pregnancy safety data on file for the Fructooligosaccharides in this product, so there isn't enough information to know either way. Talk to your doctor or midwife before starting.
What are the main side effects?
Most people tolerate this well. The most common side effects are bloating, gas, and abdominal discomfort, especially when you first start—these are usually mild and tend to fade. If symptoms persist or worsen, stop and check with your doctor.
Will this help with IBS?
Both Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidum are rated Possibly Effective for IBS, meaning there's some evidence they may help, but it's not definitive. Results vary by person, so talk to your doctor about whether this product makes sense for your IBS management.
Is there filler in this?
The inactive ingredients are cellulose, hypromellose, sunflower lecithin, and silica—these are standard binders and flow agents used in capsules to hold everything together and keep it stable.

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

Not sure if HLC Maintenance 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.

HLC Maintenance label
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

HLC Maintenance'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 28 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.

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 →

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 Bifidum 7 references
  1. Pierce A. The American Pharmaceutical Association Practical Guide to Natural Medicines. New York: The Stonesong Press, 1999:19.
  2. 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
  3. Rerksuppaphol S, Rerksuppaphol L. Randomized controlled trial of probiotics to reduce common cold in schoolchildren. Pediatr Int. 2012;54(5):682-7. PubMed
  4. 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
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. 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

See these in context on the Bifidobacterium Bifidum 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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