Interactions on record — worth a quick check against your medications. Check your meds →
Dietary supplement

Mega Acidophilus Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by The Vitamin Shoppe

Mega Acidophilus label
See full label image
Capsule Category: Non-nutrient/non-botanical
Most serious interaction: Moderate
Clinical methodology reviewed by · Updated Sep 16, 2026 · Label data from the NIH DSLD
What is this page for?

First and foremost: checking Mega Acidophilus against your medications. The heart of this page is the interaction checker and the full interaction report — how this product’s ingredients may interact with prescription and over-the-counter medicines you may be taking.

Around that, we add a pharmacist’s high-level view of the product as a whole — what’s inside, the evidence for its stated use, how transparent the label is, and what safety data exists — so you can see the full picture in one place. It’s educational information from our licensed clinical databases and the clinical staff at HelloPharmacist — not medical advice — and we don’t sell or endorse products. Our editorial policy

The interaction bottom line Most serious interaction: Moderate

Mega Acidophilus is a dietary supplement by The Vitamin Shoppe with 1 active ingredient. 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.

Jump to a section

Check Your Meds Against Mega Acidophilus by The Vitamin Shoppe

Ask about any prescription or over-the-counter medication and we check it for interactions with Mega Acidophilus by The Vitamin Shoppe — and tell you which ingredient is responsible.

Pharmacist-reviewed data Checks every ingredient Answer in seconds
Prefer a human? Send your question to our licensed pharmacists — free, answered by email within 24 hours.

HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Mega Acidophilus by The Vitamin Shoppe

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

Generated from HelloPharmacist’s pharmacist-curated databases and editorial rules · Last generated Aug 20, 2026

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 1 of its 1 active ingredient.
  • No proprietary blends here — you can verify the dose of every single component.

Mega Acidophilus contains one active ingredient: Lactobacillus acidophilus, a live probiotic bacterium that naturally lives in your digestive tract. The capsules also include inactive ingredients — rice flour, gelatin, maltodextrin, and magnesium stearate — which serve as filler and binding material.

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

This product doesn't appear to be marketed for a specific use, so we graded Lactobacillus Acidophilus's overall clinical evidence instead.

Moderate

Some clinical evidence supports Lactobacillus Acidophilus for:

Why this rating?
  • The label markets general wellness (“digestive health”), not a specific health condition, so there is no single claim to grade against clinical-evidence data.
  • Since the label doesn't commit to one use, we graded the ingredient's overall clinical evidence instead.
  • On file: Antibiotic-associated diarrhea — rated "Possibly Effective" (Natural Medicines).
  • On file: Bacterial vaginosis — rated "Possibly Effective" (Natural Medicines).
  • On file: Helicobacter pylori — rated "Possibly Effective" (Natural Medicines).
  • On file: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) — rated "Possibly Effective" (Natural Medicines).

The evidence for L. acidophilus is mixed and depends on what you're taking it for. It's possibly effective for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Helicobacter pylori infection, antibiotic-associated diarrhea, and bacterial vaginosis.

For atopic disease (allergic and immune conditions), the data suggests it's possibly ineffective. For acute respiratory distress syndrome, there isn't enough reliable evidence to say one way or the other.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Lactobacillus Acidophilus

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 1 of the 1 matched ingredient.
  • Pregnancy & breastfeeding safety ratings cover 1 of 1.
  • General safety write-ups exist for 1 of 1.
  • 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. That said, because it contains live organisms, there's a theoretical risk — extremely rare — of infection in certain patients, particularly those with weakened immune systems or critical illness.

Gastrointestinal side effects like bloating, flatulence, abdominal discomfort, or diarrhea can occur when taking L. acidophilus, especially in combination with other probiotics, but these are uncommon. Before starting this supplement, check with your doctor, especially if you have a compromised immune system or a serious illness.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Lactobacillus Acidophilus

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 1 matched ingredient 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.

If you take antibiotics, coordinate the timing with your doctor or pharmacist — space out the probiotic and antibiotic doses to avoid reducing how well the probiotic works. These are the Moderate-severity interactions documented for this product.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFully disclosed formula with some supporting evidence behind its ingredients' uses. Moderate medication interactions have been identified, and safety information is well characterized.

Mega Acidophilus is a single-strain probiotic that may help with certain digestive and vaginal health concerns, though the evidence is strongest for IBS and antibiotic-associated diarrhea. The main thing to watch is timing with antibiotics — space them out to protect the live cultures.

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist before starting, particularly if you have a weakened immune system or are dealing with a serious health condition.

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

Assessment coverage: 1 of 1 active ingredient matched to our full ingredient reviews (monographs). Based on the product label dated Oct 10, 2014.

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 Mega Acidophilus, straight from the product label.

Brand The Vitamin Shoppe
Barcode (UPC) 766536011315
Net contents 100 Capsule(s)
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Oct 10, 2014
DSLD ID 37132
Product type Non-nutrient/non-botanical
Supplement form Capsule
Dietary claims / uses All Other, Structure/Function
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 Mega Acidophilus by The Vitamin Shoppe, 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)
UPC/BARCODE
766536011315
IngredientAmount% DV
Lactobacillus acidophilus2000000000 CFU--

Other ingredients: Rice Flour, Gelatin, Maltodextrin, Magnesium Stearate

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.
General Statements

specialty

digestive health

{capsule} actual size

Visit www.vitaminshoppe.com or call 1-800-223-1216 for more information and to reorder.

2 billion

FDA Statement of Identity

dietary supplement

Formulation

gluten free dairy free soy free nut free

Does not contain: Yeast, Wheat, Gluten, Sugar, Salt, Soy, Dairy, Citrus, Fish, Preservatives, Artificial Colors or Flavors.

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

DIRECTIONS: As a dietary supplement, take one (1) capsule up to three (3) capsules daily, preferably with meals.

Precautions

WARNING: Consult your healthcare provider prior to use if you are pregnant, nursing, taking any medication or have any medical conditions.

KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN.

TAMPER EVIDENT Do not use if outer seal is broken or missing

Storage

STORE IN A COOL, DRY PLACE.

Refrigerate after opening with cap tightly closed to prevent moisture from entering the bottle.

General

Item No. VS-1131 1038263 HO 1

Is this label outdated? Report a formula or label change and our pharmacy team will review it.

See for yourself

Mega Acidophilus by The Vitamin Shoppe label

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

Mega Acidophilus label

Label images are published by the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database for the version of this product on file. Always read your actual product label.

View the full label (PDF)
What’s inside

The Ingredients in Mega Acidophilus by The Vitamin Shoppe

This is the 1 active ingredient this product is made of. Select it to open its full monograph.

Serving size1 Capsule(s) Dosage formCapsule Amounts shown are per serving.

Lactobacillus acidophilus

Interacts with
182 drugs
2000000000 CFU 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

Other (inactive) ingredients: Rice Flour, Gelatin, Maltodextrin, Magnesium Stearate. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.

Interaction report

Mega Acidophilus by The Vitamin Shoppe Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Mega 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

Lactobacillus acidophilus 182

Individual Drug Interactions

The ingredients in Mega Acidophilus interact with 182 drugs. Click any drug to see the details.

1 of the 1 ingredient in Mega Acidophilus interact with drugs. Each result below shows which ingredient is responsible. Lactobacillus acidophilus

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Mega Acidophilus 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
Lactobacillus acidophilus full monograph & interactions
The maker

Brand information

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

The Vitamin Shoppe

See all The Vitamin Shoppe products
Name
Vitamin Shoppe, Inc.
City
Secaucus
State
NJ
ZipCode
07094
Phone Number
1-800-223-1216
Web Address
www.vitaminshoppe.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Mega Acidophilus by The Vitamin Shoppe: Common Questions

Does Mega Acidophilus by The Vitamin Shoppe interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Mega 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?
Mega Acidophilus contains a single active ingredient, and that one ingredient can interact with many different medications on its own. We check it against each medication and show the mechanism 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 probiotic while I'm on an antibiotic?
You can, but timing is important. Antibiotics may kill the live organisms in L. acidophilus if taken at the same time. Ask your pharmacist or doctor about spacing them out — usually a few hours apart works well so each can do its job.
What is Lactobacillus acidophilus and what does it do?
It's a beneficial bacterium that naturally lives in your gut and vaginal tract. This supplement adds live cultures of it, which may help restore balance, particularly after antibiotics or with certain digestive or vaginal concerns.
Will this help my irritable bowel syndrome or antibiotic-related diarrhea?
The evidence suggests L. acidophilus is possibly effective for both IBS and diarrhea triggered by antibiotics. Results vary from person to person, so it's worth discussing with your doctor to see if it fits your situation.
Are there any side effects?
Most people tolerate it well. Occasionally, especially when combined with other probiotics, you might notice bloating, gas, or abdominal discomfort — but these are uncommon. If you have a weakened immune system, talk with your doctor first, since there's a rare theoretical risk of infection.
Is it safe to take during pregnancy?
Lactobacillus acidophilus is rated as possibly safe in pregnancy, though the data are limited. If you're pregnant or planning to be, check with your doctor or pharmacist before starting to make sure it's right for you.
What are the inactive ingredients?
The capsule contains rice flour, gelatin, maltodextrin, and magnesium stearate — standard filler and binding materials. If you have allergies to any of these, let your pharmacist know.

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

Not sure if Mega 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.

Mega Acidophilus label
Go deeper

The Full Monographs Behind Mega Acidophilus’s Ingredients

Every ingredient we hold a full HelloPharmacist monograph for — uses, evidence, safety, and the complete interaction list.

Herb & supplement monograph

Lactobacillus Acidophilus

Interacts with 182 drugs

Lactobacillus acidophilus is a 'friendly' bacterium used as a probiotic to support gut and vaginal health. It is generally well tolerated in healthy people, and there is reasonable evidence...

Read the full Lactobacillus Acidophilus monograph →
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Mega 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 15 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 →

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

Keep exploring
Supplement interaction checker › Check any supplement or product against your medications Drug–drug interactions › Check two or more of your medications against each other Browse medications A–Z › Every drug we've checked against herbs & supplements NDC & pricing lookup › Find a drug’s NDCs, packaging and costs Ask a pharmacist › Free, personal answer from our licensed team