Can You Take Probiotics While Taking Antibiotics?
Last updated: August 2026 · Reviewed by the FactoWiki Editorial Team for clarity and source accuracy
Yes, and there is good evidence it reduces antibiotic-associated diarrhoea. The practical answer differs by type: bacterial probiotics should be spaced 2–3 hours from each antibiotic dose, while Saccharomyces boulardii is a yeast and needs no spacing at all because antibacterial drugs do not affect it.
Key takeaways
- S. boulardii is a yeast — antibiotics do not kill it, so no spacing is needed.
- Bacterial probiotics should be taken 2–3 hours away from antibiotic doses.
- Continue for one to two weeks after finishing the antibiotic course.
The evidence
Meta-analyses support probiotics for preventing antibiotic-associated diarrhoea, with S. boulardii and Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG having the strongest strain-specific data. The effect is real but modest — roughly a halving of risk in pooled analyses. Starting early matters; beginning at the same time as the antibiotic works better than starting after symptoms appear.
Why S. boulardii is the practical choice
It is a yeast, not a bacterium, so antibacterial antibiotics leave it entirely untouched. That removes the whole timing problem. It also produces a protease that degrades C. difficile toxins, which is relevant since C. difficile is the serious end of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea. Typical dosing is 250–500 mg twice daily.
Who should not do this
Anyone immunocompromised, critically ill, or with a central venous catheter should avoid live probiotics including S. boulardii — fungaemia and bacteraemia have both been documented in these groups. This is a firm contraindication, not a cautious footnote.
Key ingredients to understand
The ingredients most relevant to this question, with what the evidence actually supports:
- Saccharomyces boulardii — S. boulardii is a probiotic yeast, not a bacterium — which is why antibiotics do not kill it. It has some of the strongest evidence in the whole…
- Probiotics (Lactobacillus & friends) — Probiotics are live microorganisms that can support digestion — but their effects are strain-specific, so the exact strains and dose matter more…
- Bacillus coagulans — B. coagulans is a spore-forming probiotic, which means it survives stomach acid, heat and years on a shelf without refrigeration. That practical…
- Inulin (Prebiotic Fibre) — Inulin is a prebiotic soluble fibre (from chicory root) that feeds beneficial gut bacteria, supports regularity and calcium absorption, and adds…
Frequently asked questions
How long should I continue after finishing?
One to two weeks is typical in the trials. The gut microbiome takes longer than that to recover fully, but the diarrhoea risk window is around that period.
Does it matter which strain?
Considerably. Effects are strain-specific, not species-specific. Look for S. boulardii or a named strain like L. rhamnosus GG rather than a generic species name.
Will yoghurt do?
It supplies live cultures but at lower, less consistent doses than the trials used. It will not hurt; it is a weaker version of the same idea.
Related on FactoWiki
- Gut & Digestive Health supplements — the full category
- All health answers
- Ingredient evidence guides
- Saccharomyces boulardii — ingredient guide
- Probiotics (Lactobacillus & friends) — ingredient guide
- How we review
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