Acidophilus

What is the most important information I should know about acidophilus?

Acidophilus has not been approved by the FDA to treat any disease, and it should not be substituted for prescription medications.

Acidophilus has not been evaluated by the FDA for safety, effectiveness, or purity. All potential risks and/or advantages of acidophilus may not be known. Additionally, there are no regulated manufacturing standards in place for these compounds. Some marketed herbal supplements have been found to be contaminated with toxic metals or other drugs. Herbal/health supplements should be purchased from a reliable source to minimize the risk of contamination.

Talk to your doctor before taking acidophilus if you have any other medical conditions, allergies, or if you take other medicines or herbal/health supplements. Under certain conditions, it may be dangerous for you to take acidophilus.

Do not take acidophilus without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or may become pregnant during treatment.

Do not take acidophilus without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Do not give any herbal/health supplement to a child without the advice of a doctor.

What is acidophilus?

Acidophilus is also called lactobacillus acidophilus. Lactobacillus acidophilus is a bacteria that exists naturally in the body, primarily in the intestines and the vagina. Acidophilus helps maintain an acidic environment in the body, which can prevent the growth of harmful bacteria.

Acidophilus has been used to treat or prevent vaginal yeast infections, yeast infections of the mouth, diarrhea caused by taking antibiotics, and urinary tract infections. Acidophilus may work by helping the body maintain normal consistency of bacteria in the stomach, intestines, and vagina.

Acidophilus has not been approved by the FDA to treat any disease, and it should not be substituted for prescription medications.

Acidophilus has not been evaluated by the FDA for safety, effectiveness, or purity. All potential risks and/or advantages of acidophilus may not be known. Additionally, there are no regulated manufacturing standards in place for these compounds. Some marketed herbal supplements have been found to be contaminated with toxic metals or other drugs. Herbal/health supplements should be purchased from a reliable source to minimize the risk of contamination.

Acidophilus may also have be used for other purposes not listed in this product guide.

Who should not take acidophilus?

Talk to your doctor before taking acidophilus if you have any other medical conditions, allergies, or if you take other medicines or herbal/health supplements. Under certain conditions, it may be dangerous for you to take acidophilus.

Do not take acidophilus without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or may become pregnant during treatment.

Do not take acidophilus without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Do not give any herbal/health supplement to a child without the advice of a doctor.

How should I take acidophilus?

When considering the use of herbal supplements, seek the advice of your doctor. You may also consider consulting a practitioner who is trained in the use of herbal/health supplements.

Do not take more of this product than is directed.

If you choose to take acidophilus, use it as directed on the package or as directed by your doctor, pharmacist, or other healthcare provider. Do not use more of this product than is recommended on the label.

Acidophilus is available in capsule and tablet form. Powder or liquid forms may also be available. Some dairy products, especially yogurt, also contain lactobacillus acidophilus.

Do not use many different forms (such as tablets, topical formulations, and others) of acidophilus at the same time, unless your healthcare professional has told you to. You may get too much of this product if you use different forms together.

Store acidophilus in a sealed container as directed on the product label, away from moisture, heat, and light.

What happens if I miss a dose?

No information is available about missing a dose of acidophilus. Consult your doctor, pharmacist, or healthcare provider for instructions if you miss a dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this product.

Symptoms of an acidophilus overdose are not known.

What should I avoid while taking acidophilus?

Follow your doctor's instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity while you are using acidophilus.

What are the possible side effects of acidophilus?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Less serious side effects may be more likely, and you may have none at all. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.

What other drugs will affect acidophilus?

There may be other drugs that can interact with acidophilus. Tell your healthcare provider about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your healthcare provider.

Where can I get more information?

Your doctor, pharmacist, or healthcare provider may have more information about acidophilus.

Consultation with a licensed healthcare professional is advisable before using any herbal/health supplement. Additionally, consultation with a practitioner trained in the uses of herbal/health supplements may be beneficial and coordination of treatment among all healthcare providers involved may be advantageous. Remember, keep this and all other prescription drug products, over-the-counter drug products, and herbal/health supplements out of the reach of children.

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Copyright 1996-2003 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 1.04. Revision date: 01/12/2008.