Frequently Asked Questions

Find all the answers to your frequently asked questions about Florastor® here.

Why is Florastor® a Unique Probiotic?

Florastor® contains the unique active probiotic strain Saccharomyces boulardii CNCM I-745, the friendly yeast found on the skin of lychees and mangosteens (tropical fruits).

Most of the other probiotics you’ll find on the market are bacterial probiotics that are either in pill form or in foods such as yogurt. Florastor offers exclusive advantages over most other probiotics for the relief of antibiotic-associated diarrhea, intestinal infections or to promote healthy intestinal flora.

When compared to bacterial probiotics, Florastor® is not susceptible to common antibiotics, and help protect your GI tract when you need it the most.*

Visit the "Why Florastor?" page to find out why Florastor® should be your probiotic of choice.

Health Canada and the World Health Organization define probiotics as “live microorganisms which, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit to the host.” These microorganisms include both bacteria and yeast-based cells, which interact with the body differently based on the specific strain of probiotic.

Florastor is a daily probiotic supplement intended to help promote the body’s own natural intestinal flora.† Anyone’s intestinal flora can become upset and vulnerable—whether from the daily flow of an active lifestyle (travel, stress, diet), disruption from a prescribed antibiotic, or nonspecific digestive issues. Florastor helps maintain peace in your intestinal tract by promoting intestinal balance and harmony.† Florastor also supports intestinal function, which can result in healthy absorption of essential nutrients and water.†

There are several ways to take Florastor:

Swallow the capsule whole.
Open the capsule or packet and empty the contents onto your tongue. Follow with a 4 oz. drink of water or juice.
Open the capsule or packet and sprinkle over semisolid food (applesauce, yogurt, etc.).
Open the capsule or packet and dissolve the contents in liquid (water, juice, milk, formula, etc.).

No, Florastor does not require refrigeration, making it travel-friendly. It is manufactured with a patented lyophilization process, similar to freeze-drying. This allows for storage at room temperature without compromising cell viability.* Do not refrigerate Florastor after opening as this could expose the cells to moisture and compromise its three-year shelf life.

Yes, Florastor Baby, Florastor Kids, and the Florastor capsule contents are appropriate for children as young as three months when added to formula, drinks, or solid foods. FlorastorBaby and Florastor are unflavored while FlorastorKids is available in a tutti-frutti-flavor.

The only difference is the tutti-frutti flavor in FlorastorKids. One Florastor capsule and one FlorastorKids powder sachet contain the same amount of Saccharomyces boulardii lyo CNCM I-745 (250mg).

Approximately 30 minutes after ingestion, the Florastor capsule dissolves in the stomach, allowing the yeast cells to help keep your intestinal tract on track.† Florastor can only benefit you during days of use.† Florastor does not colonize the gut, is naturally eliminated, and is undetectable within five days after last consumption.†

Yes, because Florastor is a yeast-based probiotic Florastor is not compromised by antibiotics that can kill good and bad bacteria, unlike many bacterial probiotics you’ll find marketed in capsule form or in foods such as yogurt.†

Known adverse reactions: Adverse events occurring in less than 1% of cases include flatulence, constipation, and thirst. Very rare cases of fungemia have been observed in patients with central venous catheters. In some cases (rarely), flatulence, pruritus, rash, angioedema may occur. In some cases (very rarely), anaphylactic reaction may occur.

Cautions and warnings: The concurrent administration of Saccharomyces boulardii lye and intestinally acting antimycotics may decrease the efficacy of Saccharomyces lyo. Discontinue use and consult a health care practitioner if symptoms of digestive upset (e.g. diarrhea) occur, worsen or persist beyond 3 days. Do not open the capsules in the surrounding of patients having a central venous catheter. Lactose intolerance. Consult a health care practitioner prior to use this drug if you have an abnormal condition of the gastrointestinal tract lining (i.e. ulcer or other GI tract disorders). Treatment does not replace rehydration when this is necessary. May contain traces of soy.

Contraindications: Do not use if you have hypersensitivity to any component of the product (especially allergy to yeast) or if you have a central venous catheter. Do not use if you have an immune compromised condition (e.g. AIDS, lymphoma, long-term corticosteroid treatment). Do not use if you are experiencing nausea, fever, vomiting, bloody diarrhea or severe abdominal pain.

No, Florastor does not cause or exacerbate a vaginal yeast infection of Candida origin. Taken by mouth, Florastor transits through the gastrointestinal tract and does not enter the urinary or genital system.

In the absence of reliable animal teratogenesis data, Biocodex advises women who are pregnant or nursing to check with their healthcare practitioner before using Florastor.

Recommended duration of use for antibiotic-associated diarrhea and acute infectious diarrhea is up to one week. If symptoms of diarrhea persist for longer than three days, consult your healthcare practitioner. However, long-term use of Florastor has not been associated with complications. After repeated oral doses, Florastor transits through the digestive tract attaining steady-state levels that are maintained throughout the administration period. Florastor is no longer present in stools two to five days after discontinuation of treatment.