Key takeaways:
Probiotics can sometimes cause constipation when you first start taking them. This symptom is usually temporary and resolves within a few weeks.
Probiotics help constipation by increasing how quickly stool moves through the gut, changing gut hormones, and making the intestines contract more.
If you’re experiencing constipation from probiotics, it will help to drink plenty of water, get enough fiber, and do regular physical activity.
You may have heard about the benefits of probiotics in treating all sorts of conditions — from diarrhea to high cholesterol. Probiotics are live microorganisms, like bacteria and yeast, that can be good for your gut and overall health. And they’re sometimes recommended to help you treat constipation.
But they can have some digestive side effects too — including constipation. Here, we’ll review what the science says about side effects of probiotics and their link to constipation.
What are the side effects of probiotics?
Most people don’t have a lot of side effects with probiotics. In fact, probiotics can help prevent side effects from other medications or treatments.
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But some people have reported the following side effects while on probiotics:
Bloating
Gas
Abdominal pain
Unpleasant taste in the mouth
In rare cases, probiotics can also cause infection. This is usually only seen in people with weakened immune systems.
Is constipation common with some probiotics?
Constipation isn’t common with probiotics. But it’s possible. You can sometimes have some constipation in the first few weeks after starting a new probiotic. This is most common when your body is getting used to taking the probiotic daily.
Why do some probiotics sometimes cause constipation?
Probiotics work by changing the types of bacteria and yeast that line your digestive tract. Sometimes, those microorganisms change the way food is digested. So probiotics can lead to symptoms like increased gas production. For some people, this leads to symptoms like bloating or constipation. These symptoms are usually temporary and resolve within a few weeks.
How can you prevent and treat constipation when taking a probiotic?
You can help prevent constipation when taking a probiotic by doing a few simple things.
Drink lots of water
Drinking fluids helps keep your stools soft and easier to pass. The ideal amount of water you should drink is different for every person. It depends on what other fluids you’re drinking and on the water content of the food in your diet. But a good rule of thumb is that you should drink enough water for your pee to be a pale yellow.
Increase how much fiber you eat
Eating a diet with plenty of fiber usually helps prevent and treat constipation. Some of the most high-fiber foods include:
Fruits
Vegetables
Whole grains
Nuts
Seeds
Even though getting fiber in your diet usually helps with digestion, there’s also too much of a good thing. Keep in mind that too much fiber can actually cause constipation. It can also cause more gas and bloating symptoms. While the amount of fiber you need may vary, most adults benefit from getting about 25 g to 30 g of dietary fiber per day.
Exercise and physical activity
When you move your body, your digestive system starts moving more as well. Any exercise can help with constipation — but some may be more helpful than others.
If you’re experiencing constipation, find a type of movement that feels enjoyable to you. Types of exercise and physical activity that can help you pass stool include:
Simple standing squats
How can probiotics help constipation?
If you’re experiencing constipation after starting a probiotic, don’t give up on them right away. There’s evidence that probiotics are ultimately helpful for constipation.
Researchers are still learning about how probiotics work to help constipation. But probiotics seem to help constipation by:
Regulating the release of hormones into the gut
Promoting bacteria in the gut that create softer stools
Stimulating the gut to contract more
Increasing the amount of stool made in the gut
Increasing how quickly the gut is able to move stool along the tract
Frequently asked questions
Since probiotics affect your digestion, taking too many may cause some unpleasant symptoms. These include:
Bloating
Gas
Abdominal pain
Diarrhea
If you’re experiencing symptoms of taking too many probiotics, discontinue them until your symptoms improve. This may take a couple days. Then consider switching to a probiotic supplement that delivers a smaller dose. Or consider getting probiotics through food instead.
If you just started taking a probiotic, it may take a couple weeks before your gut microbiome starts to balance out. One of the main signs that your probiotics are working are more regular bowel movements. This could be less diarrhea for some people, or improved constipation for others. People also often notice less gas and bloating.
Probiotics may have some potential benefits for heart health. Researchers are looking into how they may actually help prevent heart disease by lowering cholesterol and inflammation.
But there’s still a lot to learn about their effect on the body. And since there’s a link between gut bacteria and heart disease, we still don’t know how certain bacterial strains will impact the heart. If you have a heart condition, it’s always a good idea to discuss any supplement with your healthcare team before you try probiotics.
Since probiotics affect your digestion, taking too many may cause some unpleasant symptoms. These include:
Bloating
Gas
Abdominal pain
Diarrhea
If you’re experiencing symptoms of taking too many probiotics, discontinue them until your symptoms improve. This may take a couple days. Then consider switching to a probiotic supplement that delivers a smaller dose. Or consider getting probiotics through food instead.
If you just started taking a probiotic, it may take a couple weeks before your gut microbiome starts to balance out. One of the main signs that your probiotics are working are more regular bowel movements. This could be less diarrhea for some people, or improved constipation for others. People also often notice less gas and bloating.
Probiotics may have some potential benefits for heart health. Researchers are looking into how they may actually help prevent heart disease by lowering cholesterol and inflammation.
But there’s still a lot to learn about their effect on the body. And since there’s a link between gut bacteria and heart disease, we still don’t know how certain bacterial strains will impact the heart. If you have a heart condition, it’s always a good idea to discuss any supplement with your healthcare team before you try probiotics.
The bottom line
Probiotics are live microorganisms like bacteria and yeast that are good for gut health. They’re often used to treat constipation. But they can also cause constipation as a side effect during the first few weeks as you get used to them. This side effect usually goes away on its own. Remember that you can help get rid of constipation by drinking plenty of water, eating enough fiber, and exercising regularly.
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References
Dore, M. P., et al. (2019). Side effects associated with probiotic use in adult patients with inflammatory bowel disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Nutrients.
Ganesh, H. R. S., et al. (2021). Role of yoga therapy in improving digestive health and quality of sleep in an elderly population: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies.
He, Y., et al. (2022). Efficacy of probiotic compounds in relieving constipation and their colonization in gut microbiota. Molecules.
Office of Dietary Supplements. (2025). Probiotics. National Institutes of Health.
Yoga Journal. (2025). 7 yoga poses for when you can’t…go.
Wu, H., et al. (2021). Potential benefits of probiotics and prebiotics for coronary heart disease and stroke. Nutrients.
Zhou, Z., et al. (2025). Probiotic Bifidobacterium reduces serum TMAO in unstable angina patients via the gut to liver to heart axis. Liver Research.
