Recommended Dosage for Florastor (Saccharomyces boulardii)
The standard recommended dosage for Florastor (Saccharomyces boulardii) is 250 mg twice daily for most clinical indications.
Evidence-Based Dosing Recommendations
Saccharomyces boulardii is a probiotic yeast that has been studied for various gastrointestinal conditions. The dosing recommendations are based on clinical research:
- Standard adult dose: 250 mg twice daily 1
- Treatment duration: Typically 10 days for most acute conditions 1
- Children: Same dosage as adults (250 mg twice daily) 1
Clinical Applications and Efficacy
Saccharomyces boulardii has demonstrated efficacy in several clinical scenarios:
Proven Benefits:
- Antibiotic-associated diarrhea: Recommended by European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) for prevention 2
- Acute gastroenteritis: Reduces duration of diarrhea and hospitalization by approximately 1 day 2
- Blastocystis hominis infection: Clinical cure rate of 77.7% after 15 days of treatment 1
Emerging Applications:
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Diarrhea (IBS-D): May reduce bacterial overgrowth and improve digestive symptoms 3
- Helicobacter pylori eradication: Improves compliance, decreases side effects, and moderately increases eradication rate when used as adjunctive therapy 2
Administration Guidelines
- Take with or without food
- Capsules can be opened and mixed with cool foods or beverages if needed
- Continue taking for the full prescribed duration, even if symptoms improve before completion
Safety Considerations
Saccharomyces boulardii is generally well-tolerated with an excellent safety profile 3. However, there are some important considerations:
- Immunocompromised patients: Use with caution due to rare reports of fungemia
- Central venous catheters: Exercise caution as there is potential risk of catheter colonization
- Pregnancy and lactation: Limited data available, but generally considered safe
Treatment Duration
The optimal duration depends on the specific condition being treated:
- Acute conditions (gastroenteritis, antibiotic-associated diarrhea): 10 days 1
- Chronic conditions (IBS-D): 15 days or longer, based on clinical response 3
Clinical Pearls
- Florastor is one of the most evidence-supported probiotics available in academic medical centers 4
- Unlike bacterial probiotics, Saccharomyces boulardii is resistant to antibiotics, allowing concurrent administration
- There is no "generic equivalency" between different probiotic species - effects are strain-specific 4
- Store at room temperature (no refrigeration required)
Saccharomyces boulardii CNCM I-745 (the specific strain in Florastor) has been well-studied compared to other probiotics, making it a preferred choice for many gastrointestinal conditions where probiotics are indicated 2.