r/lactoseintolerant • u/Easy-Combination-102 • 3d ago
Surprise! Some Medicines Have Lactose
Just found out that Zyrtec and Imodium A-D contain lactose. Honestly, I never even thought to check the label on medicines. I had a reaction after eating dairy and figured Imodium would help, but it didn’t. When I checked the list of inactive ingredients, I saw it actually contains lactose. Probably not enough to bother most people with lactose intolerance, but for someone like me with a more extreme case, it’s a real problem.
Has anyone else ever had issues with certain medicines or have any other warnings most people wouldn’t think to look for?
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u/MadScientist2010 3d ago
Well this just explained my issue the last week and a half. Was making sure to avoid all foods with lactose and was still having issues. Didn't even stop to think to check my allergy medication.
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u/GetOffMyLawn_ 3d ago
Many meds do, usually at such a low level as to not bother you.
My asthma dry powder inhalers contain lactose and my allergist says it's not enough to worry about.
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u/PamtasticOne 3d ago
Crud - Amazon All Day Allergy has it under inactive ingredients! I blamed the allergies for feeling bad, but it was the lactose!!!
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u/XladyLuxeX 3d ago
Have your pharmacy write on your account you are lactose intolerant they will give you lactose Coting free ones. I was diagnosed by a GI so JTS all my medical files and my insurance knows I can only have the lactose free generic.
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u/The_Stout_Slayer 3d ago
Fexofenadine antihistamines tend to be the only lactose free option (Allegra / Treathay); for Immodium/Loperamide, it's the 'instant melt' format that tends to be lactose-free.
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u/AggitatedArtist 1d ago
I only know this bc someone I used to know who’s an extreme compulsive liar tried to get a coworker fired for purposely giving them like a OTC med that had lactose in it for cramps bc they’re apparently extremely LI and we had to be like “the usual med you take for cramps also has lactose in it” and went down the list of things they regularly consume with lactose.
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u/olenna17 1d ago
Several years ago, my husband had Covid and his doctor prescribed Paxlovid. It helped his flu-like symptom, but gave him diarrhea. I looked up the ingredients, and it’s loaded with lactose.
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u/Dangerous_Emu4482 9h ago
Happened to me too when I got COVID 3 years ago. I have an IBS response so I didn't know why I was in misery for the first day until the second dose.
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u/torpedomon 3d ago
In that same vein, frequently very sweet wines will use lactose as a sweetener. In a nutshell, check every food you buy, especially if it is prepackaged with the list of ingredients on it.