About eight to ten years ago i had a violent reaction to lactaid....

Maybe your system has changed and you not only can't tolerate the milk products but also you might now be sensitive to the protein in milk. My nephew can't take Lactaid pills because he is allergic to the protein.

Our bodies change - while something didn't occur before, it now suddenly is rebelling against a food that a person could always eat.

I'm having a similar problem with Lactaid Fast-Act ultra.

I can take the regular lactaid pills, 3 or 4 of them at a time (which equates to the same amount of active ingredient as 1 Lactaid Fast Act Ultra) without a problem. But if I take a single Lactaid Fast Act Ultra.......BAM, it hits me hard. I'm out of the game for the next 36 hours with cramps, nausea, and pain in the area of the liver. My pharmasist is guessing it's one of the binders used in the Ultra tablet. If you read the label you'll see the non-active ingredients are different from the regular Lactaid pills.

I've had the same problem with Lactaid. I was taking the Fast-Act ones, and it worked fine a couple times. Twice though, I took two with large amounts of dairy and ended up vomiting. This was weird, because dairy had never made me vomit before.

Then once I took a Lactaid and got too busy to eat the dairy I was planning on having and ended up vomiting really painfully, complete with the yellow liquid at the end.

I guess my next steps based on your posts are to try Lactaid Milk and the non Fast-Act pills. The milk is actually treated with a lactase producing yeast, while the pills are made from a lactase producting mold. It is possible that it is that mold we are allergic to. That doesn't explain the Fast-Act versus non Fast-Act thing though, unless they were produced differently.

I am sitting here scared because the vomiting happen to me the other night. I didn't know what the deal was but now I am scared because I jus took a pill and ate ice cream. Should I jus take something to combat the vomiting before it happens again! It was horrible and the yellow stuff followed too. I am a wimp when it comes to vomiting!

Lactaid never bothered me for almost a month. Then one day I woke up in the middle of the night so sick I vomited all day, even missed work.
Thinking it was from eating fast food, I waited a week and took the ultra kind just one time before eating ice cream. Same sickness , now I feel permanently sick, so I fear ever using Lactaid pills. They are dangerous!!

These postings were so helpful! I also used the Fast Act kind several times before with no problem. But the last two times I used them I got so sick with stomach pain and nausea. I almost went to the emergency room. I wasn't sure what was going on, but with these postings my suspicions have been confirmed.

I suspected my daughter may be developing lactose intolerance (I did around her age), so I gave her one of my regular lactase enzyme pills. She began vomitting within a half hour. I told her doctor (GI specialist) and she didn't think there could be any relationship between the lactase pill and the vomitting. So, sometime later, we tried the lactase enzyme pill (just 3,000 units) again, but got the same result: VOMITTING AND STOMACH PAIN! There IS a relationship between lactase enzyme pills and vomitting. The medical world need to catch up to reality.

Hello, The same thing happened to me as well. I have developed a lactose intolerance just recently(few months) and I love my dairy. Anywaze I stared to take the lactaid ultra pills and at first I was ok, however I would still feel really gassy and bloated...but just the other day I took one before I had a piece of cake and before I knew it I was throwing up and vomiting all night. At first I thought it was the Mcdonalds I ate the night before, but after reading all these postings I can clearly see that its the pills. I even had the metallic after taste!! I dont think Im going to be taking these pills anytime soon :(

I am so glad to find this posting. I was getting ready to go to the doctors. I have been vomitting so bad I thought something was seriously wrong with me. I just changed to Lactaid Fast Act chewables when it started (no problem with the pills I'd picked up previously). This is been going on for two weeks and I just made the connection today because there were no warnings about possible side effects on the label! They should really have to put a warning.

This is so comforting to read! My story begins two years ago after my daughter was born. I had intense stomach burning followed by bloating in my back/kidney area. My doctor worked for two months trying to figure it out. Not until Ihad a colonoscopy, did we suspect dairy. I don't have to tell you that after one of those,..you are basically starting all over. After a glass of milk,..yikes, the burning and other symptoms occured. I had been off the dairy and switched to soy products. Fast forward to just a few weeks ago, and I got excited to discover Lactaid type of pills. I missed ice cream and stuff. (I should say too that I could tolerate at least milk on my cereal and butter on bread). Well, tried the pills and they seemed to work fairly well. I did notice a metalic taste after the first three tries however. Just this last Saturday, that all seemed to be the end. I had just a little bit of dairy with the pills (not the Fast Act), and was shocked to have the same intense pain as two years ago. I am wondering too if the pills over time strip the body's little ability to produce the enzyme on it's own? I used to handle small small amounts, but having butter on some rice was aweful, and now even small tiny amounts possibly from chocolate! Has anyone noticed a "reverse" effect??? Has anyone else also had intense back pain with stomach issues? Thanks

"Has anyone noticed a "reverse" effect???"

I am currently laying on the bathroom floor as I write this...

I was never diagnosed as lactose intolerant, but figured it out on my own (as you all can guess).

So, I had similar experiences as everyone here has described about 5 years ago. It scared me away from the pills. I swore them off for ever.

Around June, 30th 2009 my wife found that Lact-Aid had come out with a chewable instant pill. Well, I am here to tell you... STEER CLEAR of this stuff.

The reason I know the date she got these chewable's is, it was my birthday. Her treat to me was a Mexican special cake called "Tres Letches". OR death on a plate for folks like us. I tried it and experienced some minor constipation. But that is doable for someone that is not used to THAT particular issue.

I tried it once more about a day later with pizza. (BTW Vanilla twist as your fist bite of pizza... not so much). Pretty much the same result.

Today, I decided to skip a meal and have one of my wife's protein shake drinks. I noticed it has milk in it and figure, OK... Here we go. I chew one of these things and have the shake.

Within an hour I feel massive cramping, and I began to wonder if the chewable would work with a liquid drink. The pain passes after about another hour and I am off and running. During a few of my errands I feel like something is amiss, but continue anyway.

The time is almost Midnight as I am finishing this. I have been imprisoned in my bathroom with what I can only describe as CONCRETE inside of me. I have contacted the local hospital and they suggested I try a laxative.

After reading the responses here, I have decided to make sure everyone that goes online to search for this stuff knows damn well what the side effects are.

This is hell on earth...

As of this posting I am recovering from my second consecutive Saturday night vomiting. When I tell people, "Man last night I was throwing up horribly!" Their response is pretty typical, "What did you drink last night?" or "Man you can't party that hard!" Nevermind the fact I don't drink or party! Anyhow, I have to tell them that it's actually the lactose pills I've taken. I've known I'm lactose intolerant for about 10 years now so I've known what to eat and what to avoid and have done pretty well with the occasional discomfort. It all started last weekend when I took two lactose pills (as the box said) because I wanted to have some ice cream (which I haven't had in FOREVER) because it's been hot out. Within an hour I was vomiting violently but had attributed it to some poppy seed crackers I had eaten earlier. Fast forward a week to the next Saturday and I wanted a bowl of cereal so I took the lactose pills and had my bowl of Lucky Charms (yeah I'm 30 and love them, so sue me, haha). Again, within an hour I was exactly back where I was a week before, vomiting horribly. After being sure I was done revisiting the food I ate that day, I got up and threw those pills away. After reading this forum I am certain I made the right choice. I'd rather suffer from the lactose then from these pills!!

this has happened to me twice in the past 10 days. i thought i might be allergic to something in the food i was eating suddenly, or maybe had been unlucky and got food poisoning twice. but this is exactly what i've experienced. sick randomly and ok with the lactaid pill every other time. it's the WORST feeling and lasted hours.

Took a Lactaid Fast Act pill Monday 7/27 with cereal, milk and blueberries. Started feeling bad at work and had to lay down. By 2:30 I was throwing up and then the diarrhea started. Remember the metal taste too. Thought I had a stomach bug. Progressed to massive diarrhea with bouts of chills and feeling hot. Finally did food late the next day. Continued having headache and neckache.

Friday 7/31 popped a Lactaid Fast Act again, shredded wheat and blueberries. Within 2 hrs was confined to my bathroom violently throwing up, lethargic, chills, metal taste, massive diarrhea again. Almost went to ER but was too embarrassed to have people deal with what was coming from my body. Vomited for about 9 hrs and still have diarrhea today with headache and neckache but am better. Doubt I will take any more of these pills.

OMG! I thank God I've never experienced any of this. I take the Lactaid Ultra Fast Act or whatever it's called, and I don't have those reactions, however, while I'm usually okay during the day as far as prevention of bloating and flatulence, by the time the night comes, it's a disaster!!! Does anyone else have this reaction? Does it seem like the pill only delays the gas?? My sister said the same with her. I continue to spend the 10-12 dollars (Walmart versus Target) on the box of 60 by rationalizing it with the idea that at least while I'm at work, I'm okay, but then my husband hates me by the night time because I'm gassing all over the place!!!

same thing happened to me and unfortunately, i was in CVS when my sudden VIOLENT case of emesis (vomiting) happend..i was so embarrassed but in too much pain to care.
I've been usign Charcoal tablets before dairy products and so far, no symptoms.

omg i have almost the same problem too!
i get massive stomach pains, also - don't laugh- but i get sharp pains in my boobs.
it really hurts!
I don't know what to do because I love dairy. lactaid made my problem worse so im just going to have dairy and have diarrhea afterwards end of discussion because that's better than taking the lactaid!

Please report these events to the FDA. The website is: http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/default.htm

As far as I know, drug info sites do not list severe GI sypmtoms (vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps) are not listed in adverse effects of Lactaid/Lactase. Be sure to report these events to your physician too. This is how we can help MEDWATCH keep track of adverse events.

Please report all adverse events to Lactaid to FDA's Medwatch: http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/default.htm

This will alert the FDA that Lactaid is not as safe as it is claimed to be.

I have a metallic taste in my mouth after taking 2 Lactaid tablets yesterday. The taste is not going away and everything I eat tastes horrible. Felt nauseous this morning, as well. Does anyone have this reaction? Maybe the drugs are made in China and are bootlegged?

I have had a severe metallic taste in my mouth since taking 2 Lactaid tablets yesterday. It's not going away and everything I eat tastes horrible. I was nauseous this morning, as well. I wonder if these are made in China and are bootlegged? Does anyone have the same reaction?

Haven't vomited in over 8 years until Monday night. At that time assumed it was food poisoning not the Lactaid tablets. Vomited again tonight after more tablets. Also am itching all over. I'm writing this as I'm waiting for my husband to come home from a 24 hour drugstore with some Benedryl. The tablets are in the garbage. This medication needs to have some side effects listed

I am lying in bed as I type this because I am recovering from my 3rd bout of severe vomiting & diarrhea in 2 weeks. All of this because I finally got sick of the gassy-ness I was feeling after eating/drinking milk products so I started taking lactaid. I think it's the regular kind, but I'm not about to leave this bed to check. In any case, the thing that I find so interesting is there is some sort of connection between lactaid and penicillin. Google it; it's very unclear, but apparently there is something there. I have known for quite a while that I am allergic to penicillin, but never assumed lactaid would be similar. But even as I was barfing my way into near oblivion from lactaid, I was thinking, "this is just like the old days when I was on penicillin before I knew I was allergic."
So my questions are, does anyone else out there know about this supposed link between the two drugs and is anyone else who has posted also allergic to penicillin?