Lactaid Lactaid Pills, Metallic Taste in My Mouth, Lactaid Milk, Severe Stomach Pain, Pain Threshold
Posted over a year ago
About eight to ten years ago i had a violent reaction to lactaid. I had taken it numerous time before with no problems and then I woke up one morning - had a bowl of cereal and a lactaid pill - within the hour I was experiencing severe stomach pain along with vomiting and diarrhea. I thought it might have been due to the fact that i had had very little to eat the day before and only a bowl of cereal that morning with the extra strength pill. ... more »
About eight to ten years ago i had a violent reaction to lactaid. I had taken it numerous time before with no problems and then I woke up one morning - had a bowl of cereal and a lactaid pill - within the hour I was experiencing severe stomach pain along with vomiting and diarrhea. I thought it might have been due to the fact that i had had very little to eat the day before and only a bowl of cereal that morning with the extra strength pill.
the following weekend i was brave enough to try it again with some ice cream at night (this time i had a full stomach from dinner). BIG mistake - this time it was worse - the stomach pain was out of this world (i have a high pain threshold but this had me in the fetal position) and i couldnt leave the toilet and trash can for a few hours. My girlfriend was scared and called one of those nurse hot lines. they told her to coat my stomach with some kaopectate - which seemed to help. I checked the bottle of lactaid - and the expiration date had passed - so i threw it away and swore off of lactaid pills. fortunately they came out with the lactaid milk!
Fast forward to now - never touched the stuff again. well the other day I was out of lactaid milk and my wife (yes the same girlfriend) had picked up some samples of lactaid pills at a trade show - so I guess with the passage of time - I forgot how painful and miserable the other experiences had been - so i took the pill. Nothing happened!
Last night i decide to take another one because i had a craving for ice cream (had been awhile!). I figured it was ok since i had no reaction a week ago. Well sure enough - within the hour I was on the floor in severe stomach pain - followed by vomiting and diarrhea. This time we had kaopectate in the house - so i started taking it - well i just threw it right back up.
This episode lasted about an hour and a half this time. There was a metallic taste in my mouth about the third time i vomited, and the fifth and final time, there was puddle of yellow liquid that came out at the end.
Jiraff - 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.
Mikeholz - 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.
Nrp - 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.
Mygirlgoldie - 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!
Ann28 - 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!!
Sugga - 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.
Scl - 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.
Sickntired - 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 :(
Loriea - 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.
Momof8 - 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
Rberger909 - 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!!
Renef90 - 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.
Dgp0110 - 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.
Icole - 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!!!
Msrae2966 - 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.
Rachel123123 - 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!
Orkid - 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.
Orkid - 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.
Musician - 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?
Musician - 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?
August1 - 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
Smeersmudge1 - 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?
Mindcircus - should i even tell my story? its pretty much the same as everyone else's. DOES ANYONE KNOW WHY THIS HAPPENS? Will the same thing happen to me if i put lactaid milk in my coffee? ive been so sick for the last few days..im afraid to eat anything. id rather eat dairy and suffer afterwards than ever take these damn pills again
Mabell2 - I'm very happy to find this posting because I was searching the internet for side effects of Lactaid and could not find anything until I found this posting and people who have had the same reaction as I did. I took 2 pills before eating a frozen yogurt at lunch today and within a 1/2 hour had severe stomach pains and was throwing up. I had to leave work and go home only to continue to vomit for hours. The last time I took it I had stomach pains also but didn't think it was the pills. This time the pain was very severe and the vomiting lasted a few hours.
Adirondacksally - Hi all - spoke to an MD today about the side effects you describe, and she said she thinks you all must have a milk allergy rather than being lactose intolerant. Not sure what the difference is, but she said it would produce the effects you all describe. I hope that helps.
Sally
Bbew - Wow, really glad I found this. I quit eating dairy for a year because it seemed my lactose intolerance had become unbearable. I remember taking the regular pills and getting a strange and painful burning sensation in my chest shortly after, as well as, the metallic taste, often followed by terrible diarrhea and occasional vomiting. At the time I attributed this to the dairy and decided it was best to just cut it out completely. A year after making that decision, I decided to try digestive enzymes I found at Whole Foods because I heard it would help with my IBS. I was still avoiding dairy at the time and took the enzymes before my meal. Within 30 minutes I was in horrible pain and had the most painful trips to the bathroom I've had in a long time, accompanied by chills, clamminess, and an awful burning sensation in my chest. Guess what one of the enzymes was: Yep, lactase. After realizing that the symptoms I had attributed to dairy were actually connected to lactase, I decided to experiment with dairy again. I ate butter and aged cheese with no adverse effects. So, why would the lactase enzyme make me violently ill? I know I can eat butter and aged cheese because of their lower lactose content, but does the lactase enzyme actually have lactose in it? Is it an allergy to the protein? I get a little phlegm when I eat dairy but never as severe a reaction as to lactase. I'm perfectly happy with just sticking to lower lactose foods and avoiding lactaid, but I'm very curious to know why it does this to so many people.
I feel like there has to be some common correlation between all our stories, but I have no idea what it is. Any doctors out there?
Ssase2 - So happy to see these postings and know i'm not the only one. I like the post about the possible milk allergy rather than lactose intolerance....i'll have to look into that. I use the lactaid milk, and don't have any issues at all. I realized that when I eat a meal heavy with dairy (ie 3-4 pizza slices) and use the lactaid tablets I don't have an issue. But when I use the pills with foods light in dairy (ie: bagel with cream cheese, or a cheese danish) I get the violent vomitting. I am now deciding to stick with lower lactose foods, lactaid milk. I'll take the gassy discomfort over the violent vomiting any day!
Hopscotch3 - I'm glad to hear I'm not alone. I thought the cottage cheese I was eating after I took Lactaid Fast Act was bad (it wasn't expired but maybe someone left it on a shelf in the store and they just put it back?) The first time it happened was Saturday and about an hour after I took the pill I was vomiting and in terrible pain. I hadn't eaten much that day and after about an hour of being sick the pain started to go away and I got some sleep and felt better in the morning. Yesterday (Friday) the exact same thing happened about an hour after I took the pill and it was worse this time!! I threw up longer and the pain lasted throughout the night. I haven't slept well but I have stopped vomiting. Today I'm dealing with diarrhea. Like I'm scared to leave the house it's that bad (I'm scared I won't make it to the bathroom even in my own home!!!) Now that I know it's the Lactaid and not the cottage cheese I'm throwing out my pills as soon as I finish this. And for the record I also have IBS and I agree I would much rather feel the little bothersome symptoms of eating dairy than getting violently ill after taking these pills!!
Mattbeasley5 - My husband is recently self-diagnosed as lactose intolerant. He gave up dairy products for two weeks and had great results (no diarrhea). He gradually tried dairy products with Lactaid Fast Act and had great results. After about two weeks of using the product he has miserable side effects. I thought he was having a heart attack with horrible chest pain and stomach ache (resulting in vomiting). His pain usually occurs a few hours after he takes the tablet. Tomorrow he will stop taking the pills to see if they are the cause of his discomfort.
Ewinder2252 - Has any one else experienced extreme drowsiness from these pills?? I know it is a VERY weird side effect from something like this, but I have been taking them for 3 days now and just feel very "dopey"
2charliecharlie - Could the reactions so many people are experiencing be to the mannitol in Lactaid? Has anyone had similar problems with lactase supplements other than Lactaid that don't have mannitol?
Socalclockdoc - I recently self-diagnosed as lactose intolerant after years of putting up with intestinal cramping and soft stool (not really what you usually think of as diarrhea, though). A run-in with a pizza woke me up to this issue. So I first tried switching to “100% lactose free” 1% milk. It was almost miraculous how my lower digestive tract problems cleared up. So I figured I could use the lactase tablets if I wanted to have pizza again. About a week after starting the lactose free milk, I used the tablets. My lower digestive problem came right back. All I took was one regular strength tablet on each of two occasions. But here’s the odd thing: I’ve discontinued all dairy (using soy milk on my cereal in the morning), and the problem is persisting! I can’t imagine that this enzyme is still hanging around in my system, but I wonder if it caused a flowering of some unhelpful bacteria in my gut. It definitely didn’t help matters.
Kawanomusume - While I have been lucky enough to not suffer vomiting or worse from my pills, I have noticed one other side effect that was more annoying that painful: massive amounts of bloating. I would literally just balloon up and look severely pregnant. When I first became lactose intolerant I didn't eat dairy at all, and had no issue with a little bit of aged cheese every now and then.
But, when my grandmother was kind enough to buy Lactaid for me, I was ecstatic. No more having to be ultra picky when eating out with friends, I could just pop a pill and eat safely (though I did avoid dairy heavy products still)! The bloating started immediately. And just got worse.
I ran out of pills a month ago (grandma stopped sending them because of vacation), and stopped eating dairy immediately. Within a week that horrible bloating was completely gone. Everyone kept asking what my weight loss plan was because I had literally gone from appearing to be five months pregnant to being a tiny little size six again.
Maybe it wasn't the Lactaid, maybe the Lactaid was doing nothing at all for me in the first place and it was the dairy. But, either way, I know now that I am never going back. I enjoy soy cheese and soy milk and soy yogurt. I'd rather pay a little more for my food and not suffer that humiliation than waste money on something that makes it miserable to be out in public or shop for clothes.
Parsuzi - So glad I found the site. My symptoms w/ Lactaid Fast Act are the same as many above. Self-diagnosed lactose intolerance - cut way down on dairy products, but had DH purchase some lactaid so I could eat dairy if I wanted.
Last week had a bowl of Life cereal with a lactaid fast act- raced home from running errands to vomit for hours. Tuesday, had a lactaid fast act w/ ice cream cake. I was up all night vomiting. Almost ready to go to the ER - it really was horrible. I had pain in the stomach and kidney area. I also tasted the metallic taste. And vomited until nothing but bile was left in my system. YUK
I decided I had some sort of cancer. Now I am pretty sure it's the lact aid.
Ljacob64 - I will never take these pills ever again, I too was vomiting violently for about 2 hours, it's not worth it. I originally took the lactaid tablet a few weeks ago and didn't have a reaction until after the 4th pill, I thought I had food poising so I decided to try the chewable tablets a few weeks later; bad idea they were worse, I vomited so violently that I broke out with a rash on the right side of my face.
Biggestfish - I don't think it is a milk allergy. Fact is people who are allergic to milk may also be allergic to meat so I find it unlikely. Most likely it is an allergy to mold. The lactase pills are made from mold, so people with mold allergies will get an allergic reaction. Symptoms of a food allergy are vomiting, stomach pain, and diarrhea.
An easy way to test for this is to take a lactase pill along with Benadryl and see if the pain goes away.
I have this problem and I know for a fact I am allergic to mold. The reason why people do not get an allergy to lactaid milk is because the lactase is derived from yeast.
(I am assuming you all know the difference between lactose intolerance and milk allergy.)
Rmaddigan - I had the same problem after taking Lactaid ultra tablets. I have only taken them twice and both times I was spending the night with my head in the toilet. I was vomitting so bad it felt like my stomach was being ripped out. Needless to say, I will NEVER take another Lactaid pill.
Aimeeboz - I too had side effects to lactaid tablets. It happened twice. I had a feeling I was lactose intolerant, the bubbly gassy feeling after drinking a Carmel Macchiato. So I bought these tablets and took one and got my coffee on the way to school. About halfway through my first class I felt that feeling, that clammy sweaty feeling you know you are about to be sick. The vomitting was unreal. Over and over and over until it was nothing but green bile. Finally it was over and I just went home exhausted and ill. Thought it was a fluke until I tried it again. Nope, it was more violent this time. SO yep they went in the garbage. I can tolerate Lactaid milk, or the off brand. But I will never ever try those pills again. I would rather deal with the bloaty smelly experience if I want to enjoy milk, cheese.
But here is something I heard people. Yogurt naturally has lactase in it. You can eat yogurt and then eat any lacotse that normally will bother you. The lactase in the yogurt will break down the lactose in the other dairy products
Beverleyhills - Hmm I wonder if I'm onto something. Are any of you also allergic to shiitake or chinese mushrooms?
My experience has been the same as everyone else here but I also get exactly the same symptoms after eating dishes containing shiitake mushrooms! One poster mentioned a that lactase enzyme is produced using a mold. Specifically it's called Aspergillus Niger which is a type of fungus and mushrooms are also a fungus.
Strangely I don't get ill from button/portobello mushrooms just shiitake. I've also been made ill by dishes that contain 'chinese mushrooms' before and I assumed these were shiitake and not just another variant I'm allergic to.
Similar experience anyone?
Sunshine42 - About a year ago, I took a generic form of lactaid pill and that night, I slept in the bathroom with severe cramps, diarrhea and vomiting. I though it was the generic brand that I bought and I threw it in the trash.
Fast forward this month, my team at work was having our holiday luncheon at a Mexican restaurant. I bought lactaid pill and had one with macaroni and cheese for lunch before I left for work.and was fine until the bloating started, I started throwing up in the bathroom,had diarrhea and severe cramps. I could not stop throwing up at work and ended up going to the emergency room missing my holiday luncheon. Emergency room doctors said it was a stomach virus, but I knew that it was the lactaid pill. I have learned my lesson and I will never buy the pills again. I have no problem with the milk. I am sorry that everyone had a severe reaction to the pill. I am just glad that I am not the only one and was not losing my mind.
Jadd - I have taken Lactaid Fast Act tablets twice before with no side effects. But yesterday, I took Fast Act 2 pills about 8 hours apart with small quantities of milk yesterday (half a tea cup each) and am still regretting it this morning. After the first one, I had extreme drowsiness (I put it off to 3 sugary cookies, as I don't usually eat so much sugar), and last night I was cramping, vomiting and having diarrhea all night long about an hour or so after the second pill. Still in pain this morning!
While I usually have stomach discomfort/soft stool after ice cream and milk consumption, it was nothing like this pain! I thought maybe I was food poisoned but have called everyone with whom I ate the same foods with yesterday, with no reports of GI problems among them. I've had stomach viruses and even severe food poisoning before, and this isn't that- no fever, body aches, etc.
Thanks for posting, staying clear of Lactaid Fast Act tablets!
Bubblycat - I found out I was lactose intolerant just a month ago and was taking the pills happily ever since, until a few days ago when I started getting severe stomach pain just minutes after taking them. My parents don't believe that the pills are what is making me sick but that is because I have a quite a high pain threshold so I don't look sick. I'm swearing off the pills right now but if the doctor tells me to keep taking them I don't know what I'll do. I'm just glad I'm not the only one who has this problem.
Abg - As someone else mentioned, the lactase enzyme in the pills is produced by mold--and so is penicillin. So an allergy to mold or penicillin may be the cause of these adverse effects.
Redleslie - I had the same allergic reaction and after many tests (blood draw, stool sample, abdominal ultrasound, upper GI, etc), my doctor finally came to the conclusion that I was allergic to something they use to bind the Lactaid pills together. I can drink Lactaid milk without any problems. There are no warnings on the boxes which is absolutely absurd! Please everyone report your problems with these pills to the FDA so that they will put a warning on the boxes of Lactaid or possibly change the way they make the pills! Go to this website to do this: [link removed]
Redleslie - I had the same allergic reaction and after many tests (blood draw, stool sample, abdominal ultrasound, upper GI, etc), my doctor finally came to the conclusion that I was allergic to something they use to bind the Lactaid pills together. I can drink Lactaid milk without any problems. There are no warnings on the boxes which is absolutely absurd! Please everyone report your problems with these pills to the FDA so that they will put a warning on the boxes of Lactaid or possibly change the way they make the pills! It won't let me post a link to the website but just do a google search for FDA medwatch reporting form.
Scl - A milk allergy does not pertain to my situation, because drinking a glass of milk without taking a lactase enzyme will not cause vomiting. Taking the pill does induce almost immediate vomiting.
Scl - I called the company that manufactures the lactase enzyme I used and discovered that they use a mold to make it, Aspergillus Niger. I believe some people are allergic to this mold. Others could be allergic to another ingredient in the manufacture process.
Scl - I agree that it is most likely caused by the mold used to manufacture the lactase enzyme (like Lactaid brand). I found out that my brand is manufactured with Aspergillus Niger, a mold. Could be the cause. Or it could be another ingredient for others posting here.
Biggestfish - Which manufacturer did you call up? I am interested in knowing who you called as I know some companies are reluctant to give up information about how they make the products.
Scl - Equate is the Wal-mart brand I use. I easily found a customer service phone number. The person I talked to had not been asked such questions before, but he was willing to find out what was used in the manufacturing processing for me and return my call.
Boywonder - Just to keep this post fresh, I'm having the same problems. I had Fast Act pills and some generic walgreens brand. Taking the Walgreens brand, I had been fine. But a couple week ago I switched to the Fast Act pills after rearranging the bathroom cupboard. On the past two occasions of taking the pills (a week apart) 15-30 minutes after drinking milk, I was on the bathroom floor. I have yet to vomit from it but lots of stomach pain and WISHING I could vomit. Yikes, yikes, yikes, this pill needs to be taken off the market!
Tamc - These postings have been so helpful. I bought my husband the Lactaid pills right before we went to Las Vegas a few weeks ago. He took a couple of them right before we boarded the plane and needlessto say, he was completely incapacitated our entire trip. We didn't get to eat and enjoy ourselves while we were in Vegas...wish I could make the Lactaid folks pay our money back from a wasted trip. We didn't link the Lactaid pills to the sickness until today, when my husband awakened and took a pill to eat his cereal. After about an hour or so, he got violently ill, with the same explosive diarrhea and vomiting. He is a very muscular and physically fit man, so to see him in so much pain is hear wrenching. I work for the government, and have every intention on reporting this to the FDA now that I know there is a link and that so many people are experiencing the same symptoms.
Dad26 - My daughter has had the same reaction as many of you to lactaid pills. Does anyone know of an alternative that people have found they are able to tolerate?
Waverush - I know my comment is just a drop in the bucket, but thank you for sharing your experiences! I've been feeling like I have an ulcer: that self-digesting, sour, wish-you-could-vomit feeling - after taking Lactaid (ultra). I am also self-diagnosed as gluten intolerant. I do not believe I have immune responses to food allergens, but rather an intolerance that causes a multitude of other symptoms in my life (depression/anxiety, headaches, stomach hell, mood swings, etc. etc.).
Rice milk is delicious and tastes like skim milk. I'm never taking Lactaid again, because at this rate, my intestines will get old before I do!
Thanks again, everyone.
Ladyswithin - OMG- Reading all this I now understand. I suffered from some gas and general ickyness after consuming dairy so I bought some dairy digestive supplement pills-ultra. I noticed some discomfort, but attributed it to the dairy still. I then went on vacation taking my pills with me and planning on eating as much dairy as I wanted. Worst four days of my life. I tried to put on a brave face and not let on the intense pain I was in. I could feel it every time I ate. It would start with nausea then bloating. Followed by cramping in my upper abdomen moving to super intense cramping in my lower. Even when the pain would ease I would be super uncomfortable. It came to a head when I popped a pill and ate a cheesy taco in Austin, I hadn't eaten much because of the nausea so I was soooo hungry. Then went to a show and the nausea started, then the vomiting, had to run to the bathroom twice. After that it eased up but I decided to stop taking the pills just in case there was some sort of a connection because I never had that kind of pain just eating dairy! After another day feeling iffy and avoiding dairy and those pills I felt better and now feel like my old self. But the pain I felt those first days scared me to death. Thinking I had a bowel obstruction or an ulcer! Such pain as I have never felt before.
Amie
Patyojon54321 - Throughout my entire life, i have never been lactose intolerant. I had no problem eating ice cream, cheese, etc. When i was 18years old, i would have stomach aches when i would eat dairy products, so i went to the doctor, and he told me i became lactose intolerant all of a sudden. He told me to take those lactaid pills, so i did.
I bought the Lactaid Pills you can buy at any drug store, and it worked. I could consume dairy again with no problem. From 18 to current (21years of age), i consumed those lactaid pills with no problem. It's been 4 months since i have consumed any dairy product with the lactaid pill. Funny thing is, when i eat donuts (which in the ingredients it says, 2% less of milk), my stomach digests it just fine without any lactaid pills. I can also eat chocolates / butter with no problem and pastry with no problem.
I am the type of person who gets paranoid very easily. I came across this website [link removed] and i became paranoid. I use to take those lactaid pills (name brand), with no problem for 3years. Now i take Kirkland Fast Acting Lactase Enzyme, which is suppose to be the samething, but a lot cheaper and comes in bulks. I take that with no problem as well.
I am actually scared to take those lactaid pills after reading that website, which is why i haven't consumed any pizza / cheese products with the lactaid pills in 4 months. I should be okay though since i have taken them before for 4years with no symptoms, right? Please help!
Patyojon54321 - When i said "i came across this website", i meant to say this one....which got me extremely paranoid.
Jkw123 - I wish I'd seen this sooner after spending the night on the bathroom floor. I haven't used lactaid in 2 years as I got violently ill the last 2 times I used it. I just assumed it was the dairy that made me sick but I took 2 fast acting pills yesterday in an attempt to eat half of a yogurt and spent the night with chills, terrible stomach cramps, and it coming out of both ends. I'm typically able to tolerate few bites of dairy so i don't know what posessed me to add the lactaid pills yesterday. Never again.
Shadow4 - I have been consuming alot of dairy over the past year and over the past 5 months have developed alot of bloating and intermittent nausea after eating dairy. Yesterday I took 3 lactaid tablets before eating my yogurt and ice cream during the day yesterday for the first time. Well the nausea continued until I took 2 tablespoons of MOM and it dissipated.Then last night my head just starting hurting (left temporal)after I went to bed. I thought I was having a stroke.I took my blood pressure and it was 160/98, normally it runs 110/60. This really made me anxious and scared as the headache came on me so fast. Then I remembered the Lactaid was the only different pills I had taken that day. I got up and took 150 mg. of magnesium and ate half a banana thinking the mag and potassium would help me relax. Also I have taken MOM in the past with no side effects as it was such a low dose, so I did not think that was a cause. So after reading all the responses here I will stay away from the Lactaid pills. I am definitely going try the coconut milk and lactose free yogurt. HOP
Mswellness - This is my second week of what I initially thought was the stomach flu that transitioned to gastritis but I am more convinced it was the lactaid. I've been taking Lactaid the past 1.5 months prior to the cramping (fast-acting capsule and chewable) and very similar symptoms as above: suppression of gas initially during meal intake but would increase in severity later in the evening, gas build up in the intestines and discomfort. Finally, approximately two weeks ago, I was curled up in a fetal position with severe abdominal cramping and nausea. It felt worse than cramps from my monthly cycle. I ended up taking 600 mg of ibuprofen and falling asleep. Usually 400 mg of Ibuprofen would subside cramps from my monthly cycle but not even the 600 mg of ibuprofen could alleviate the pain I was experiencing. The same cramping session happened again the next day. Since then, the past two weeks, I have not been able to run without feeling severe cramping in the upper abdominal quadrant. The pain is around my liver, my stomach, my lower intestines on the left and right sides of my pelvis. The first week, the cramping was on the left side of my pelvis and after the first week had moved to the stomach and lower intestines. I am scheduled for an ultrasound today and have a GI appt with a gastroenterologist specialist as well.
I have had a history of sensitivity to penicillin when I was 5 years old and in 2008 was also diagnosed with being allergic to molds.
Shadow4 - Wow, I don't know for sure if these Lactaid Fast Act pills (that I regret taking)are the true cause of my adverse reactions but I do know for sure that I will never take another one nor will I ever take another product like this.
I wonder if maybe these pills are just too strong.
I don't know for sure if I am lactose intolerant but I do know eating lactose free yogurt over the past few days has given me no symptoms of extreme gas or bloating or a headache. I am just staying away from any dairy that isn't lactose free until I go back to my doctor. I am drinking rice milk and using coconut creamer. Good luck to all.
Kgredmon - Has anyone had migraine type symptoms after starting lactaid? I have had IBS for years and recently started of protonix for reflux, simultaneously was started on the lactaid. After four weeks of taking the lactaid, I developed a migraine with facial numbness/tingling and it is now day 15 of this debilitating issue that will not clear with meeds Ike a Norma migraine. Could it be the lactaid?
Slslsl - Me too, I had 2 awful experience happened. I take lactase enzyme that I bought from Rite Aid and it was made by same store name too.
1st time I eat it when I had big buffet in casino restaurant, then after one hour I became vomiting and diarrhea continually ,when I want play slot machine, it was terrible in public…, I thought it was because that food. Few month later 2st time, I take it at home with some fruit and simple food, I become vomiting and diarrhea again ,I couldn’t leave the toilet and trash can for few hours, now I know it is not the food I ate, it is the lactase enzyme. I call store and pharmacy, but nobody knows why happen on me.
I thought I am the only one person has side effect and sick like that. now I see so many people has same experience so I write this bad experience out too.
I think I may take it before and nothing happened, so I try those 2 times, but became vomiting and diarrhea continually, I was scared because it was so nasty and so embraced and only time so sick in my life. I will never take it again.
Bangzoom - I took Lactaid pills the first time in 1993 when I was 16. A couple of weeks after regular use, I had such severe abdominal pain that the doctor sent me to the hospital, suspicious that I had appendicitis. They did every test you could imagine, nothing came up positive. So they went in with a laparoscope and found nothing. It was all a mystery, and years later when I was diagnosed with IBS, it was attributed to that.
Fast forward to Fall of 2009, I decided to try Lactaid pills again, seeing as it must have been coincidence when I was 16, that I ended up with all that pain. A couple of weeks after regular use, I vomited a little and had diarrhea all night, and a low grade fever. In my opinion, that was a virus, but of course I related it to the Lactaid pills and stopped using them. With me, it could be coincidence but maybe not, and I don't want to take any chances. However, not being able to have ice cream and milk is very frustrating.
Last year, I went to an allergist and tested positive for mold (along with dust, dogs and cats). I am also allergic to penicillin. I am wondering if this mold allergy is the reason I had those symptoms a couple of weeks after regularly taking Lactaid, because the pills are produced using a mold.
Has anyone had success with lactase enzyme drops? I was reading about one brand that is tested for mold, yeast, fungus...and is free of all these things. They say you can take a few drops right when you start to eat a dairy product. I wonder if this would be OK?
Chiefswife - I have had two bouts of severe abdominal pain and vomiting and was trying to figure out the pattern. This site confirmed my suspicions. Both bouts occurred within hours of taking Lactaid with a dairy product and my symptoms were identical to those already listed, including the yellow final discharge.
I won't go for a 3rd round of lactaid induced torture. Farewell dairy products...I will miss you.
Mkhappy - The same thing happened to me. About a week ago I made some taco's. I thought it would be nice to have some sour cream with it. So I had a lactaid pill. About an hour later I was vomiting horribly. I didn't connect the vomiting to the pill. So last night I decided to have an orange ice cream float. I took two pills. An hour or so later I was in the bathroom with horrible pain and vomiting. For hours and hours. Still today my stomach hurts.
I can not believe a little pill can make a person so sick. I am throwing those pills away.
MK
Jk! - A few weeks ago I took my first lactaid pill thinking it would make me feel less bloated after having a rich creaming pasta dinner as my husband has been taking these pills for lactose intolerance for years and has saved him from many a ill day!!! When I took one, I chewed it (as it says chewable) and within a few minutes I had a throat that was scratching and swelling, an itching mouth (not external hives though...) and a stomach ache. I have a peanut and fresh fish allergy and was wondering if anyone knew if the general ingredients were linked to my allergies?
Aj9 - I have had similar reactions as those posted above - nausea, vomiting, headaches. I think in my case it must be caused by some of the fillers that are used in Lactaid. Fast Act Ultra chewables contain mannitol which I think might be part of the problem. My side effects aren't as bad with the caplets, but those don't really seem to work that great for me either. I have been trying Enzymedica Lacto pills lately. They don't have any fillers and have lactase and additional enzymes to help with complete dairy digestion. They are kind of expensive compared to Lactaid, but so far have been working pretty well for me. I just ordered a new bottle and hope that they keep working the way that they have.
I'm wondering if anyone else out there has tried other lactase supplements that they found to be effective without the ill side effects...
Lanahateslactaid - I have recently been diagnosed with lactose intolerance, and per the instruction from my doctor, I began taking Lactaid pills with meals that contain milk products. Within 3 hours of taking the pills I have experienced projectile vomiting, diarrhea, cramps, gas, sneezing, runny nose, dry heaving, and itchy skin. I, too, am allergic to penicillin and I have noticed that others' mentioned the same in previous postings. I don't officially know, but am wondering if there is a link between the two? I've called the FDA to report the symptoms and the manufacturer. I have a call into my doctor but am still awaiting a return call back. I know I am never taking those pills again. I would rather deal with the symptoms of drinking milk (gas/bloating) then have projectile vomiting.
Adirondacksally - According to my daughter's doctor if you have this reaction to lactaid products, you are not lactose intolerant, you are lactose ALLERGIC. Which is what causes the severe reaction.
Trc4941 - I just had my 3rd run-in with Lactaid. NEVER again. The first 2 times were at least 5 years ago. At first I just thought I had a virus. Then not too long ago I tried lactose free milk and had wonderful results, so I thought I'd try Lactaid again. It was like having the worst stomach flu you can imagine. I threw up from 9pm (3 hours after taking the pill) to 2am....every half hour. Diarrhea too. I keep reading the posts saying that we're lactose allergic. That can't be true because I do not have these symptoms if I just drink milk, eat cheese, etc without taking a Lactaid. I will have gas, bloating and occasional diarrhea. And that is only sometimes. There are times that I can eat ice cream and a grilled cheese sandwich and not have a single symptom. If I was truly allergic to lactose I would be dead by now! I'm so glad I found this site. I will be contacting the FDA today. I can't believe the pill box does not show any side efects.
Laruju - Laruju-tablets a few months ago and have been taking them with dairy ever since. Sometimes i'll take 2 before a huge bowl of ice cream. Although *i really didn't notice much of a difference, i guess a little less bloating, a LITTLE less, but honestly it just made me SUPER gassy* so anyways, never had any problems, no hint of problems either. So last thursday i take some pre-natal vitamins (not pregnant just for hair and nails, works super well) drink a cup of water and take a lactaid pill (just finished eating 3 pieces of pizza) I realize you are supposed to take them with the first bite but i figured i had JUST finished. almost immediately i had horrible cramping, i honestly had no idea what was happening, so i just went to bed. I woke up around 3 am cramping and nauseous, scared! went to the bathroom was only able to gag and spit, no vomit. Felt fine for the next 3 days, then yesterday I was a bad girl and I took it 2 hours after I ate, because i was bloated from dinner. felt fine until i woke up around 1 am and ran to the bathroom to throw up over and over for 20 minutes. tried going back to bed, got up again around 230 and threw up some more. was finally able to go back to sleep around 3. woke up this morning feeling crappy but not nauseous, take a lactaid pill right before i ate a big bowl of cereal, have felt horrible for the past 3 hours. I had no idea that lactaid could do this to me, i looked all over that box and there were no warnings, i was shocked. now i feel like my stomach is going to upchuck at any moment and i'm stuck at work. thanks lactaid, way to screw me over.
Mmil - I find it difficult to get things to eat due to lactose intolerance. Well last night I had half a rack of ribs and chicken with a salad and a small creamy coleslaw for which I took six lactaid capsules. Well, that small creamy coleslaw turned my whole meal into diarrhea within a few hours. I have learned if I am going to indulge I must plan to be near the toilet just in case. Sometimes the lactaid pills work and sometimes they don't.
Amylaub0707 - My Husband ate one chewable Lactaid tab ultra (the fast acting one) before drinking a half a glass of milk. He has Chron's disease and gets some serious gas sometimes after eating/drinking milk products. Anyway, he chewed that tablet right before bed, drank the milk and we fell asleep around 9:30pm.
At 11:45 he woke up and ran to the bathroom where I could hear him vomitting VIOLENTLY for a half an hour. Finally I went in to check on him when I heard it stop (no one likes being watched while they puke) and he was curled up in a ball on the ground on a towel. It was so sad. I asked how he was and got him a glass of water and when I got back he puked some more. I noticed it was a strange yellow color, almost the color of urine.
He wasn't sure what caused it; he actually has used these chewable tabs before and recalls having one bout of nausea with some vomitting once while using them, but it was nothing like this. And he was able to take them a few other times without trouble. As I read some of these comments I think it's pretty clear that it is definitely caused by the Lactaid tabs. I wonder why it effects some people at random like this? My poor husband threw up until about 5am and fell asleep at last. He didn't go to work that day because he got no sleep and was still a little nauseous/cramping for the duration of the day.
The weird thing is he can drink the Lactaid milk without problems. Wonder why.
Janesz - I just went online to google "is it safe to take Lactaid indefinitely" and this is the first sight I found. Good thing too. I will trash them. I have never been diagnosed lactose intolerant but I think I am, so I thought I would give them a try. Have been taking 4 ultra strength a go. They helped a bit with bloating, but not very much. And, yes, for me too...it seemed like there was a delayed gas reaction at night. Thanks a lot!
I believe that the reactions so many here have listed are severe ALLERGIC REACTIONS to the PILLS, sometimes perhaps bordering on anaphylaxis. This is a known risk with the pills and my own pharmacist told me so when I asked his advice about them prior to purchase. There are many people who are fine with them I am sure, but "one man's meat is another man's poison". Personally, I won't chance it. I have had bad luck with reactions to drugs in the past and it may just be a matter of time for this one. I'd rather go back to being a vegan.
Shadow4 - Well, it has been about a year since I posted here with a reaction to lactaid pills. I found out from testing that I am NOT lactose intolerant and am sure that the lactose pills I did take over a year ago reacted with me. I can consume dairy (fat free) in small amounts and just take an occasional beano before eating and a peppermint tums after with no problems. Good luck to all who have had bad experiences with these pills.
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Saffrongraphics - I've been lactose intolerant for a few years now but have persisted in eating a little cheese now and then, and some ice cream. The worst I usually suffer is a sore stomach and a night of bad gas. Someone recommended Lacteeze tablets to me. For the first two times I took them I felt fine, the bloating and gas vanished and I thought I'd come across a miracle cure. Times three and four: violent vomiting for several hours, pain around my liver, metallic taste in my mouth (which my doctor tells me is a sign my liver is very very unhappy), and terrible diarrhea. All at the same time! It wasn't a pretty picture. I stopped taking the tablets, tried some diary - the result was mere bloating and gas again. I'm horrified that there is no information on side-effects listed anywhere. I've a friend in the pharmaceutical industry and I'm going to grill her on the possible causes. Mould (there's a "u" in the word in my country), or some binding agent? I'm guessing the drug companies haven't throughly tested their products, and this won't have been the first time. No way am I willing to put myself through any blind trails with this stuff though - two horrendous experiences were sufficient to put me off the tablets for life.
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