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Lactose in Your Medicine Cabinet

Hidden lactose

Lactose in Your Medicine Cabinet

Lactose isn't only in the fridge. It's a common inactive ingredient (an "excipient") in tablets and capsules. NIDDK notes that a small amount of lactose may be found in some prescription and over-the-counter medicines. [1] Here's what that means in real numbers and how to check yours.

Never stop or switch a medicine on your own. If you're wondering about lactose in something you take, ask your pharmacist or doctor. NIDDK suggests talking with your doctor about the amount of lactose in your medicines, especially if you usually can't tolerate even small amounts. [1]

How much lactose is in a tablet?

Usually milligrams, not grams. In a 2009 study, researchers measured lactose in 71 medicine preparations used in UK gastroenterology. 31 of them (43.7%) contained lactose, ranging from 4 mg to 600 mg per tablet or capsule. [2] A few examples from that study:

Preparation (UK, 2009) Lactose per tablet/capsule Same amount in grams
Omeprazole 40 mg capsule (one brand) 4 mg 0.004 g
Lansoprazole 30 mg orodispersible tablet (one brand) 28 mg 0.028 g
Prednisolone 5 mg tablet (one brand) 31 mg 0.031 g
Codeine phosphate 30 mg tablet (one brand) 46 mg 0.046 g
Domperidone 10 mg tablet (one brand) 56 mg 0.056 g
Metoclopramide 10 mg tablet (one brand) 71 mg 0.071 g
Azathioprine 50 mg tablet (one brand) 71 mg 0.071 g
Mesalazine 400 mg MR tablet (one brand) 75 mg 0.075 g
Mebeverine 135 mg tablet (one brand) 95 mg 0.095 g
Loperamide 2 mg capsule (one brand) 125 mg 0.125 g
Budesonide 3 mg capsule (one brand) 600 mg 0.600 g

Measured values for specific UK products in 2009. [2] Formulations differ by manufacturer and country and can change, so the same medicine from another maker may have more lactose, less, or none. For scale, a cup of milk has about 11–12 g of lactose (see our lactose chart).

The study also found that taking the maximum listed daily dose could add up. One preparation came to 1.8 g of lactose a day. [2] The authors noted that the amount of lactose usually isn't printed on the label. [2]

How to check a label

  1. Look up the exact product on DailyMed, the National Library of Medicine's official drug-label database. [4]
  2. Open the label and find "inactive ingredients" (or the "Description" section for prescription drugs). Look for "lactose," "lactose monohydrate" or "anhydrous lactose."
  3. Check the box too. Over-the-counter medicines list inactive ingredients on the Drug Facts panel.
  4. Ask your pharmacist. They can tell you whether there's a lactose-free version of the same medicine.

Lactose also turns up in foods you might not expect, the so-called "hidden lactose." [3] NIDDK lists label words that signal lactose, including milk, lactose, whey, curds, milk by-products, dry milk solids and nonfat dry milk powder. [1]

More: lactose intolerance vs. milk allergy · probiotics vs. lactase enzymes FAQ

What the research found

65% lower combined daily symptom scores with the studied strain versus placebo over two weeks.*

Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study of 21 lactose maldigesters (Ramakrishnan et al., 2025). [6] The study tested the strain, not the finished Holy Cow! product.

One capsule a day to support lactose digestion*

Holy Cow! is a once-daily probiotic + prebiotic. Take once daily in the morning, ideally on an empty stomach, with water. Keep your regular lactase routine for the first 21 days. We recommend continued daily use for best results.

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Sources

  1. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). Eating, diet, & nutrition for lactose intolerance. niddk.nih.gov
  2. Eadala P, Waud JP, Matthews SB, Green JT, Campbell AK. Quantifying the "hidden" lactose in drugs used for the treatment of gastrointestinal conditions. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2009;29(6):677–687. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2036.2008.03889.x
  3. Facioni MS, Raspini B, Pivari F, Dogliotti E, Cena H. Nutritional management of lactose intolerance: the importance of diet and food labelling. J Transl Med. 2020;18:260. PMC7318541
  4. U.S. National Library of Medicine. DailyMed (official drug label database). dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
  5. MedlinePlus Genetics. Lactose intolerance. U.S. National Library of Medicine. medlineplus.gov
  6. Ramakrishnan M, et al. Gut Microbes Reports. 2025. doi:10.1080/29933935.2025.2508199. PMC12940102

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

This page is general information, not medical advice. Lactose intolerance is not the same as a milk allergy; if you have a milk allergy, talk to your doctor. Lactaid® is a registered trademark of its owner. Holy Cow! is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Lactaid or its owner.