Are you lactose intolerant? Prescription drugs are an under-recognized source of lactose. Lactose is used as a filler or coating in approximately 20% of prescription drugs and 6% of over-the-counter drugs. Ironically, this is true even for drugs meant to treat gastrointestinal diseases and disorders! Examplesinclue: certain antispasmodics; anti-diarrheal tablets such as Imodium; IBD drugs such as mesalazine, budesonide and prednisolone; pancreatin enzymes. People who take multiple medications or many capsules and tablets a day might be consuming quite a bit of lactose this way.
While many people may be able to tolerate a gram or two of lactose each day in meds, others may be unable to do so. Do not stop taking prescribed medication if you are concerned about lactose. Ask your pharmacist to help you figure out how much lactose is in your medications, then discuss alternatives with your prescribing physician.
For more information see http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2036.2008.03889.x/pdf