Lactose Monohydrate
Excipient (pharmacologically inactive substance)
What is Lactose Monohydrate?
Lactose (C12H22O11) is milk sugar. It is a disaccharide composed of one galactose and one glucose molecule. In the pharmaceutical industry, lactose is used to help form tablets because it has excellent compressibility properties. It is also used to form a diluent powder for dry-powder inhalations. Lactose may be listed as lactose hydrous, lactose anhydrous, lactose monohydrate, or lactose spray-dried.[1]
People who are lactose intolerant do not have the enzymes needed to digest lactose. Most medications do not contain enough lactose to cause lactose intolerance. But some patients with severe lactose intolerance may experience symptoms. Lactose can be found in birth control pills, and some OTC drugs to treat stomach acid or gas.[2] Patients who are specifically "allergic" to lactose (not just lactose intolerant) should not use tablets containing lactose, or ask their health care provider prior to use.
[1] Dave RH. Overview of pharmaceutical excipients used in tablets and capsules. Drug Topics (online). Advanstar. 10/24/2008; http://drugtopics.modernmedicine.com/drugtopics/Top+News/Overview-of-pharmaceutical-excipients-used-in-tabl/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/561047. Accessed 08/19/2011
[2] Anon. Lactose Intolerance. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases of the National Institutes of Health. NIH Publication No. 09–2751 June 2009; http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/lactoseintolerance/#products. Accessed 08/19/2011
Top Medications Containing Lactose Monohydrate
- Acetaminophen and Hydrocodone Bitartrate 500 mg / 5 mg (Qualitest Pharmaceuticals Inc.)
- Clonazepam 1 mg (Actavis)
- Cyclobenzaprine Hydrochloride 10 mg (Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc.)
- Cyclobenzaprine Hydrochloride 10 mg (Qualitest Pharmaceuticals Inc.)
- Hydromorphone Hydrochloride 4 mg (Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals)
- Hydromorphone Hydrochloride 2 mg (Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals)
- Meloxicam 15 mg (Lupin Pharmaceuticals, Inc)
- Methadone Hydrochloride 10 mg (Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals)
- Morphine Sulfate SR 30 mg (Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals)
- Morphine Sulfate SR 15 mg (Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals)
- Nucynta tapentadol 50 mg (Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.)
- Oxycodone Hydrochloride 5 mg (Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals)
- Oxycodone Hydrochloride 30 mg (Actavis)
- Oxycodone Hydrochloride 30 mg (Actavis)
- Oxycodone Hydrochloride 30 mg (Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals)
- Oxycodone Hydrochloride 30 mg (Qualitest Pharmaceuticals Inc.)
- Oxycodone Hydrochloride 15 mg (Actavis)
- Oxycodone Hydrochloride 15 mg (Actavis)
- Oxycodone Hydrochloride 30 mg (Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc.)
- Tramadol Hydrochloride 50 mg (Teva Pharmaceuticals USA)
