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Lactase and Chills: What Users Say

Brand names: Lactaid, Lactaid Fast Act, Lactrase, Dairy Ease, Colief, Dairy Digest, Lac-Dose, Lactaid Extra Strength Lactaid Ultra

Chills: mentioned by 13 users (9.8%)

Based on user experiences from 132 Lactase reviews, the following table shows the most commonly mentioned side effects.

All user comments are moderated by Drugs.com. Each review is verified for relevance and screened for inappropriate content. Side effects are user-reported and not clinically verified.

vomiting 44.7%
diarrhea 41.7%
nausea 32.6%
stomach pain 14.4%
upset stomach 12.1%
bloating 10.6%
chills 9.8%
cramps 6.8%
gas 6.8%
sweating 6.1%

Reviews for Lactase

Commonly mentioned side effects
  • Chr...
  • March 26, 2020

For Lactose Intolerance "The first few times I tried this product, lactase, I was fine, it helped a lot, so I offered some to my husband. I even bought more. One day, I became so nauseous, began vomiting for the first time as an adult. Threw up about five times, nausea continued, and the next few days diarrhea began. I thought it was a stomach bug. The next week, I took the pill again, and this time I became violently ill, the worst experience of my life! I began vomiting so much it sprayed on the floor and walls, then I began sweating and had trouble breathing, I had stomach pains and liquid diarrhea. I started getting chills. This was my night. I do not recommend these pills to anyone alive. HC and the FDA should be informed, and the manufacturers should not be allowed to make this product ever again. Judging from the other comments, I'm not the only one."

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49 Report
  • Som...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • September 27, 2019

Lactase for Lactose Intolerance "I have tried these pills twice. Once last week, and I got violently ill, vomiting for 5 hours straight, and then diarrhea about 4 hours later. The vomiting was so bad that I couldn’t hardly breathe in between. I got cold chills and was sweating profusely. It was absolutely awful. I tried again last night, not knowing what exactly caused the illness the first time. Same exact thing. No way will I ever take another one of these or suggest them to anyone."

1 / 10
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43 Report
  • Nan...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • April 16, 2023

Lactase for Lactose Intolerance "Two nights ago, I indulged in some ice cream and decided it would be a good idea to take 2 Lactaid pills with it. Wrong! Yesterday, I was sick as could be with multiple unpleasant bathroom visits, cramping, nausea, chills, etc. Apparently, based on the other reviews here, I was one of the luckier ones. Now, 48 hours later, I’m finally feeling like myself again. I threw away the rest of the package. Do yourself a favor and avoid these."

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Frequently asked questions

  • Chl...
  • November 3, 2020

For Lactose Intolerance "I’ve used Lactaid before and can’t remember having symptoms from it. I recently went on vacation and decided to buy some in case I ended up having any dairy. Looking back at just a couple of days ago, I understand why my stomach hurt and why I was nauseous. Today I had just a little bit of cheese and decided to take a Lactaid. I all of a sudden felt nauseous and had stomach cramps. I went on a walk and my cramps wouldn’t go away. I was getting chills and almost some cold sweats. Then, the diarrhea... It didn’t add up that my stomach would hurt that bad from half a slice of cheese. It sounds like so many people have experienced similar symptoms. I won’t be taking this again... I have tried the Equate brand and I don’t remember ever having issues, so I’m curious if there’s a difference in ingredients causing this problem. I’m too scared to try again now!"

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  • So ...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • November 12, 2021

Lactase for Lactose Intolerance "This is the second time I used Lactaid. OMG, did I get sick! Within one hour of taking it, I was having diarrhea. Then came severe vomiting! Had no time to lift up my toilet seat! What a freakin' mess! I was so thirsty, but each time I drank water, back to hugging the toilet I went! Had chills and a low-grade fever. I have no idea why this reacted the way it did, but I will never take it again! PS. I finally discovered why I had gotten sick over my sister's house a month ago. Thought I had a 24-hour bug. But finding out today, it was the Lactaid she gave me!"

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  • DEA...
  • December 16, 2019

For Lactose Intolerance "I took the pills twice, and in both times, I had very bad side effects like vomiting, cold chills, and I even had joint pain like fever! My boyfriend is also lactose intolerant but has no reactions to these pills."

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  • Lac...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • January 7, 2023

For Lactose Intolerance "Like most everyone has stated, I had nausea and vomiting after taking Lactaid. Here is the interesting part of my tale: I actually used it successfully about 4-5 times. I took it before enjoying dairy and had no symptoms. ZERO. Then one lovely evening while enjoying some cheese and wine, I became nauseous and violently ill. Shakes, chills, and up comes all of the food I ate for about the last 90 minutes. Well, I must have eaten something that was bad. I ate regular non-dairy food and no problems. OK, well then let’s test the ‘wine’ issue-had wine with vegan food and ZERO problems. YAY. I guess it’s just a one-off. Well, last night I was chomping on Lactaid like M&M's to keep up with cheese consumption of the night with wine. OMG-even faster of a response of nausea, chills, and vomiting. I thought I was crazy. I never thought a simple enzyme to help digest lactose would be the culprit and WALLAH! I will be shipping my Lactaid pills to a friend who can take it no problem."

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  • Wal...
  • January 6, 2020

For Lactose Intolerance "The first time I took this pill, I didn't experience any side effects. Then I took the chewable a week later, and I had the worst experience that I have had in my life! I was extremely nauseous, weak, shaking, had the chills, and had severe diarrhea. I thought I had gotten sick or something, so I tried the pill again, this time, the side effects were way worse and extreme. I was vomiting so badly, had stomach cramps, couldn't sleep from the pain, weak, shaking, I felt like I was going to pass out. I would recommend this product to anybody."

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  • Mik...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • May 9, 2021

For Lactose Intolerance "After giving my son this pill and sending him off to school, we received a call within 2 hours that he was throwing up with chills! His body temp dropped. After vomiting within a few hours, he was okay, we didn’t put two and two together until tonight. Prior to eating, we gave him the pill again, and sure enough, two hours later he is vomiting and extremely nauseous. We did a search on the pills and are shocked to see so many other people dealing with the same symptoms. My wife actually said one of the ingredients is another name for formaldehyde! I don’t know how this stuff is on the shelf, and I’m extremely upset over it! Something needs to be done to stop them from continuing to sell this and cause harm to others!"

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  • 1Fr...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • April 19, 2023

For Lactose Intolerance "I took a few OTC lactase enzyme tablets, and I had diarrhea and vomiting. The doctor thought it was due to food poisoning, then maybe COVID. After having had COVID, I went out at lunch, took lactase again, and was nauseated, violently vomited, and barricaded in a public restroom. My husband called an ambulance 45 minutes later because I was weak, vomiting, shaking, and couldn’t stand, and my complexion was strangely bluish. At the hospital, I shivered uncontrollably, with no temperature (I note others mentioned this symptom). After a hospital exam, including an unremarkable ultrasound of the abdomen, I was released. To diagnose the cause of vomiting, my PCP referred me to an allergist who said the sudden, eruptive vomiting and shivering had not been an allergic reaction but could have been caused by lactose intolerance. So I tried full-dose lactase again with dairy. A few hours later, acute nausea led to sudden vomiting. Concerningly, some lactase supplements have 80% negative reviews here, which may indicate either new or undisclosed side effects."

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  • 0 S...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • September 8, 2022

For Lactose Intolerance "Violently ill each time I've tried it. Takes about 2 hours, then severe nausea kicks in. And then the projectile vomiting, along with explosive diarrhea - at the same time! Spent hours on the toilet with a puke bucket in my lap. Terrible stomach pains, chills, weakness too. Awful, awful. Trashing the rest of the box."

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  • Wor...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • March 14, 2021

For Lactose Intolerance "I have never been so sick in my life after taking these. Took some a few nights ago, ended up violently vomiting for about an hour, just about went to the hospital. Tried this morning again because I wanted a cappuccino. BIG MISTAKE! Sick again! With chills this time as well! I will NEVER take this again!"

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  • LAC...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • February 7, 2022

For Lactose Intolerance "Like others, I wish I’d seen these comments earlier. I’m new to lactose intolerance, but nobody mentioned the treatment could be worse! So yeah, I had ALL the experiences above twice in the last week (have had a COVID test today as a result) & the only thing that lines up is the use of this drug to counteract dairy! Vomiting, diarrhea, chills, sweats, legs went out from under me, the works! Convinced I had food poisoning the first time, the second time (today) figured it HAD to be COVID… until I saw these comments. Thanks everyone for baring your souls & sharing your horrors so that I don’t feel alone ♥️"

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Reviews may be edited to correct grammar/spelling or remove inappropriate content. Reviews appearing to come from parties with a vested interest are not published. This information is not intended to endorse any medication and should not replace the expertise and judgment of healthcare professionals.