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Lactase and Vomiting: What Users Say

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

Vomiting: mentioned by 59 users (44.7%)

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
  • Thi...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • January 5, 2021

Lactase for Lactose Intolerance "This worked once or twice. Four days ago, I became ill after taking these pills, not knowing what my problem was. I was vomiting, had diarrhea, and was shaking. I had other symptoms but I ended up going for a COVID test because I was so ill. Only 4 days passed, and I took the pills again tonight. Here I am, typing this from the bathroom floor, extremely nauseous, and just had diarrhea. DO NOT BUY THESE. It is not worth the bathroom time and how rubbish they make you feel."

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  • Kel...
  • January 28, 2021

For Lactose Intolerance "The first few times I took these, I was fine. Over time, I noticed that I would get bloated, stomach pains, and diarrhea. That’s when I started to get suspicious. The last time I took these pills, I was sure they were the culprit. It started with an unbearable stomach ache and chills. I ran to the toilet, and diarrhea came out of me like water out of a faucet. After I was done, nothing comforted me besides the floor. As I laid on the floor, ugly crying, I could also hear my stomach crying with me. It wasn’t over. I felt the urge to puke coming, so I ran back into the bathroom. I made it just outside the bathroom when projectile vomit sprayed out of me like a dragon breathing fire. I didn’t make it to the sink, but luckily it hit the tile. I puked about six more times, filling up the sink. My husband checked on me, and to both of our horror, he slipped on my puke! There was vomit in between his toes, and I couldn’t even warn him. I was violently ill. I’ll never take these pills again."

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  • Mic...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • October 13, 2020

For Lactose Intolerance "I wish I would have seen these reviews before taking these pills of misery. The first time I had violent vomiting. My doctor assured me it couldn't be the lactase pills. The next week I tried them again, and I spent another 24 hours with diarrhea and vomiting. Why are these things on the market?"

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Frequently asked questions

  • Flu...
  • October 11, 2020

For Lactose Intolerance "I just wish I'd read these lactase reviews before. I took a couple of tablets, over 2 days at the end of Sept and had 4 days' worth of severe vomiting and diarrhea. I didn't link the 2 at the time and figured I'd had a horrible tummy bug. Fast forward 2 weeks later, and I had a cheese fondue, so I took a tablet to avoid the bloating. Instead, here I am again with horrific vomiting, cramps, sweats, pain, and diarrhea. I was racking my brain, working out what I'd eaten or who has been sick recently in case I had caught something, then suddenly realized the only thing I'd done different was the medicine. Just Googled 'can lactaid cause vomiting,' and I got a sea of pages and people reacting the same way. I will never take or recommend this product to anyone again. I feel terrible, and I'm sad that this isn't more well-known as a side effect."

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  • 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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  • Ugh...
  • April 19, 2021

For Lactose Intolerance "I’m new to the lactose intolerant world. I made it to 50 without any dietary issues. I started having tummy troubles after eating yogurt or cheese, so I tried Lactaid. My first experience was a week ago. I had an iced coffee with cream and popped a pill for the first time so I could enjoy the coffee without the belly cramps. A couple of hours later, I felt off. Something wasn’t right, and then the vomiting started. I just assumed it was something I had for breakfast and left it at that. Fast forward 1 week. I’m out for pizza for lunch and give the Lactaid another try. Biggest mistake of my life! I barely made it home before the violent vomiting started. I had the sweats, the shakes, and I couldn’t even pick up my head or open my eyes without getting nauseous. It took over an hour to stop the multiple vomiting and diarrhea sessions. I looked up the side effects, and my symptoms weren’t mentioned anywhere. Thank you all for sharing. It’s nice to know it wasn’t just me!"

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  • 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."

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  • Mad...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • September 18, 2020

For Lactose Intolerance "This product should be reported. After seeing all of these reviews, I'm very angry. I got awful diarrhea and vomited profusely after taking this product, multiple times. This has happened to many others. This product needs to be taken off the market and out of stores now! The feeling you get when you take this product is absolutely awful. -999/10."

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  • Maz...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • March 29, 2021

For Lactose Intolerance "This was the worst pill I tried, taken with food before, and it upsets me a little, but I tried to take it before eating yogurt on an empty stomach. Two hours later, I was so sick, vomiting bile, shaking, never been so sick in my entire life. This was all because my doctor said to try to avoid lactose. I missed yogurt and decided to try these pills, and it was the worst night of my life. I nearly went to the ER, and two days later, still in pain but recovering slowly. Never again... and how can they officially claim it has no side effects? Yuck."

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  • Stu...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • June 23, 2014

Lactase for Lactose Intolerance "My 10-year-old son would get stomach cramps and diarrhea every time he tried milk. We tried Lactaid on two different occasions a few weeks apart, and both times it caused vomiting. Obviously, something in the pills does not agree with him."

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  • Mom...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • January 31, 2020

Lactase for Lactose Intolerance "My story sounds like all the others. I tried this product 2 separate times. The first time I was at work. Took the Lactaid with my lunch and one hour I was sick. Vomiting and diarrhea. I had to leave and go home. I did not think it was the pills. I tried it again a few months later and same thing. Vomiting and diarrhea. I had bought a box of 60 chewables that will go to trash. I would not recommend this product to anyone."

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  • Nev...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • April 20, 2021

For Lactose Intolerance "Took these last week before eating ice cream, and I got so sick! I was vomiting, and my stomach literally felt like it was going to explode. It hurt so bad. I thought I had food poisoning until I took them again before eating ice cream again. Same symptoms. I will never take these again!"

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  • Tin...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • April 30, 2019

For Lactose Intolerance "I first tried this 6 years ago. Two hours after taking Lactaid, I was vomiting with diarrhea at my daughter's house. I didn't even connect the two. Just assumed it was something I ate, not necessarily from dairy. Two weeks later, I tried taking it before my lunch at work. Within the hour, I was vomiting. I wondered if it was the Lactaid, but thought that was impossible. Fast forward 4 years, and I decided to try again because my lactose intolerance was getting worse. Nope. Same symptoms. So a few days ago, I ordered a different brand of digestive enzymes. Lactase is in this one. I tried this afternoon. I am now severely nauseous with stomach pain. I happened to have some Zofran on hand, so I took it and hopefully I won't vomit! Never again! The 'cure' is worse than the disease!"

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  • Hos...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • December 30, 2021

Lactase for Lactose Intolerance "Worst experience of my life. When I turned 30, I started becoming lactose intolerant. When I was 37, I thought I would try Lactaid to see if I could eat dairy again without issue. I had severe stomach pain and vomiting. It was that screaming type of vomiting. The pain was so bad I thought my gallbladder burst. I didn’t think it was the pills and thought something was wrong with me. Things settled down the next day, so after a week of no issues, I figured it was a stomach bug, so I popped a Lactaid and had two slices of pizza. It was worse than the first time. The pain became so intense I was rushed to the hospital. I was gripping the bedrail from how severe the pain was. They had to give me pain medication through an IV to get it to stop. I saw a doctor and had multiple tests done to check my gallbladder. Nothing seemed wrong. Then I thought to look up Lactaid. I was amazed how many people had severe reactions to this stuff. Stay away from it."

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  • Mz ...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • December 27, 2017

Lactase for Lactose Intolerance "This is my second time trying this pill. The first was about ten years ago. Therefore, I brushed the side effects to the side and thought it was just me. This time, I took two pills, and all I can say is that I will never try them again! Maybe it’s just me, but I vomited, had diarrhea, and my stomach hurt for hours. I prayed to the porcelain queen like no other. All I wanted was a mini bar of ice cream, but after feeling so bad, I’d rather deal with the side effects from having the ice cream."

2 / 10
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  • N61...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • June 12, 2023

Lactase for Lactose Intolerance "This made me so much sicker than the discomfort I experience from eating dairy. Twice now I've ended up with overwhelming nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. I only figured it out because both of these happened after using Lactaid. There's no warning on the box at all, but trust me, it's horrible. It takes about 3 days to feel better."

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  • Anonymous
  • September 22, 2018

For Lactose Intolerance "I thought I was crazy, but after reading the comments, I see that I am not alone. They say that there is no side effect for this product. I tried different brands, and they all made me very sick. I was vomiting and having diarrhea for the whole night (3 different times before I realized it was the pills). It felt exactly like gastroenteritis."

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  • Hug...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • March 14, 2019

Lactase for Lactose Intolerance "I took the chewable Lactaid on three occasions. The first time, I had to miss work for the remainder of the day as I was vomiting nonstop. Next time, the same. The third and last time, I ended up in the ER, I was in pain, had a fever, diarrhea, and vomiting at the same time. My wife was the one who recalled that all three times I was sick, it was when I used Lactaid Fast Act chewable tablets. NEVER AGAIN. I did not believe it, so I tried eating the cheese I had that night without Lactaid, and I did not have any symptoms except the usual bloating I get from lactose. I prefer bloating to spending a night hooked to the intravenous fluids."

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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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  • Mis...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • January 6, 2020

For Lactose Intolerance "I had taken this medication on 2 separate occasions. Both times I started throwing up so much that I had blood coming up because I ran out of everything else. I had to be taken to urgent care and get IV fluids and about 10 warm blankets before I started to feel normal again. I would rather deal with the symptoms than have to take lactase ever again."

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  • may...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • September 16, 2020

Lactase for Lactose Intolerance "I agree with previous reviewers, this product, Lactaid, should be reported to the FDA. As I've gotten older, I seem to have trouble digesting some cheeses. Last night, we had cheese omelets. I decided to try a Lactaid chewable. Three hours later, I felt so ill overall and then vomited for an hour. I had this same effect about 4 years ago when I tried Lactaid but stupidly decided to try it again. People need to be warned about this."

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  • VMo...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • December 15, 2019

For Lactose Intolerance "I tried this pill (Walmart Equate brand) on the advice of a friend who heard about it but hadn’t used them herself. I tried them for the first time last Thursday right before I went to a hockey game. Within 2 hours, I was extremely violently ill! I’ve never vomited like this in my life. I threw up for hours, and then came the diarrhea. It was so painful and maybe one of the worst experiences of my life. I couldn’t eat for about 24 hours. Today, 3 days later, I took two pills before having milk. Here I am now, 2 hours later, vomiting again! I do not recommend this product."

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  • But...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • August 26, 2020

For Lactose Intolerance "My experience was many years ago, but I’m relieved to see I’m not the only one who can’t take this stuff. I was experiencing lactose intolerance type symptoms, so I took Lactaid and wound up sicker than I’ve ever been in my life. I honestly thought I might have to go to the hospital. Abdominal pain, diarrhea 'til I bled, vomiting. I pinpointed it finally to the two times I took Lactaid and one other time someone gave me lactose-free milk, which has lactose enzymes in it. It took me a couple or so really horrible experiences to figure it out, but by process of elimination, it was the only “new” thing in my diet. The subject has come up again because I’m having intestinal issues and exploring lactose-free dairy. I see it all contains lactase, so I will be avoiding it altogether, which makes me sad as I’m a dairy junkie."

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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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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.