Lactose Anhydrous
Excipient (pharmacologically inactive substance)
What is it?
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] [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 with this excipient
- Acetaminophen and Hydrocodone Bitartrate 500 mg / 5 mg (Watson Laboratories, Inc.)
- Baclofen 10 mg (Upsher-Smith Laboratories, Inc.)
- Buspirone Hydrochloride 15 mg (Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc.)
- Carisoprodol 350 mg (Watson Pharmaceuticals)
- Clonazepam 1 mg (Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc.)
- Clonazepam 1 mg (Accord Healthcare, Inc.)
- Clonazepam 0.5 mg (Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc.)
- Clonazepam 1 mg (Sandoz Pharmaceuticals Inc.)
- Clonazepam 0.5 mg (Sandoz Pharmaceuticals Inc.)
- Clonazepam 0.5 mg (Accord Healthcare, Inc.)
- Diazepam 5 mg (Watson Laboratories, Inc.)
- Diazepam 10 mg (Watson Pharmaceuticals)
- Gabapentin 300 mg (Ascend Laboratories, LLC)
- Oxycodone Hydrochloride 5 mg (Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Inc.)
- Oxycodone Hydrochloride 30 mg (Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Inc.)
- Tizanidine Hydrochloride 4 mg (Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc.)
- Tizanidine Hydrochloride 4 mg (Apotex Corp.)
- Tizanidine Hydrochloride 4 mg (Unichem Pharmaceuticals (USA), Inc.)
- Tramadol Hydrochloride 50 mg (Zydus Pharmaceuticals)
- Tramadol Hydrochloride 50 mg (Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Inc.)
