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Saturday, June 25, 2005

Lactaid Changes Ultra to New Fast Act

When I went to the supermarket the other day, I was surprised to find Lactaid Fast Act replacing the Ultra tabs I had been using. (Ultra strength Lactaid had 9000 FCC units of lactase, triple the strength of their regular pills. So do these new pills.)

What is Fast Act? Accoring to the Lactaid site, Fast Act "starts working twice as fast as other Ultra strength supplements" and "it dissolves faster, so it goes to work sooner and breaks down more lactose than any Ultra strength product available."

How? They don't say, of course. Not even their press release has any info. The technology is "revolutionary," though.

The tablets look exactly the same as the old Ultras, and are also available in chewable form.

Lactaid really wants you to try them. They have an offer for a free sample as well as one for a dollar-off coupon.

I never go anyplace without lactase tablets in my pill case. If you suffer from lactose intolerance, you should always have them close at hand as well. The name on the brand doesn't matter much. You can choose by price, or type of pill, or strength. If one brand doesn't work, try another. But lactase pills, any lactase pills, make a huge difference.

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35 comments:

Anonymous said...

I tried taking lactiad pills, but developed an alergy to the lactase enzyme. I am very upset that this site claims that there is no such thing as an allergy to lactase. They posted research that there was only one case ever reorted of an allergic reaction, but claims that he was really allergic to the fungus not to the lactase. Even the Lactaid bottle states: do not take if you are allergic to lactase. It made me have severe abdonimal pain and even vomit! Please note that there IS such a thing as an allergy to the lactase enzyme.

Anonymous said...

I agree, I tried taking lactaid pills and both times I was vomiting all night with horrible horrible pain. My doctor says that this should not be happening, and maybe I had food poisoning twice. I think that is ridiculous.

Anonymous said...

I have lactose intolerance and have been talking lactase enzyme for years with great results. However, my daughter experiences stomach pain and vomiting following consumption of a lactase enzyme pill. Her doctor, like many, has said she doesn't believe it is possible to have such symptoms related to lactase consumption. Yet, it has happened each time my daughter has taken a lactase pill, even just 3,000 units. The medical world needs to realize they do not know everything; they simply have had no personal or professional experience with lactase pill allergies or intolerances.

Anonymous said...

If you've vomitted after taking the pills, DO NOT take them again! My son spit up the first two times (I attributed it to other things) and then had a full blown life threatening anaphylactic reaction the third time. He tested positive for an allergy to the enzyme...could be specific to the fungal lactase used in all lactose pills, as he can tolerate the milk which uses yeast lactase. anyways, he's totally fine...but don't take the chance please!!

Anonymous said...

I also had a horrible vomiting reaction to these pills. The first few times I had taken 1 and still had some dairy discomfort, so I figured maybe I should try two. Bad Idea!! Had a few bites of soft serve ice cream/milkshake at a Disney park. Took two chewables, and within 15 minutes was sweating, dizzy and felt as though I was going to pass out. Vomited the contents of my stomach, and started to feel better immediately, but how embarrassing! Thought maybe they just hadn't cleaned the ice cream machine. Two days later, went to a famous ice cream place. The ice cream was delicious and I took two chewables to ward off any discomfort. Within 15 minutes of taking the Lactaid, I was voimiting the entire contents of my dinner and the ice cream. After about an hour and a half, I was fine again. Will never take them again!

Anonymous said...

These pills nearly killed me. It took four episodes to figure out why I was vomiting so violently. I had taken the pills for a few days before symptoms started. The fourth time I took Lactaid the lightbulb went. My symptoms had been getting progressively worse and the fourth time I took the pills was to prove to myself and my wife that it was the pills making me sick. Sure enough, less than an hour after taking a lactaid pill I was vomiting every few minutes for over 3 hours. I spoke with a Dr and he had heard of this problem with other patients. He told me never to take them again as I could go into anaphalactic shock. I took his advice! The last time (fourth episode) I took them I was so sick that I couldn't even keep down my own saliva. I had to get phenergan suppositories to stop the symptoms. Too bad, I thought I had found Nirvana and could eat hot fudge sundaes again (my favorite dessert) :-(

Traci Mahar said...

My 10 year old son has just been diagnosed lactose intolerant and started giving him the lactaid pills. The first couple of days he was fine. Then by day 3 he was crying his eyes out, rolled into a ball screaming while holding his belly. I called the emergency pedi GI doctor didn't know if i should call an ambulance...Gave him a GAS-X and he was extremely full of gas...Still wasn't putting the 2 together..Then he kept getting pain and crying while rolled up into a ball..I stopped the lactaid pills Saturday and no more pain...and he has had dairy since with no meds and might get a little belly-ache but He is allergic to eggs,nuts,seafood. All he has is dairy and doesn't like the lactaid milk...any suggestions from any one is greatly appreciated... I will only let him eat so much dairy a day but NO MILK....Do u think tis was a reaction or what....This is all 2 new to me and him, but he didn't vomit

Anonymous said...

I had an allergic reaction of violent vomiting, severe stomach pain and cramping, shortness of breath, lip swelling, hives and fatigue, and after many tests (blood draw, stool sample, abdominal ultrasound, upper GI, etc), my doctor finally came to the conclusion that I was allergic to something they use to bind the Lactaid pills together. I can drink Lactaid milk without any problems. There are no warnings on the boxes which is absolutely absurd! Please everyone report your problems with these pills to the FDA so that they will put a warning on the boxes of Lactaid or possibly change the way they make the pills! Just go to https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/medwatch/medwatch-online.htm to report your experience.

Anonymous said...

I just wanted to say that yes there is a such thing as an allergy to lactASE. Quest Diagnostic actually has a RAST blood test they can do for it. and you can develop the allergy over time. I have been having a hard time actually finding out how severe this allergy can get and if it can be passed on to a newborn if you developed the allergy while pregnant. I tried calling the people at LACTAID and they told me they had no information and that I should contact my DR.
I know personally I have had allergy reactions as swollen parts of the eye, itchyness in the ears and throat, constant sneezing. There are many many people who are allergic to this Lactase enzyme or have become allergic to it from exposure. Someone out there has got to have information on what this stuff does or can do to you if you are allergic!

Anonymous said...

I have been experiencing the same thing when I take this dairy aid pill. This is the 2nd time i have taken it before I eat or drink anything that is dairy, and within 30mins to a hr. I getting sweaty, very nausish, my heart starts racing, and I end up vomiting and start shaking and get very weak. I was thinking that maybe Im not lactose intolerant anymore but reading other comments and reading that this is exactly what I am experiencing. In the begginging when I first started taking it, it didnt do this to me. I am def going to stop taking these before I land in the hospital. Almost went yesterday because of this pill. My parents are thinking I have the stomach virus thats going around but I had it a week ago, but I also had taken the pill as well maybe it wasnt the virus maybe its been this pill the whole time.

Anonymous said...

OMG. My daughter has been taking the lactaid ultra and has been complaining of stomach pain, nausea and vomiting shortly after taking the pill.She also complained of general body itching after throwing up as well. I did not associate her symptoms with the lactaid pills b/c my husband takes the pills with no problems.I initially could find nothing associating her symptoms with this medication. Until I stumbled onto this site. Something needs to be done about getting these problems associated with these pills out to the medical community and general public.

Anonymous said...

Thank you everyone for your honest comments about lactaid fast act. I am undergoing the vomiting and diarrhea from taking two of them right now. This is the fourth time I have gotten sick in the last two weeks so now I know the reason why! I will be reporting this to the FDA. I took two today thinking it was the dairy intolerance that was causing the problem! I will never take this medicine again. Better to avoid all dairy and heal the gi tract.

Anonymous said...

8-31-12: Wow. This is horrible. I work in the healthcare field and regularly recommend Lactaid pills and other pancreatic enzymes to our patients under the supervision of a gastroenterologist. I will now be looking more closely into the prevalence of this reaction given I am now suffering through it personally and have found this site with others. It is appalling that the packaging offers no information on potential side effects. I am experiencIng the vomiting, diarrhea and itching after seemingly tolerating the pills for about 2 weeks. It looks like it takes about 24hrs for the drug to pass out of your system.

Anonymous said...

These pills are making me puke, too. The first time I tried it, it was fine. The 2nd through 4th times I've thrown up violently. I've been sicker with these pills than I ever was with viral gi bugs and food poisoning. The reason it took so long to make the connection is that it would take 2-3 hours and sometimes even longer, for the symptoms to start. Once I've puked everything there, I have diarrhea for a day. And then I'm fine.
I plan to notify the FDA.

Anonymous said...

the company does not acknowledge there is an issue
my symptoms were startling, almost went to the hospital because it mimicked food poisoning.
DO NOT TAKE THESE PILLS

Anonymous said...

I am sick currently from the LACTAID pill. Just a few minutes ago I stopped vomiting. Like others have said, I took the Lactaid pill a few times, no problem. I took it again earlier this week and I was sick for a majority of the day! I thought I'd try it again today to see if it was the Lactaid pill that made me so ill, and I guess it was! I will NOT be taking Lactaid again, I do not want to end up in the hospital!!

Anonymous said...

This really aggravates me! My child had an anaphylactic episode within 15 minutes of consuming an enzyme tablet. People (including the manufacturer of the product) told me it couldn't be so I did my own digging. Found out most enzymes are aspergillus derived, had him tested - and yes he was allergic to aspergillus. Just a coincidence - I don't think so! What is up with this and why isn't it well known and accepted that anyone with an aspergillus allergy can have a reaction to an enzyme product?!

Anonymous said...

Same story as you above. 1st time I took it I was fine. Every other time Ive taken them I vomit and get diarrhea for hours. It so bad I thought it was food poising. Can't believe that something I've taken to rid myself of pain and sickness is making me sick! this s unacceptable. Class-action lawsuit?

Anonymous said...

Thank you for your comments. My son came home from school vomiting for the 3rd time in 3 weeks. I assumed it was a stomach virus until the last occurrence. The symptoms are just as have been discribed. Vomiting occurring within 2 hours of consuming the Lactaid chewables.

Lori's View said...

First time I took it 15 minutes later I started sweating, shaking, then vomitted for 4 hours accommanied with diarreah. I puked up blood. I have never been so ill even with a stomach bug, I felt better. I felt like I was dying. So violent of vomitting. I'm still very weak 24 hours later. My mom calked Lactaid and told them what was happening, they said it was all natural and I have a stomach flu. I was fine before I took the stupid pill. I will contact FDA and submit a press release of a warning once I'm out of bed and not dizzy any more. Thanks for the posts!

Anonymous said...

I had an incident the beginning of this month when I took a Lactaid pill and ended up with sweats, diarrhea, stomach pains, and eventually vomiting. I thought it was food poisoning and even called the restaurant. Then it happened again last night. I will never take them again!

Anonymous said...

It will take a class action lawsuit to get public attention. Hopefully an attorney will find this site, publish their number, and sue Lactaid. That will get the FDA off of their government funded buns to change the drug information sheet. Sad that real people make the meds, hear the complaints, but care so little about their fellow man and in this case, innocent little children.

Anonymous said...

I suspected something must be going on with these pills. I started taking them 2 weeks ago when consuming diary, which I have avoided (unless I can get raw milk which is DELICOUS! and has caused me no discomfort). Last week I had no symptoms after taking them. Progressively now in week two I've started having stomach pains and nausea that starts about 2-3 hours after taking them. I'll toss the rest before putting myself through anything worse. I'm sorry for those of you who have had such horrible reactions but very grateful for your posts so that I could identify that this is the real culprit and discontinue use. I'll stick to the raw milk when I can get some from a local organic farmer. Tastes heavenly! Be well.

Anonymous said...

To everyone planning to report to the FDA: It states right on the box that Lactaid isn't FDA regulated, so they can't do anything. Unfortunately I've had the same reaction to the pills you have, horrible vomiting. I'm glad I made the connection before I ended up in the hospital.

Anonymous said...

Wow! This explains so much! I was searching the internet because I thought I had gotten IBS! The last two weeks I have had constant diarrhea. Have threw up a bit as well. I had a hot chocolate at a friends and popped my pill as usual. We headed out shopping and I started feeling sick in the car. I was starting to dread going out because I had to have a bathroom lined up. All the while taking the pills. A light bulb went off and I did a search. There are so many people with the same problem. Here and a few other sites I saw.

Anonymous said...

I am greatful to all for posting these comments because 2days ago I suffered through severe vomiting immediately after taking a Lactaid pill. This happened twice before but much worse this last time. Never again.

Anonymous said...

My first time taking these pills and last. I've never felt so bloated and nauseated before in my life. I spent 6hrs vomiting off and on with terrible stomach cramps. I rather suffer and drink a gallon of milk then feel what I felt taking these pills.

Anonymous said...

After using this product with no issue for months, it is now causing me to vomit. Unfortunately, it is a pretty direct correlation, two episodes, an entire week apart, and only when I took the pills.

Anonymous said...

My 4 year old son just puked a number of times after trying these pills for the first time.
We're at the doctor right now, I hope he feels better. Thanks for the comments.

Unknown said...

Hello, 3 weeks ago I took the lactaid pills to eat dinner which had a lot of cheese in it and about 45 minutes later I started sweating with horrible stomach pain and vomiting everything up through out the entire night until 10am the next morning. So I went to the emergency room and the doctor basically told me it was a stomach bug and sent me home. We'll in the past 3 weeks I've gone back to the er 2 more times and I've seen a gastroenterologist, which said its my gallbladder had me do a HIDA Scan and sent me to a surgeon because the scan came back saying my gallbladder isn't working properly, we'll the surgeon told me yesterday that he thinks it's my gallbladder plus he thinks I have an ulcer. So if I have an ulcer I do believe somehow the lactaid pills caused it!

Larissa said...

My husband had the very same experience, and everybody thinks we're crazy.

Anonymous said...

I've been experiencing the vomiting and horrible stomach cramps as well. Every time I take a lactase pill, about 2 hours later I feel like I'm dying and vomit 4 or 5 times. The stomach pain is almost unbearable, and gas medicine does not help. My GI tells me that it's not the pills causing this, but now that I've found this site, I fully believe it's the pills. To the trash they go!

Unknown said...

It's definitely the pills. I'm lactose intolerant. Every now and then I choose to enjoy dairy products--knowing that I will have severe gas and cramps! I only puke when I take Lactaid; every time I took Lactaid I puked. I eventually decided to live with the discomfort instead of the puking.

Unknown said...

I took 2 pills and feel great no more bloating gas or diarrhea. Maybe the problem is in you alls heads

cschniepp593 said...

I had the same results. 20 minutes After taking Lac-aid I was vomiting. Stomach wasn’t right for at least a week.