Medicines for the Treatment of Lactose Intolerance

, omnipresent in milk and derivatives: in a subject intolerant to lactose, after having ingested foods that contain it, a non-allergic reaction is observed, which essentially consists in the manifestation of gastrointestinal symptoms, more or less severe.

Shutterstock (enzymes aimed at splitting lactose into galactose and glucose) in the brush border of intestinal cells. More rarely, lactose intolerance is closely linked to the lack of proteolytic enzymes, responsible for the digestion of proteins present in milk.

they are mostly gastrointestinal, such as: abdominal cramps, diarrhea, flatulence, abdominal bloating, bloating, nausea, oliguria. Most of the time, the patient suffering from lactose intolerance, after having taken milk and derivatives, complains of asthenia, general malaise, lack of appetite and weight loss.

The information on Medicines for the Treatment of Lactose Intolerance is not intended to replace the direct relationship between health professional and patient. Always consult your doctor and / or specialist before taking Lactose Intolerance Medicines.

of aged cheeses and yoghurt. There is no drug capable of reversing the disorder, therefore the patient must reduce the amount of lactose introduced with the diet, trying to avoid calcium deficiency; to escape this inconvenience, it is advisable to enrich the diet with calcium supplements.
In any case, although "lactose intolerance cannot be cured definitively with drugs, it is possible to take enzyme substitutes formulated with lactase; as we have analyzed, in fact, a person who is intolerant to milk has a deficiency of lactase enzymes, therefore a" supplement specific, while not solving the problem completely, can alleviate symptoms.

The following are the classes of drugs most used in the therapy against lactose intolerance, and some examples of pharmacological specialties; it is up to the doctor to choose the most suitable active ingredient and dosage for the patient, based on the severity of the disease, the state of health of the patient and his response to treatment:

It is recommended to consume milk and derivatives in small quantities, for a variable period of time; after which it is possible to gradually increase the quantities, in order to accustom the body and stimulate the production of lactase enzymes.

Lactase: given that the body of a patient suffering from lactose intolerance is deficient in lactase, an integration of these digestive enzymes could be of great help. It is recommended to take the product one hour before a meal. Consult your doctor.

Calcium: calcium supplementation is not useful for healing from lactose intolerance; rather, it is recommended because, by not consuming milk and dairy products, the body may be deficient in this important mineral.

Calcium Carbonate (eg Idracal, Carbosint, Lubical, Eurocal D3): contains 40% of calcium (400 mg of calcium are contained in 1 gram of calcium carbonate). The supplement is available as effervescent tablets, chewable tablets and sachets. Take the supplement with or immediately after a meal (indicative dose: 900-2,500 mg per day).
Calcium citrate: 210 mg of calcium are present in 1 gram of calcium citrate. Take the supplement with or immediately after a meal.

On the market there are products formulated with delactosed milk (lactose-free) and non-cow's milk (soy milk, almond milk, rice milk), particularly suitable for those suffering from milk intolerance.