Prednisolone is usually in a tablet form and is used to treat allergic and inflammatory conditions such as asthma, allergies and skin conditions such as eczema flares, amongst other things. Why does a drug prescribed to treat allergies contain one of the thirteen main allergens?
Because it does, it contains lactose from dairy!
Lactose can be found in many medications and supplements
Absolutely loads of drugs can contain lactose, including health supplements, vitamin and mineral supplements, antihistamines and anti-inflammatory medications. It seems the onus is always on the patient or customer to check ingredients for everything. Never assume the doctor you’ve visited has studied your medical notes and checked the drugs he/she is prescribing are suitable. Always, always check.
Getting allergy symptoms taking meds with lactose
I was lucky this time. I only had minor effects including flushing and redness of the skin on my face and mild itching. Wondering what was causing this I checked the packet and discovered very quickly why; why hadn’t I checked? With my asthma seeming to swing out of control lately with little relief from either the preventative or the regular inhaler I needed help. I thought these oral steroids would help me get back to normal. After struggling to breathe for months and suffering a serious asthma attack and needing a hospital visit to A&E I was desperate. However Prednisalone was not the answer for me, and I’d urge caution for anyone with a dairy allergy due to the lactose used as an ingredient.
Lactose is great as a filler or coating in tablets
Drug manufacturers use lactose as a filler or coating. It’s brilliant for the purpose because it’s almost tasteless, creates a brilliant coating when sprayed onto pills, prevents caking and ‘hardly anyone reacts to it as an ingredient’. But if ‘hardly anyone’ is you that’s not much consolation.
What does prednisalone contain?
The active ingredient is prednisolone 1mg or 5mg. The other active ingredients are lactose monohyrate, dextrin, maize starch and stearic acid (E570)
If you have anaphylaxis to dairy then you shouldn’t take the risk. Every drug has a lactose free alternative so ask your doctor to check. They will probably have to dig out their bible of drugs and leaf through and check, but there is always another option. It is probably not the cheapest option but ask if you’re concerned. If you have an allergy, are vegan, or have other reasons for opting for drugs without lactose insist that your doctor checks. This medication also contains maize starch so anyone who is sensitive to corn and has a corn allergy should avoid it.
Is there a dairy free alternative to prednisalone?
The answer is yes, but it’s not very nice; ask for the powder version of prednisalone if you have a dairy allergy or have a lactose intolerance. Or better still, don’t take this stuff. Made me feel really depressed.
I decided not pursue this drug route as the list of side effects really put me off. When prescribed, the doctor told me about the side effects but she highlighted that it could cause “feelings of heightened well being” and “increased appetite”. She didn’t mention that on the minus side it can also cause depression, dizziness, difficulty sleeping. I could go on – the list of nasty side side effects is LONG!
Have you used Prednisolone and have a dairy allergy? Did you have an adverse effects? Or have you found a dairy free alternative steroid for asthma? Is anyone else’s asthma bad at the moment? Or is it just me?
Are you aware of steroid withdrawal?
Little is known about topical steroid withdrawal (TSW) since there haven’t been many studies and peer reviewed detailed study reviews into the condition, but if you take any steroids to reduce inflammation you should look into TSW. Since writing this blog (it’s now 2023) I have now been over 4.5 years with no steroid medication and I would say I now have mild eczema and well controlled asthma. I’m not recommending anyone stops using topical steroids or oral steroids without seeking medical advice. But if you notice your skin is flaring badly and rebounding when you try to taper your use it could be worth exploring. Please visit the Topical Steroid Withdrawal charity website, ITSAN.
Is TSW rare? and how do people get TSW?
It is widely shared that TSW is rare and only happens to people who use moderate to strong topical steroids for longer periods of time, ie. longer than a year. Short treatments are said to safe but I have heard of people becoming ill and having TSA ad TSW after only short times using them, especially babies. It happened to me despite always using them as prescribed,. I never put any topical steroids on my face and never used them for prolonged periods of time, just to get on top of flares. It could happen to anyone and in my view is far more common than we are led to believe. It could also happen with prolonged use of Predinaslone so please be aware of the risks.
I’d love to hear your views on this. Have you had a problem using Prednisalone? Is there a safe lactose and steroid free alternative?
Ask for soluble prednisolone. It tastes foul but doesn’t contain lactose. Good luck!
Hey Yvette Thanks! I will do. Not liking the sound of the ‘tastes foul’ bit but I’m sure I can disguise it in something. Failing that will just have to eat something extra nice afterwards. Any excuse!
I’m not sure how this question will go over but throwing it out there anyways: So here’s a bit of background first off – I was recently diagnosed with a rare illness called Alpha Gal for most people this means staying away from mammal and mammal by products even the smallest amount, for me this also means staying away from poultry, fish, bananas, latex, metals, potatoes, tree nuts, mangos, sunflower and mushrooms of course with the mammal that includes milk and everything!!! So for my question do you know if there is a medication out there for allergies that is 100% vegan and without any tree nuts, sunflower, potato, or fungus?!?!?! I know it’s a lot but I’m currently without any help and my doc seems to be clueless about my illness (I’m seeing a specialist in a week or so 3 states away) even my pharmacist has been clueless to this situation and almost gave me medication that contained glycerin which is derived from cows my BIGGEST allergy!!! So any help would be GREATLY APPRECIATED!!! Thank you!!!
Hi there Amanda, I have heard of this condition but not of any cures. Here in the UK we certainly don’t have any reliable treatment for allergies. I’m not sure if immunotherapy would work for you as it sounds very complex but I know they do this in the US so it’s worth asking, even if it could help with only a few foods. Sadly the only solution is to avoid the foods in question. Is your condition caused by a tic or bug that bites you? It sounds very cruel indeed to be allergic to meat and all meat products. I think the only way forward is to learn as much as you can, get really familiar with your condition, which it sounds like you are and just find a way of living with it. Not so helpful I know. Are you a member of any of the support groups? I can see a few on Facebook which might help, just to chat to other people with it. Check out https://tbcunited.org/alphagal-syndrome/ also, as I’m sure there will be other organisations looking into this condition and supporting those who live with it. Good luck
You are so helpful to so many and that is terrific. I am looking for a vegan prednisone which is why I am reading through this question. It struck me that you said “it sounds very cruel indeed to be allergic to meat and all meat products” when the meat industry is so incredibly cruel. Just kind of ironic.
Oh yes that is quite ironic. It is cruel. I find myself eating less and less meat these days. Are you vegan? I would actually love to try going totally vegan but my diet is so restricted due to allergies I would struggle I think.
I posted comments & questions yesterday re: prescription drugs with lactose and/or povidone. Where did it go????????????????? Seems this site is just as bad as big pharma…
Hi Judy. I’ve checked my spam and I can’t see your comment. All comments come to me first for approval unless someone has already commented elsewhere and had a comment approved. If you have time I would love to hear your comment, as I’m sure would my readers. I’m sorry you think I’m just as bad as a big pharma! You couldn’t be further from the truth but this blog is my hobby and I do my best to make sure the website is working properly. WordPress is normally very reliable to apologies that your comment disappeared. If I do find it in my spam I will approve but it blocks hundreds of spam comments all the time.
Judy! I found your comment on a similar blog post at: https://whatallergy.com/2009/09/can-lactose-antihistamines-contain-dairy-protein/
I’ve replied to you. Thought your name sounded familiar.
it’s crazy but all the otc allergy meds have lactose in them too!
In 2011 I adopted a low carb diets, mostly free of wheat and sugar, and my need for the asthma inhaler went bye bye. Maybe your sensitive to gluten.
I had terrible wheezing when laying down to sleep at night. Just couldn’t figure out why, when I was on top of my asthma meds. I then decided to check labels and there it was, lactose in cetirizine tablets. Switched myself over to liquid cetirizine and the asthma went! Doctor looked at me like I’m nuts when I asked for the repeat script to be in liquid form, but he did what I asked so what the hey.
I have read your post and thought that I should include some maybe helpful info:
There is a lactose free prednisolone. It is sold in soluble tablets: prednisolone sodium phosphate by Phoenix labs and is available on NHS.
I also wanted to add a very peculiar thing that I found that most tablet based antihistamines contain LACTOSE! Liquid ones don’t, but do check.
I have been suffering from a mirriad of symptoms for years now including severe asthma and anaphylaxis, joint pain, severe fatigue, flushing, headaches.. the list is endless and it appears that lactose intolerance or non IgE mediated dairy allergy might be behind many of the symptoms.
Gosh that’s really useful. Thank you. I react really badly to Prednisolone so this is really useful. Not that anyone wants to take this but it can really help sometimes. Thanks so much for sharing.
Thanks! This is exactly what I was looking for, I am very allergic to lactose, just took prednisone and am suffering, but, heart and breathing problems. Will Call GP in morning to get a lactose-free version, but it always helps if I know what the options are…….
That should read GUT, heart and lung problems, silly spellcheck!
Yes – I get liquid allergy free benadryl capsules whenever I am in the US (Or have a relative flying this way) for this very reason. Can’t understand why it’s so hard to have a lactose free version…..
No I don’t understand why most of these pills contain lactose/dairy, it seems very unnecessary.
I worry about cjd are there any bovine products in prednisolone?