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lactase enzyme (Lactaid Original, Colief, Lactaid Fast Act Chewables, Lactaid Fast Act Caplets)

 

Classes: Nutritionals, Other

Dosing and uses of Lactaid, Colief (lactase enzyme)

 

Adult dosage forms and strengths

Expressed in FCC units

tablet

  • 3,000 units/tablet (Lactaid Original)
  • 9,000 units/tablet (Lactaid Fast Act Caplets)

chewable tablet

  • 9,000 units/tablet (Lactaid Fast Act Chewables)

 

Lactose Intolerance

Take 3,000-9,000 units PO with meals or dairy

 

Pediatric dosage forms and strengths

Expressed in FCC units

1 mg ~equivalent to 14 FCC units

tablet

  • 3,000 units/tablet (Lactaid Original)
  • 9,000 units/tablet (Lactaid Fast Act Caplets)

chewable tablet

  • 9,000 units/tablet (Lactaid Fast Act Chewables)

oral solution

  • (Colief Infant Drops)

 

Lactose Intolerance

Take 3,000-9,000 units PO with meals or dairy

 

Infant Colic

Breast milk

  • Express a few tablespoons of breast milk into a sterilized container
  • Add 4 drops of lactase infant drops
  • Give mixture to infant on a spoon or oral syringe before initiating breastfeeding
  • Breast feed as normal

Formula

  • Prepare infant's formula as per manufacturer's instructions (or use ready-to-use formula)
  • Add 4 drops of lactase infant drops to warm (not hot) formula
  • Wait 30 minutes, shaking the formula occasionally, then feed your infant as normal, making sure that the formula is at the correct temperature
  • Discard any unused formula

Making formula in advance with lactase infant drops

  • Prepare infant's formula as per manufacturer's instructions
  • Add 2 drops of lactase infant drops to the warm (not hot) formula
  • Store in your refrigerator for a minimum of 4 hr before use and use within 12 hr
  • Feed infant as normal making sure that the formula is at the correct temperature
  • Discard any unused formula

 

Administration

Lactase enzyme is destroyed by high heat; it works best in warm milk/formula (ie, body temperature ~98 degrees F)

Add lactase infant drops after milk/formula is prepared and at body temperature; do not boil milk with the lactase drops already mixed in with the milk

 

Lactaid, Colief (lactase enzyme) adverse (side) effects

None documented

 

Warnings

Contraindications

None documented

 

Cautions

Some products may contain aspartame and should be avoided in patients with phenylketonuria

Has not been evaluated by the FDA, but is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) for human consumption

 

Pregnancy and lactation

Pregnancy category: A

Lactation: May be used with breastfeeding

Pregnant or breastfeeding patients should seek advice of health professional before using OTC drugs

 

Pregnancy categories

A: Generally acceptable. Controlled studies in pregnant women show no evidence of fetal risk.

B: May be acceptable. Either animal studies show no risk but human studies not available or animal studies showed minor risks and human studies done and showed no risk.

C: Use with caution if benefits outweigh risks. Animal studies show risk and human studies not available or neither animal nor human studies done.

D: Use in LIFE-THREATENING emergencies when no safer drug available. Positive evidence of human fetal risk.

X: Do not use in pregnancy. Risks involved outweigh potential benefits. Safer alternatives exist.

NA: Information not available.

 

Pharmacology of Lactaid, Colief (lactase enzyme)

Mechanism of action

Enzyme; lactose is hydrolyzed by intestinal lactase to monosaccharides (ie, glucose, galactose) which are absorbed systemically by uptake of the sodium-dependent glucose carrier; defect of this carrier result in severe diarrhea following carbohydrate intake