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NHS: Drugs

Volume 471: debated on Tuesday 29 January 2008

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to increase the availability of lactose-free medication; and what his Department's policy is on lactose-free prescribable pharmaceuticals. (177634)

The availability of lactose-free medication is a matter for the pharmaceutical industry. The majority of people with lactose intolerance are able to tolerate small amounts of lactose in their diet and the relatively small amounts that might be present in medicines. Medicines containing lactose must have that ingredient declared on the labelling and the information leaflet in the pack should recommend that the patient contact their doctor before taking such a medicine if they have been told they have an intolerance to some sugars.