Medication Considerations for Vegans and Vegetarians: Hidden Animal Ingredients You Need to Know

Most people assume their medications are just chemicals and water-nothing more. But if you’re vegan or vegetarian, that assumption could be putting you at odds with your values. Hidden animal ingredients are in more than half of the supplements and many prescription drugs you might be taking. And chances are, you have no idea.

What’s Really in Your Pills?

Gelatin is the most common hidden animal ingredient. Around 90% of capsules-whether they’re for antibiotics, vitamins, or heart meds-are made from gelatin, which comes from boiling down the skin, bones, and tendons of pigs, cows, and chickens. It’s not listed as ‘pig fat’ or ‘cow collagen’ on the label. It’s just ‘gelatin.’ And if you’re avoiding animal products, that’s a problem.

Then there’s magnesium stearate. It’s used as a flow agent to keep pills from sticking to machinery during production. About 65% of the time, it’s made from animal fat. The same goes for stearic acid (E570), which shows up in tablets and creams. PETA’s list calls it ‘fat from slaughtered cows, sheep, and pigs.’

Vitamin D3 is another surprise. Most supplements use lanolin, which comes from sheep’s wool. Even though it’s labeled as ‘Vitamin D3,’ it’s not plant-based. The vegan alternative? D3 derived from lichen or green algae. It’s just as effective, but you have to look for it specifically.

Glycerin, often used as a binder or sweetener, can be animal-based too. It’s usually made from animal fats, though plant-based versions exist. Glycerin doesn’t always say where it came from. You have to ask.

And then there are the drugs where the animal part isn’t just a filler-it’s the medicine itself.

Drugs That Are Directly Made From Animals

Some medications aren’t just packaged with animal ingredients-they’re made from them.

- Armour Thyroid is a thyroid hormone replacement made from dried pig thyroid glands. If you’re on this for hypothyroidism, you’re consuming animal tissue daily. The synthetic version, levothyroxine, is vegan and works for most people, but some still need Armour Thyroid for symptom control.

- Premarin, used for menopause, is made from the urine of pregnant mares. Yes, you read that right. Synthetic estrogen pills exist and are vegan, but they’re not identical in how they affect the body.

- Heparin, a blood thinner, comes from pig intestines. There’s no vegan substitute. If you’re on this after surgery or for a clotting disorder, you don’t have a choice.

- Creon and Viokace, used for pancreatic insufficiency, are made from pig pancreas. Again, no plant-based version exists. For people with cystic fibrosis or chronic pancreatitis, this is non-negotiable.

- Vascepa, a fish oil pill for high triglycerides, contains icosapent ethyl from anchovies and sardines. It’s effective, but not vegan.

- Propofol, the IV anesthetic used in surgeries, contains egg phospholipids. If you’re allergic to eggs, this is a known risk. For vegans, it’s an ethical conflict.

These aren’t side ingredients. They’re the active components. And for some conditions, there’s no alternative.

What Can You Actually Switch Out?

The good news? For many medications, especially those with inactive ingredients like gelatin or magnesium stearate, vegan alternatives exist.

Capsules made from cellulose (HPMC) are widely available. Many pharmacies can order them. You just have to ask.

Vitamin D3 from algae is now sold by major brands like Deva Vegan and Garden of Life. It’s just as bioavailable as lanolin-based D3. You can find it in health food stores and online.

Some antibiotics, like amoxicillin, come in vegan capsules. Others don’t. It varies by manufacturer. A pharmacist can check the inactive ingredients for you.

Even painkillers like ibuprofen or paracetamol can be found in vegan forms. The issue isn’t the active drug-it’s the coating, the filler, the capsule. You need to dig deeper than the brand name.

How to Find Vegan-Friendly Medications

You can’t rely on labels. Pharmaceutical labeling laws don’t require disclosure of animal-derived ingredients the way food does. So here’s how to take control:

1. Ask your pharmacist: ‘Is this medication free from gelatin, magnesium stearate, lanolin, glycerin, and stearic acid?’ Be specific. Don’t just say ‘vegan.’
2. Use Pill Clarity (formerly VeganMed). It’s a free online tool that lists verified animal-free medications. It’s updated monthly by pharmacists.
3. Check the manufacturer’s website. Some list ingredients in detail. If they don’t, call their customer service.
4. For supplements, look for ‘vegan certified’ labels from trusted groups like The Vegan Society or PETA.
5. Ask your doctor: ‘Is there a synthetic or plant-based version of this drug?’ Don’t assume they know. Many don’t.

What to Do When There’s No Alternative

Sometimes, there’s no vegan option. Heparin. Armour Thyroid. Propofol. These aren’t choices-they’re necessities.

If you’re faced with a medication that conflicts with your ethics, here’s what to do:

- Talk to your doctor. Ask if there’s a different treatment path. For example, if you’re on Armour Thyroid, can you switch to levothyroxine? Some people do.

- If no alternative exists, consider whether the benefit outweighs the ethical cost. Many vegans choose to take these drugs because health comes first. That’s not hypocrisy-it’s realism.

- Support advocacy efforts. The Transparent Label Campaign and Pill Clarity are pushing for mandatory ingredient disclosure. Sign petitions. Write to your MP. Demand change.

Why This Isn’t Just About Diet

This isn’t a lifestyle quirk. It’s a matter of informed consent. People have the right to know what’s in their medicine. If you wouldn’t eat it, why should you swallow it?

The vegan population in the U.S. is around 3%-but that’s over 10 million people. In the UK, it’s growing fast. Yet the pharmaceutical industry still treats vegan needs as an afterthought.

The same companies that sell plant-based protein powders and vegan cheese won’t change their pill coatings. Why? Because they can get away with it. Labels don’t require it. Pharmacists aren’t trained to ask. Patients don’t know to question it.

It’s time that changes.

What You Can Do Today

- Check your current supplements. Look up the brand on Pill Clarity. If it’s not listed, call the manufacturer.

- Switch your Vitamin D3 to algae-based. It’s cheaper than you think. A month’s supply costs less than a coffee run.

- Bring a printed list of animal ingredients to your next doctor’s visit. Include: gelatin, magnesium stearate, lanolin, glycerin, stearic acid, collagen, glucosamine, squalane.

- Ask your pharmacy to stock vegan capsules. If enough people ask, they’ll start ordering them.

- Talk to friends. Most vegans don’t know this is an issue until they’re told. Share what you’ve learned.

Frequently Asked Questions