Medication Considerations for Vegans and Vegetarians: Hidden Animal Ingredients

Most people assume their medications are safe, effective, and free from ethical conflicts. But if you’re vegan or vegetarian, that assumption can be dangerously wrong. Hidden animal ingredients are hiding in plain sight-inside capsules, tablets, and even your daily vitamin. And unless you know what to look for, you might be taking something that directly contradicts your values.

What’s Really in Your Pills?

It’s not just supplements. It’s prescription drugs, over-the-counter painkillers, and even antibiotics. The most common animal-derived ingredient you’ll find is gelatin. About 90% of capsules-both hard and soft-are made from gelatin, which comes from boiling down the bones, skin, and connective tissues of pigs, cows, and chickens. That means if you’re swallowing a pill in a soft gel, you’re likely consuming animal parts.

Then there’s magnesium stearate, a common flow agent used to keep pills from sticking to machinery during production. In about 65% of cases, it’s sourced from animal fat. You won’t find it listed as “pig fat” on the label-it’s just “magnesium stearate.” Same goes for stearic acid (E570), another lubricant that often comes from cow, sheep, or pig fat.

Vitamin D3 is another big one. Most brands use lanolin, a waxy substance pulled from sheep’s wool. It’s processed into vitamin D3, then added to everything from multivitamins to calcium supplements. The plant-based alternative? Algae-derived D3. It’s just as effective, and it’s clearly labeled as vegan. But unless you’re checking the fine print, you’ll probably end up with the sheep-derived version.

Medications with Animal Tissue as the Active Ingredient

Some drugs don’t just contain animal byproducts as fillers-they’re made from animal tissue itself. These are harder to replace.

- Armour Thyroid: Made from dried pig thyroid glands. It’s used to treat hypothyroidism. The synthetic alternative, levothyroxine, is vegan-but Armour Thyroid is still widely prescribed because some patients feel better on it.

- Premarin: A hormone replacement therapy made from the urine of pregnant mares. The ethical concerns here are obvious. Synthetic estrogen alternatives exist, but they’re not identical in effect.

- Heparin: An anticoagulant derived from pig intestines. It’s used during surgeries and for blood clots. No true vegan substitute exists yet.

- Creon and Viokace: Pancreatic enzyme replacements made from pig pancreas. Essential for people with cystic fibrosis or pancreatitis. Again, no vegan version is available.

- Vascepa: A fish-oil-based drug for high triglycerides. The active ingredient, icosapent ethyl, comes from anchovies and sardines.

- Propofol: A common IV anesthetic. It contains egg phospholipids. If you have an egg allergy-or you’re vegan-this matters.

These aren’t “fillers.” These are the actual medicines. And for people who rely on them, switching isn’t always an option.

What Can You Actually Do?

You have more power than you think. Here’s how to take control:

• Ask your pharmacist: Don’t just say “I’m vegan.” Say: “I need this medication without gelatin, magnesium stearate, lanolin, glycerin from animal sources, or any animal-derived ingredients.” Be specific. Pharmacists aren’t trained to know this stuff unless you ask.
• Check the capsule type: If it’s a soft gel, assume it’s gelatin. Look for “vegetarian capsule” or “HPMC capsule” on the label. That’s plant-based cellulose.
• Look for vegan certifications: Some brands now carry a “Vegan Society” or “PETA-approved” logo. But don’t rely on that alone-check the ingredients list too.
• Use Pill Clarity: Formerly known as VeganMed, this platform now verifies and lists medications that are confirmed animal-free. Their database is updated regularly and includes both prescription and OTC drugs.
• Ask your doctor for alternatives: If you’re on Armour Thyroid and want to switch, ask about levothyroxine. If you’re on Premarin, ask about estradiol or phytoestrogen-based therapies. It’s not always easy, but it’s worth the conversation.

What’s Available? What’s Not?

Here’s a quick breakdown of what’s replaceable-and what isn’t:

Common Animal-Derived Ingredients and Vegan Alternatives

Ingredient	Common Use	Animal Source	Vegan Alternative?
Gelatin	Capsules, gummies	Pig, cow, chicken bones/skin	Yes - cellulose (HPMC) capsules
Magnesium stearate	Tablet binder	Animal fat (often pork)	Yes - plant-based versions exist
Lanolin	Vitamin D3	Sheep wool	Yes - algae-derived D3
Stearic acid (E570)	Tablet coating	Cow, sheep, pig fat	Yes - synthetic or plant-based
Glycerin	Liquid meds, suppositories	Animal fat or plant oil	Yes - check source
Conjugated estrogens (Premarin)	Hormone therapy	Pregnant mare urine	Partially - synthetic estrogens available
Armour Thyroid	Thyroid replacement	Pig thyroid gland	No direct vegan equivalent
Heparin	Blood thinner	Pig intestines	No
Creon	Pancreatic enzymes	Pig pancreas	No

Why Is This So Hard to Find Out?

Food labels have to list ingredients. Medications don’t. The FDA doesn’t require manufacturers to disclose whether an ingredient is animal-derived unless it’s an allergen. So “magnesium stearate” could be from a cow or a coconut. You’ll never know unless you dig.

Pharmaceutical companies don’t advertise this because it’s not profitable to highlight. Most people don’t ask. And when they do, pharmacists often don’t have the data on hand. That’s why platforms like Pill Clarity exist-to fill the gap.

What About Supplements?

Supplements are the worst offenders. A 2022 report from the Transparent Label Campaign found that 50% of supplements on the U.S. market contain hidden animal ingredients. Many are labeled “natural” or “organic,” which gives people false confidence.

Vitamin D3? Almost always lanolin-based. Omega-3s? Usually fish oil. Collagen peptides? Made from cow or fish skin. Glucosamine? Typically from shellfish.

But here’s the good news: vegan versions are everywhere now. Algae-based omega-3s, plant-derived collagen boosters, mushroom-based D3. You just have to look for them.

When You Can’t Avoid Animal Ingredients

Sometimes, there’s no choice. If you need heparin to prevent a blood clot, or Creon to digest food after pancreatic surgery, you may have to accept the animal-derived version.

That doesn’t mean you give up your values. It means you make an informed decision. Talk to your doctor. Ask if there are any new developments. Some patients choose to use these medications while advocating for change-supporting research into synthetic alternatives.

And remember: your health comes first. Ethical choices matter, but not at the cost of your life.

Where to Find Reliable Information

- Pill Clarity (pillclarity.com): Verified list of animal-free medications and supplements.

- PETA’s Animal-Derived Ingredients List: Free downloadable guide to common hidden ingredients.

- Dr. Vegan: Offers plant-based D3 and detailed breakdowns of supplements.

- The Viva Organization: Has an A-Z guide to hidden animal ingredients in medicine.

Keep a printed copy of these lists in your wallet. Bring it to your next pharmacy visit.

Final Thought: You’re Not Alone

More than 3% of U.S. adults identify as vegan-and that number is growing. Yet the pharmaceutical industry still operates like this is a niche concern. It’s not. Thousands of people contact Pill Clarity every month asking for help. You’re not being extreme. You’re being informed.

You deserve to take medication that aligns with your values. And with the right questions, the right resources, and the right conversations, you can.