Are There Vegan Medications?
- Danielle Pender
- Aug 30, 2020
- 3 min read
Updated: Feb 8
Even a cursory glance at vegan forums on social media you'll hear the same questions time and again. "Is this medicine vegan?" "Do vegan medications exist?" "Do I have to take meds with animal-derived ingredients?" It is a frustrating, difficult conundrum to navigate. Vegans are often faced with the dilemma of taking their potentially life-saving medications or sticking to their morals and ethics. According to a survey conducted by the VeganMed team, "20.7% of the responders elected to not take an important cholesterol-lowering drug, such as Lipitor (atorvastatin) simply because it had animal-derived ingredients. In another survey of 500 participants, 43.2% of them elected to not take a product with animal ingredients without alternates available."
That brings us back to our initial question: What drugs are vegan? The definition of veganism from the Vegan Society states, "Veganism is a way of living which seeks to exclude, as far as possible and practicable, all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing and any other purpose." Medications are typically tested on animals to meet safety requirements for drug approval. As such, most medications cannot be considered vegan, but they can be animal-free.
Many drugs contain animal-derived ingredients and need better labeling. In a study of 100 patients, 84% reported not knowing that several medications contained ingredients derived from animal sources. Alternatives usually exist for these medications, whether it be a different product or through compounding. However, these alternatives need to be widely known, labeled, and distributed.
As we discussed in "Vegan Certified or Vegan Verified?", there are two ways that a consumer can confirm if a medicine contains animal-derived ingredients: company verification or third-party certification. Company verification requires an inherent trust when a company claims their products do not contain animal-derived ingredients. Certified products are emblazoned with an emblem declaring that a non-biased, third-party double-checked the products and they do not contain animal ingredients. Now each certification is a bit different. Some certifications double-check ingredient lists while others use laboratory testing. It's a good idea to research and understand the differences in the various certifications.
“Certified Animal-Free” is a certification program offered by VeganMed, Inc. Currently, “Certified Animal-Free” is intended to certify medications, supplements, and cosmetics that are free of any ingredients of animal origin. This certification sets the highest quality standard in the industry as it 1) incorporates lab testing to detect animal-derived ingredients and 2) provides independent verification of the individual ingredients in a product. The certification program addresses the needs of various social and religious cultures such as veganism, vegetarianism, Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, as well as those that embrace an animal cruelty-free world.
VeganMed envisions a future with transparent labeling and easily available animal-free alternatives to medication. Animal-free medication should not be an outlier, but mainstream. We hope that through our educational efforts, outreach to manufacturers, and animal-free certification, we can make steps towards our vision of a world where medications and supplements are completely free from animal-derived ingredients.
Disclaimer: The product and/or information provided on VeganMed is of a general nature and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. We do not lab test the products to confirm that they are free from animal ingredients, and it is possible that the formulation and ingredients could have changed. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or product. The information provided in this post is accurate and up to date as of the date it was written. However, please note that circumstances and facts may change over time, and new information may become available that could alter the accuracy or relevance of the content. We encourage readers to verify and cross-reference any information provided here with trusted sources or consult relevant professionals for the most current and accurate updates.
Looking for certified and verified animal-free products?
Thank you for your awareness and concern for animal-derived ingredients!
As a reminder, please comment on our FDA Citizen Petition, requesting clear labeling of animal-derived ingredients in medications. Together, we can make a difference.
If you have any further questions about ingredients in your medicines and supplements, feel free to reach out to the VeganMed team!