I'm not really sure what to do, as it's kinda crucial that I take it, and it will make me very ill, if I stop taking it. Like I know medications aren't vegan friendly in general because of the animal testing, but as I said its kind of crucial that I take it. The brand name is abilify. If anyone knows any medication similar that has vegan friednly ingredients please let me know so I can suggest it to my doctor.
As Abilify is used for a variey of reasons it is best to ask your doctor for an alternative. People with lactose intolerance could have a reaction to Abilify, so there should be another drug which can help you.
Your pharmacist would have a better idea of any alternatives to the medication you're taking, the ingredients of said medication and how it is made. But as you pointed out, even if the medication doesn't contain animal products of any kind, it has still most likely been tested on animals. So this really comes down to a question of ethics. In my view, if you need a medication to improve your quality of life, health, or prevent death then you should take it. My reason is based on my belief that all living creatures are equal; so if you refuse medication due to the potential suffering of another living creature that causes you to suffer then you have not changed the net amount of 'suffering' as you are now suffering. Ultimately the choice is yours, and every vegan will think differently, and some may encourage you to look into "alternative medicine"... but I strongly advise you not to look into "alternative medicine" (naturopathy, homeopathy, etc.) as there is no scientific evidence to support it.
http://www.stevecarper.com/li/Lactose_in_Medications.htm
"There are alternatives to every pill. Every type of medication has at least one lactose-free variety or manufacturer. If you're concerned, all doctors and pharmacists have the current edition of the Physicians Desk Reference (PDR) or equivalent volumes, listing all inactive ingredients in virtually all prescription medications."
"Those who object to animal-derived products. The millions who are vegans or Orthodox Jews or others with religious or ethical aversions may need to avoid any pills containing lactose, even if they do not get specific lactose intolerance symptoms."
