Help
I called Phizer Pharmaceuticals to check on the generic brand of Xanax (Alprazolam). The person told me that neither drug is gluten-free. I was shocked because it is listed on glutenfreedrugs.com as gluten-free. Also, I've been taking this drug on occasion.
Any comments?
Thanks
Kathy
Xanax Not gluten-free
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#2
ravenwoodglass 
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Posted 20 February 2007 - 12:08 PM
bklyn, on Feb 20 2007, 11:30 AM, said:
I called Phizer Pharmaceuticals to check on the generic brand of Xanax (Alprazolam). The person told me that neither drug is gluten-free. I was shocked because it is listed on glutenfreedrugs.com as gluten-free. Also, I've been taking this drug on occasion.
Any comments?
Thanks
Kathy
Any comments?
Thanks
Kathy
They may have changed the binders in the drug. They can do this any time they want to. Gluten is pretty common in meds, especially generics. Kind of makes it obvious why almost all drugs say they may cause stomach upset. IMHO no gluten containing components should be in any medication or product designed for the use in any patients.
Courage does not always roar, sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying
"I will try again tommorrow" (Mary Anne Radmacher)
celiac 49 years - Misdiagnosed for 45
Blood tested and repeatedly negative
Diagnosed by Allergist with elimination diet and diagnosis confirmed by GI in 2002
Misdiagnoses for 15 years were IBS-D, ataxia, migraines, anxiety, depression, fibromyalgia, parathesias, arthritis, livedo reticularis, hairloss, premature menopause, osteoporosis, kidney damage, diverticulosis, prediabetes and ulcers, dermatitis herpeformis
All bold resoved or went into remission with proper diagnosis of Celiac November 2002
Some residual nerve damage remains as of 2006- this has continued to resolve after eliminating soy in 2007
Mother died of celiac related cancer at 56
Twin brother died as a result of autoimmune liver destruction at age 15
Children 2 with Ulcers, GERD, Depression, , 1 with DH, 1 with severe growth stunting (male adult 5 feet)both finally diagnosed Celiac through blood testing and 1 with endo 6 months after Mom
Positive to Soy and Casien also Aug 2007
Gluten Sensitivity Gene Test Aug 2007
HLA-DQB1 Molecular analysis, Allele 1 0303
HLA-DQB1 Molecular analysis, Allele 2 0303
Serologic equivalent: HLA-DQ 3,3 (Subtype 9,9)
"I will try again tommorrow" (Mary Anne Radmacher)
celiac 49 years - Misdiagnosed for 45
Blood tested and repeatedly negative
Diagnosed by Allergist with elimination diet and diagnosis confirmed by GI in 2002
Misdiagnoses for 15 years were IBS-D, ataxia, migraines, anxiety, depression, fibromyalgia, parathesias, arthritis, livedo reticularis, hairloss, premature menopause, osteoporosis, kidney damage, diverticulosis, prediabetes and ulcers, dermatitis herpeformis
All bold resoved or went into remission with proper diagnosis of Celiac November 2002
Some residual nerve damage remains as of 2006- this has continued to resolve after eliminating soy in 2007
Mother died of celiac related cancer at 56
Twin brother died as a result of autoimmune liver destruction at age 15
Children 2 with Ulcers, GERD, Depression, , 1 with DH, 1 with severe growth stunting (male adult 5 feet)both finally diagnosed Celiac through blood testing and 1 with endo 6 months after Mom
Positive to Soy and Casien also Aug 2007
Gluten Sensitivity Gene Test Aug 2007
HLA-DQB1 Molecular analysis, Allele 1 0303
HLA-DQB1 Molecular analysis, Allele 2 0303
Serologic equivalent: HLA-DQ 3,3 (Subtype 9,9)
#3 Guest_cassidy_*
Posted 20 February 2007 - 12:33 PM
I am very careful about meds and I check them before I take anything. I took generic xanax up until last June and it was definitely gluten-free. I'm very sensitive and I would have had a reaction if it wasn't. I haven't taken it since then, so maybe things changed, but I know it used to be gluten-free.
#4
lovegrov
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Posted 20 February 2007 - 07:29 PM
First, did Pfizer say the medication definitely had gluten, or did they say they wouldn't guarantee it? There's a HUGE difference. Every Xanax product I've ever seen or checked has been gluten-free.
Second, I disagree that gluten is common in medications. In five years I've almost NEVER found a medication with gluten. It is in fact fairly common for a company to issue a legal CYA, but that's completely different from a medication definitely containing gluten. Medications cause stomach upset in a huge number of people who do not have cleiac or gluten sensitivity.
If I'm wrong about this, I'd be interested in seeing a list of medications that DEFINITELY have gluten. I can't name even one prescription one right now.
richard
Second, I disagree that gluten is common in medications. In five years I've almost NEVER found a medication with gluten. It is in fact fairly common for a company to issue a legal CYA, but that's completely different from a medication definitely containing gluten. Medications cause stomach upset in a huge number of people who do not have cleiac or gluten sensitivity.
If I'm wrong about this, I'd be interested in seeing a list of medications that DEFINITELY have gluten. I can't name even one prescription one right now.
richard
Celiac.com - Celiac Disease Board Moderator
#5
bklyn
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Posted 20 February 2007 - 08:26 PM
lovegrov, on Feb 20 2007, 07:29 PM, said:
First, did Pfizer say the medication definitely had gluten, or did they say they wouldn't guarantee it? There's a HUGE difference. Every Xanax product I've ever seen or checked has been gluten-free.
Second, I disagree that gluten is common in medications. In five years I've almost NEVER found a medication with gluten. It is in fact fairly common for a company to issue a legal CYA, but that's completely different from a medication definitely containing gluten. Medications cause stomach upset in a huge number of people who do not have cleiac or gluten sensitivity.
If I'm wrong about this, I'd be interested in seeing a list of medications that DEFINITELY have gluten. I can't name even one prescription one right now.
richard
Second, I disagree that gluten is common in medications. In five years I've almost NEVER found a medication with gluten. It is in fact fairly common for a company to issue a legal CYA, but that's completely different from a medication definitely containing gluten. Medications cause stomach upset in a huge number of people who do not have cleiac or gluten sensitivity.
If I'm wrong about this, I'd be interested in seeing a list of medications that DEFINITELY have gluten. I can't name even one prescription one right now.
richard
Kathy C.
Ft.Lauderdale, Fl.
Ft.Lauderdale, Fl.
#6
bklyn
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Posted 20 February 2007 - 08:29 PM
Lovegrov,
The person I spoke to said "Both the generic and original forms of Xanax were not gluten free". I don't know what to do since they are listed as gluten free on the lists I checked.
Should I continue to take it?
Thanks
Kathy
The person I spoke to said "Both the generic and original forms of Xanax were not gluten free". I don't know what to do since they are listed as gluten free on the lists I checked.
Should I continue to take it?
Thanks
Kathy
Kathy C.
Ft.Lauderdale, Fl.
Ft.Lauderdale, Fl.
#8 Guest_cassidy_*
Posted 21 February 2007 - 01:59 AM
I thought of something else. Most of the time there is more than one company that manufactures the generic of a drug. I'm a drug rep and one of my products recently went generic. There are now 8 companies making the generic of that drug. Xanax is fairly common and has been around for a long time, so there may be several companies that make the generic. You may have to try another drug store chain because Walgreens may buy from a certain company and Walmart may buy from another company, so if the Pfizer one isn't gluten-free, that doesn't mean that all of them are not.
The easiest thing to do may be to go to a pharmacy and ask to see the stock bottle or it the pharmacist will print out the sheet that comes with the prescription. It has all the fillers on there and you can pick out any words that look like gluten (or bring a list of the common ones used in prescriptions).
You may also want to call Pfizer again and ask the question to someone else. Sometimes I call a place several times and get several different answers, so you could see if anyone else gives you the same answer.
Good luck! Xanax really helped with the anxiety I get when I'm glutened so I hope there is still an gluten-free version out there because I may need it in the future.
The easiest thing to do may be to go to a pharmacy and ask to see the stock bottle or it the pharmacist will print out the sheet that comes with the prescription. It has all the fillers on there and you can pick out any words that look like gluten (or bring a list of the common ones used in prescriptions).
You may also want to call Pfizer again and ask the question to someone else. Sometimes I call a place several times and get several different answers, so you could see if anyone else gives you the same answer.
Good luck! Xanax really helped with the anxiety I get when I'm glutened so I hope there is still an gluten-free version out there because I may need it in the future.
#9
ravenwoodglass
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Posted 21 February 2007 - 03:06 AM
lovegrov, on Feb 20 2007, 07:29 PM, said:
First, did Pfizer say the medication definitely had gluten, or did they say they wouldn't guarantee it? There's a HUGE difference. Every Xanax product I've ever seen or checked has been gluten-free.
Second, I disagree that gluten is common in medications. In five years I've almost NEVER found a medication with gluten. It is in fact fairly common for a company to issue a legal CYA, but that's completely different from a medication definitely containing gluten. Medications cause stomach upset in a huge number of people who do not have cleiac or gluten sensitivity.
If I'm wrong about this, I'd be interested in seeing a list of medications that DEFINITELY have gluten. I can't name even one prescription one right now.
richard
Second, I disagree that gluten is common in medications. In five years I've almost NEVER found a medication with gluten. It is in fact fairly common for a company to issue a legal CYA, but that's completely different from a medication definitely containing gluten. Medications cause stomach upset in a huge number of people who do not have cleiac or gluten sensitivity.
If I'm wrong about this, I'd be interested in seeing a list of medications that DEFINITELY have gluten. I can't name even one prescription one right now.
richard
I have had more than one script that my pharmacist has had to call my doctor and change because it wasn't safe. The most recent was Triazolan, my dentist was going to use it for sedation, there is no gluten-free form of this so Dr. substituted with name brand Valium, the generic form of the valium was again not safe. I have also had experience before diagnosis with a generic seizure drug (valporic acid) that caused severe symptoms when the name brand didn't because of the binders. This sort of misinformation can leave people suffering with side effects they don't need to suffer with because they 'assume' the drug has to be safe when another form would be. CYA statements would not be needed if there was no chance that items were not gluten-free, the companies would just say yes they are.
Courage does not always roar, sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying
"I will try again tommorrow" (Mary Anne Radmacher)
celiac 49 years - Misdiagnosed for 45
Blood tested and repeatedly negative
Diagnosed by Allergist with elimination diet and diagnosis confirmed by GI in 2002
Misdiagnoses for 15 years were IBS-D, ataxia, migraines, anxiety, depression, fibromyalgia, parathesias, arthritis, livedo reticularis, hairloss, premature menopause, osteoporosis, kidney damage, diverticulosis, prediabetes and ulcers, dermatitis herpeformis
All bold resoved or went into remission with proper diagnosis of Celiac November 2002
Some residual nerve damage remains as of 2006- this has continued to resolve after eliminating soy in 2007
Mother died of celiac related cancer at 56
Twin brother died as a result of autoimmune liver destruction at age 15
Children 2 with Ulcers, GERD, Depression, , 1 with DH, 1 with severe growth stunting (male adult 5 feet)both finally diagnosed Celiac through blood testing and 1 with endo 6 months after Mom
Positive to Soy and Casien also Aug 2007
Gluten Sensitivity Gene Test Aug 2007
HLA-DQB1 Molecular analysis, Allele 1 0303
HLA-DQB1 Molecular analysis, Allele 2 0303
Serologic equivalent: HLA-DQ 3,3 (Subtype 9,9)
"I will try again tommorrow" (Mary Anne Radmacher)
celiac 49 years - Misdiagnosed for 45
Blood tested and repeatedly negative
Diagnosed by Allergist with elimination diet and diagnosis confirmed by GI in 2002
Misdiagnoses for 15 years were IBS-D, ataxia, migraines, anxiety, depression, fibromyalgia, parathesias, arthritis, livedo reticularis, hairloss, premature menopause, osteoporosis, kidney damage, diverticulosis, prediabetes and ulcers, dermatitis herpeformis
All bold resoved or went into remission with proper diagnosis of Celiac November 2002
Some residual nerve damage remains as of 2006- this has continued to resolve after eliminating soy in 2007
Mother died of celiac related cancer at 56
Twin brother died as a result of autoimmune liver destruction at age 15
Children 2 with Ulcers, GERD, Depression, , 1 with DH, 1 with severe growth stunting (male adult 5 feet)both finally diagnosed Celiac through blood testing and 1 with endo 6 months after Mom
Positive to Soy and Casien also Aug 2007
Gluten Sensitivity Gene Test Aug 2007
HLA-DQB1 Molecular analysis, Allele 1 0303
HLA-DQB1 Molecular analysis, Allele 2 0303
Serologic equivalent: HLA-DQ 3,3 (Subtype 9,9)
#10
lovegrov
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Posted 21 February 2007 - 07:09 AM
"CYA statements would not be needed if there was no chance that items were not gluten-free, the companies would just say yes they are."
In a perfect world you'd be right, but this isn't a perfect world. Pharmaceutical companies get sued so much that many won't guarantee anybody anything at all. And the stark reality is that almost NO company of any kind can really absolutely 100 percent guarantee there's no chance at all of accidental contamination.
Just my opinion, but if a drug company tells me that a medication is formulated not to contain gluten, but that they won't guarantee that a vendor won't mess up and mistakenly allow gluten (this what almost all the CYAs say), I'll take the medication without hesitation. IMO that medication is MUCH, MUCH less likely to be contaminated than most commercially prepared foods and virtually any restaurant food.
In more than 5 years I've run into very, very few prescription drugs that were formulated to actually have gluten. In one case it was actually CORN gluten and in another the company quickly reformulated to remove the gluten. I have, however, run into many CYAs. And if I've ever been glutened by one of those CYA medications, I'm unaware of it.
richard
In a perfect world you'd be right, but this isn't a perfect world. Pharmaceutical companies get sued so much that many won't guarantee anybody anything at all. And the stark reality is that almost NO company of any kind can really absolutely 100 percent guarantee there's no chance at all of accidental contamination.
Just my opinion, but if a drug company tells me that a medication is formulated not to contain gluten, but that they won't guarantee that a vendor won't mess up and mistakenly allow gluten (this what almost all the CYAs say), I'll take the medication without hesitation. IMO that medication is MUCH, MUCH less likely to be contaminated than most commercially prepared foods and virtually any restaurant food.
In more than 5 years I've run into very, very few prescription drugs that were formulated to actually have gluten. In one case it was actually CORN gluten and in another the company quickly reformulated to remove the gluten. I have, however, run into many CYAs. And if I've ever been glutened by one of those CYA medications, I'm unaware of it.
richard
Celiac.com - Celiac Disease Board Moderator
#11
lovegrov
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Posted 21 February 2007 - 07:15 AM
bklyn, on Feb 20 2007, 08:29 PM, said:
Lovegrov,
The person I spoke to said "Both the generic and original forms of Xanax were not gluten free". I don't know what to do since they are listed as gluten free on the lists I checked.
Should I continue to take it?
Thanks
Kathy
The person I spoke to said "Both the generic and original forms of Xanax were not gluten free". I don't know what to do since they are listed as gluten free on the lists I checked.
Should I continue to take it?
Thanks
Kathy
If the company rep told you that both definitely have gluten, I would not take them. But I would also call back and double check. Note carefully exactly what the rep says. I'd be interested to know exactly where the gluten is. The binders in Xanax are cellulose and corn starch, both of which are gluten-free.
richard
Celiac.com - Celiac Disease Board Moderator
#13
ravenwoodglass
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Posted 22 February 2007 - 05:56 AM
ebrbetty, on Feb 22 2007, 04:53 AM, said:
I take it in small does everyday, this really upsets me, I need the Xanax for my anxiety, guess I have to take it anyway 
can't go wothout
can't go wothoutIs there any way you could switch to something that is gluten-free? If this med does have gluten it could be contributing to the anxiety. You could be creating a cycle where you are taking the med to relieve symptoms that are then being brought back by the reaction to the binders in the med itself. You may want to get the info that comes with it and call the company yourself to check to check the gluten statis and perhaps ask your pharmacist and doctor about alternatives.
Courage does not always roar, sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying
"I will try again tommorrow" (Mary Anne Radmacher)
celiac 49 years - Misdiagnosed for 45
Blood tested and repeatedly negative
Diagnosed by Allergist with elimination diet and diagnosis confirmed by GI in 2002
Misdiagnoses for 15 years were IBS-D, ataxia, migraines, anxiety, depression, fibromyalgia, parathesias, arthritis, livedo reticularis, hairloss, premature menopause, osteoporosis, kidney damage, diverticulosis, prediabetes and ulcers, dermatitis herpeformis
All bold resoved or went into remission with proper diagnosis of Celiac November 2002
Some residual nerve damage remains as of 2006- this has continued to resolve after eliminating soy in 2007
Mother died of celiac related cancer at 56
Twin brother died as a result of autoimmune liver destruction at age 15
Children 2 with Ulcers, GERD, Depression, , 1 with DH, 1 with severe growth stunting (male adult 5 feet)both finally diagnosed Celiac through blood testing and 1 with endo 6 months after Mom
Positive to Soy and Casien also Aug 2007
Gluten Sensitivity Gene Test Aug 2007
HLA-DQB1 Molecular analysis, Allele 1 0303
HLA-DQB1 Molecular analysis, Allele 2 0303
Serologic equivalent: HLA-DQ 3,3 (Subtype 9,9)
"I will try again tommorrow" (Mary Anne Radmacher)
celiac 49 years - Misdiagnosed for 45
Blood tested and repeatedly negative
Diagnosed by Allergist with elimination diet and diagnosis confirmed by GI in 2002
Misdiagnoses for 15 years were IBS-D, ataxia, migraines, anxiety, depression, fibromyalgia, parathesias, arthritis, livedo reticularis, hairloss, premature menopause, osteoporosis, kidney damage, diverticulosis, prediabetes and ulcers, dermatitis herpeformis
All bold resoved or went into remission with proper diagnosis of Celiac November 2002
Some residual nerve damage remains as of 2006- this has continued to resolve after eliminating soy in 2007
Mother died of celiac related cancer at 56
Twin brother died as a result of autoimmune liver destruction at age 15
Children 2 with Ulcers, GERD, Depression, , 1 with DH, 1 with severe growth stunting (male adult 5 feet)both finally diagnosed Celiac through blood testing and 1 with endo 6 months after Mom
Positive to Soy and Casien also Aug 2007
Gluten Sensitivity Gene Test Aug 2007
HLA-DQB1 Molecular analysis, Allele 1 0303
HLA-DQB1 Molecular analysis, Allele 2 0303
Serologic equivalent: HLA-DQ 3,3 (Subtype 9,9)
#14
ebrbetty
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Posted 22 February 2007 - 06:11 AM
hi, I just called them, it does have gluten in it. my Drs office has no idea which anti anxiety meds are gluten-free..does anyone know what I could take as a replacement?
~Betty
#15
lovegrov
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Posted 22 February 2007 - 06:45 AM
Zoloft is gluten-free. For something that works more quickly, Ativan.
richard
richard
Celiac.com - Celiac Disease Board Moderator
