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[phakephur]

I think it's likely that if this pill becomes available, most doctors (at least in the United States) will summarily prescribe the drug for their newly diagnosed celiac patients without discussing the gluten free diet as a viable option. After all, isn't it the birthright of every American to shove anything indiscriminately down his piehole and take a pill to counteract the symptoms that arise from eating toxic food? The prospect of going gluten free for life is overwhelming initially, so I think the option of taking a pill before meals will be seductive for a lot of people who are newly diagnosed.

I feel fortunate to have adjusted to a gluten-free diet before this pill hits the market. I'm skeptical that the drug regimen described in this article will actually promote health in the patient. But 2 years ago if that had been presented to me as an option for symptom suppression I probably would have jumped at it.

Also, I completely resent the fact that celiacs, even those who are feeling well by managing their health through diet, are almost invariably refered to in these news articles as "sufferers".

Sarah

[celiac3270]

I agree with Sarah 100%...and that's why I'm afraid of this pill in a sense--the gluten-free diet might become...near obsolete......

[KaitiUSA]

Yeah I agree with Sarah and celiac3270 there....I think it will just cause more problems and what they do best here is cover the symptoms(and cause more problems with side effects) not take away the root problem...

[MySuicidalTurtle]

The pill is only for gastrointestinal pain. I am so senesitve to gluten now that it gives me rashes, itchy eyes, and all that jazz. There are also people who suffer headaches and breathing reactions. The pill can only "fix" the stomach problems so what about the rest?

[debmidge]

Agree w/Sarah & celiac3270. Food manufacturers would then get lazy and not want to label the food properly as there's a "pill." What about people who could not afford this Pill & don't have prescription plan/insurance? What if the prescription plan/insurance won't pay for it? For example: Lactaid is OTC and not available as prescription; therefore, it's out of pocket expense. Nice that they make something to help ameloriate the symptoms (and re-action) but not realistic in terms of availability then.

[ianm]

A pill to reduce the problems caused by getting accidently nailed by gluten would be great. A pill just so I can eat crap is just plain stupid. I much prefer the lifestyle I am forced to live because of this disease. This disease took away so much from me but the lifestyle I am now forced to live has given me so much more. Doctors are so clueless about health and nutrition as it is that another pill is just going to make matters worse. We don't need this kind of"cure." This is just another way for drug and agribusiness companies to take more of our money to buy things we don't need in the first place.

Ianm

[Guest BellyTimber]

There is a disturbing trend to the publicity that is being aimed against the gluten-free lifestyle even by support orgnisations that ought to know better, I was complemented by the hospital dietitian for the variety in my diet (which I maintain if I can).

The gluten-free diet is not restrictive because we can discover foods that are relatively fibre, mineral and protein rich that hardly anyone else eats because they "get away" with the usual diet which is the truly restrictive one.

We support a more varied economy and ecology which it is all the rage for authorities to pay lip service to.

There are already gut remedies, any additional developments would probably be good. It would probably have a more marked effect on small children but they will still have to be periodically monitored for what effect gluten is having on them - as so many groups of people need really.

[Rikki Tikki]

The only real reservation