Gluten-Free Prescription Medications and Dietary Supplements

The pharmaceutical industry makes a profit better than the food industry.  So why is there any excuse for not knowing and testing whether the 8 main allergens are in the medications that we are PAYING FOR? Some years ago I had to get anti-malaria meds before a medical trip to West Africa.  Several email conversations with GlaxoSmithKlein not helpful.  Finally filled the prescription, took one Malarone at home.  Seriously not gluten-free.   Luckily doxycycline works, found from celiac site that it was OK.  What happened the gluten in medication bill reintroduced in April 2021? 

On 12/6/2021 at 2:47 PM, Helen Vajk said:

The pharmaceutical industry makes a profit better than the food industry.  So why is there any excuse for not knowing and testing whether the 8 main allergens are in the medications that we are PAYING FOR? Some years ago I had to get anti-malaria meds before a medical trip to West Africa.  Several email conversations with GlaxoSmithKlein not helpful.  Finally filled the prescription, took one Malarone at home.  Seriously not gluten-free.   Luckily doxycycline works, found from celiac site that it was OK.  What happened the gluten in medication bill reintroduced in April 2021? 

It makes absolutely no sense that FDA regulated prescription medications do not disclose allergens. Feels like class action lawsuit.

On 12/6/2021 at 5:47 PM, Helen Vajk said:

The pharmaceutical industry makes a profit better than the food industry.  So why is there any excuse for not knowing and testing whether the 8 main allergens are in the medications that we are PAYING FOR? Some years ago I had to get anti-malaria meds before a medical trip to West Africa.  Several email conversations with GlaxoSmithKlein not helpful.  Finally filled the prescription, took one Malarone at home.  Seriously not gluten-free.   Luckily doxycycline works, found from celiac site that it was OK.  What happened the gluten in medication bill reintroduced in April 2021? 

I couldn’t agree more with the frustration shared here.  I have celiac and genetically high cholesterol and am on crestor, which cannot be confirmed to be gluten-free.  The generic forms are not gluten-free with the exception of one that I cannot be guaranteed to be dispensed from one particular manufacturer (Mylan).  My very well-known insurance company will not cover my Crestor and I am paying over $400 for one month supply of crestor.  I’ve appealed numerous times to no avail.  Even though the insurance company paperwork says to let them know if I am allergic to any incredients in the medication and to contact them for help.  Gluten-free labeling, and overall acceptance as gluten as an allergen or instigator of auto-immune disease is very needed within the pharmaceutical industry.

And the problem with generics is that the dispensing pharmacy will often switch manufacturers to get better prices. That and the fact that much of our medication is manufactured in China which makes it difficult to monitor compliance with allergen concerns.

A couple of years ago, a study was done on off-brand supplements, and it was found that many of them use things like peanuts as a filler, and this is not identified on the label.

We have a long way to go before allergens are properly identified in our foods, or medications.

The worst part is that Celiac patients generally have other conditions and/or diseases, for which they require medications that can contain gluten. Our governments continue to let us down, and sometimes, I wonder if it's intentional.

On 12/17/2021 at 5:31 PM, Rebmes said:

A couple of years ago, a study was done on off-brand supplements, and it was found that many of them use things like peanuts as a filler, and this is not identified on the label.

We have a long way to go before allergens are properly identified in our foods, or medications.

The worst part is that Celiac patients generally have other conditions and/or diseases, for which they require medications that can contain gluten. Our governments continue to let us down, and sometimes, I wonder if it's intentional.

 

 

Drug companies bought and owned the politicians. They basically write the legislation. Nothing going to change until we stop treating big Pharma like gods. Drug companies will only do what is right if they are forced to