Is Paxlovid Gluten-Free?

@Jefferson Adamsthanks for a great and informative article. As someone who has worked in Pharma Quality and Compliance all my life, I can attest to the fact that there is likely to be no gluten in most drug products such as tablets and capsules. While active ingredients should never contain gluten, the culprit could well be the excipients (inactive ingredients) used in a formulation. However, I know for a fact that most pharma manufacturers require the suppliers of excipients to provide an allergen declaration. In almost all instances, I have come across a statement that the material (excipient) supplied is "free from gluten" or "gluten containing ingredients". With that said, it would be more reassuring for a patient to see the "Gluten Free" label on the finished product package. I wish the FDA would mandate that.

So, while this was great info, my experience with taking paxlovid would indicate that there is something in the medicine that flares up celiac symptoms.  

One of the main side effects of taking paxlovid is diarrhea.  Anyone with celiac is going to give a long pause on this. We all know the difference between sickness diarrhea and what I refer to as celiac poop (is there a proper name for this? I just make it up as I go along). 

I take the first dose. 2 hrs later, I'm living on the toilet. I take the second dose. Same results. By the third dose, I am praying for death. 

The last thing I want to deal with on top of trying to get over having covid is having to deal with my celiac being out of control. The pharmacist recommended NOT taking any other medication while taking paxlovid so I couldn't even take an antidiareheal to stop or slow down the madness. 

This is a current result of my experience with paxlovid. I took my last dose this morning so I am still suffering the affects of all this.

1 hour ago, Plola said:

celiac poop

I believe it is poor fat digestion from not absorbing choline or simply not eating enough. Gall bladder needs choline to make bile.  Most of the western countries have low choline intake (liver, eggs, beef) from misguided attempt to control cholesterol in the '70s and the Paxlovid somehow compounds it?

By the way, do you know your vitamin D blood plasma?

Vitamin D and the Immune System  There have been multiple cross-sectional studies associating lower levels of vitamin D with increased infection. 

2 hours ago, Plola said:

So, while this was great info, my experience with taking paxlovid would indicate that there is something in the medicine that flares up celiac symptoms.  

One of the main side effects of taking paxlovid is diarrhea.  Anyone with celiac is going to give a long pause on this. We all know the difference between sickness diarrhea and what I refer to as celiac poop (is there a proper name for this? I just make it up as I go along). 

I take the first dose. 2 hrs later, I'm living on the toilet. I take the second dose. Same results. By the third dose, I am praying for death. 

The last thing I want to deal with on top of trying to get over having covid is having to deal with my celiac being out of control. The pharmacist recommended NOT taking any other medication while taking paxlovid so I couldn't even take an antidiareheal to stop or slow down the madness. 

This is a current result of my experience with paxlovid. I took my last dose this morning so I am still suffering the affects of all this.

Diarrhea is a listed side-effect of the medication, so even those without celiac disease may experience it.

3 minutes ago, Scott Adams said:

Diarrhea is a listed side-effect of the medication, so even those without celiac disease may experience it.

Agreed and I noted that originally.  The point I was attempting to make was that what I experienced would not be considered "normal" diarrhea but definitely a "celiac-type" diarrhea. There is a definite difference between the two. 

If I was experiencing just normal diarrhea, we would not be having this conversation. If there is something in the medicine makes celiac symptoms flare up then we need to know so we can not take it and seek alternatives. 

Had my gallbladder removed years ago but i haven't been able to eat much for the past 5 days. 

Don't know what my vit d levels are but they historically have been low. Definitely need to get that checked. Thanks 😊 

I am a celiac dx'd 20 years ago. I took paxlovid last summer and had no issues. I realize that there is a great range of sensitivities in the celiac community to gluten and I am not particularly sensitive, insofar as immediate symptoms are concerned.

I question whether or not a person can distinguish gluten-induced diarrhea or celiac-related diarrhea from other causes of diarrhea. There is a sense in which diarrhea is diarrhea. And I also acknowledge that you, Plola, are not saying that gluten in the paxlovid is necessarily the culprit.

@Plola,

You're not alone!  I understand!  It's a dumping, mass evacuation type diarrhea. 

Propylene Glycol is an ingredient, generally recognized as safe, but diarrhea is one of the side effects. 

Propylene Glycol causes water from body fluids to influx into the intestines and colon which results in that mass evacuation.

Propylene Glycol has been used as a colon cleanser in preparation for colonoscopy.  Definitely mass evacuation there.

I bought a calcium supplement with propylene glycol and the same mass evacuation happened. 

I hope you feel better! Try some slow cooked tender meat and veggies cooked in the crock pot or the oven.  Eat small amounts every two hours or so.  It does help keeping something in the stomach.