Jump to content
  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.




  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):



    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):


  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Eye Drops And Gut Reaction


flowerqueen

Recommended Posts

flowerqueen Community Regular

I've recently been prescribed caramellose sodium drops for dry eye syndrome due to my thyroid disease and have noticed my stomach hurting increasingly more each day, in the way it does when I've been contaminated with gluten. Has anyone else had this problem?

The leaflet included with the drops doesn't mention any reaction with the stomach but when I looked at the chemical compound on line, it mentioned it was non toxic, and hypoallergenic (unless there is a wheat intolerance) I contacted the pharmacy and they rang the drug company, and they said they have never had any reaction in this way recorded and more or less thought it must be something else. I stopped using the drops last night as a precaution and am still having symptoms (I've been taking them for 10 days). Any suggestions? Could I be barking up the wrong tree? I've checked everything I've eaten and have no other clues other than the eye drops.


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



kareng Grand Master

It really said " unless their is a wheat intolerance"? I can't imagine how an eye drop would have irritating things like wheat in it.

flowerqueen Community Regular

It really said " unless their is a wheat intolerance"? I can't imagine how an eye drop would have irritating things like wheat in it.

Yes it did.  If you think about it, it makes sense.  When you put eye drops in, they drain down through the nose, and things which drain through the nose end up in the stomach.  That's why some people of here are worried about inhaling flour, wheat etc.

Gemini Experienced

I've recently been prescribed caramellose sodium drops for dry eye syndrome due to my thyroid disease and have noticed my stomach hurting increasingly more each day, in the way it does when I've been contaminated with gluten. Has anyone else had this problem?

The leaflet included with the drops doesn't mention any reaction with the stomach but when I looked at the chemical compound on line, it mentioned it was non toxic, and hypoallergenic (unless there is a wheat intolerance) I contacted the pharmacy and they rang the drug company, and they said they have never had any reaction in this way recorded and more or less thought it must be something else. I stopped using the drops last night as a precaution and am still having symptoms (I've been taking them for 10 days). Any suggestions? Could I be barking up the wrong tree? I've checked everything I've eaten and have no other clues other than the eye drops.

 

 

Here are some links that will be useful to you:  Open Original Shared LinkOpen Original Shared Link

 

Open Original Shared Link

 

I am in no way a fan of Wiki but in researching this medicine, I found something interesting.  Look under "Uses" on the second link and right there, in the first paragraph, there it is.....a reference to wheat intolerance.  I am still trying to figure that one out myself. 

 

I have Sjogren's Syndrome and use Restasis eye drops for dry eye, which is the leading Rx here in the States for dry eye.  I see you are in the UK?

 

You may want to be tested for Sjogren's, if your eyes are that bad that you are being given drops to use for it.  It is a blood test.  The Restasis works very well.  I had never heard of the one you mentioned but I wouldn't if you are in a different country.  The Restasis is safe for Celiacs and yes, you are 100% correct in that you have to screen eyedrops cause they do go down the throat after application.

 

This is a first for eye drops for me....never heard of one that is not safe for Celiacs and I would love to know the reason why.  Back to research..... :)

flowerqueen Community Regular

Many thanks for replying.  I had already tried the sites you had spotted and drew a blank with the NHS one, mainly because it appears that the information is sourced from a third party and not NHS themselves. I had also seen the information you had spotted on wikipedia, like you, I am always sceptical about the information on there as you don't necessarily know who has provided the information.  Having said that, because it mentioned wheat sensitivity, it made me question whether I was right in my assumption. 

 

I will look into everything else you said, as it pays to be open minded in these things. Thanks :)

Here are some links that will be useful to you:  Open Original Shared LinkOpen Original Shared Link

 

Open Original Shared Link

 

I am in no way a fan of Wiki but in researching this medicine, I found something interesting.  Look under "Uses" on the second link and right there, in the first paragraph, there it is.....a reference to wheat intolerance.  I am still trying to figure that one out myself. 

 

I have Sjogren's Syndrome and use Restasis eye drops for dry eye, which is the leading Rx here in the States for dry eye.  I see you are in the UK?

 

You may want to be tested for Sjogren's, if your eyes are that bad that you are being given drops to use for it.  It is a blood test.  The Restasis works very well.  I had never heard of the one you mentioned but I wouldn't if you are in a different country.  The Restasis is safe for Celiacs and yes, you are 100% correct in that you have to screen eyedrops cause they do go down the throat after application.

 

This is a first for eye drops for me....never heard of one that is not safe for Celiacs and I would love to know the reason why.  Back to research..... :)

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):





    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):




  • Recent Activity

    1. - xxnonamexx replied to xxnonamexx's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      27

      My journey is it gluten or fiber?

    2. - CatS commented on Scott Adams's article in Winter 2026 Issue
      5

      Are Gluten-Free Processed Foods Making You Sick? (+Video)

    3. - Samanthaeileen1 replied to Samanthaeileen1's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      5

      Thoughts? Non-endoscopic Celiac diagnosis in two year old

    4. - Wheatwacked replied to Samanthaeileen1's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      5

      Thoughts? Non-endoscopic Celiac diagnosis in two year old

    5. - RMJ replied to Samanthaeileen1's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      5

      Thoughts? Non-endoscopic Celiac diagnosis in two year old

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):
  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      132,805
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    lovinlifeafter60
    Newest Member
    lovinlifeafter60
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):
  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.5k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):
  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • xxnonamexx
      What about digestive enzymes that I hear help? I take align 5x probiotics daily.
    • Samanthaeileen1
      thank you RMJ! That is very helpful advice. Good to know we aren’t crazy if we don’t do the endoscopy. We are going to try the gluten free and see how symptoms and levels improve.    thank you Wheatwacked (love the username lol) that is also reassuring. Thankfully she has an amazing and experienced pediatrician. And yesss I forgot to mention the poop! She has the weirdest poop issues.    How long did it take y'all to start seeing improvement in symptoms? 
    • Wheatwacked
      My son was diagnosed when he was weaned in 1976 after several endoscopies.  Given your two year old's symptoms and your family history and your pediatrition advocating for the dx, I would agree.  Whether an endoscopy is positive or negative is irrelevant.   That may happen even with endoscopy.  Pick your doctors with that in mind. In the end you save the potential trauma of the endoscopy for your baby.   Mine also had really nasty poop.  His doctor started him on Nutramigen Infant because at the time it was the only product that was hypo allergenic and had complete nutrition. The improvement was immediate.
    • RMJ
      So her tissue transglutaminase antibody is almost 4x the upper end of the normal range - likely a real result. The other things you can do besides an endoscopy would be: 1.  Genetic testing.  Unfortunately a large proportion of the population has genes permissive for celiac disease, but only a small proportion of those with the genes have it. With family history it is likely she has the genes. 2.  Try a gluten free diet and see if the symptoms go away AND the antibody levels return to normal. (This is what I would do). Endoscopies aren’t always accurate in patients as young as your daughter. Unfortunately, without an endoscopy, some doctor later in her life may question whether she really has celiac disease or not, and you’ll need to be a fierce mama bear to defend the diagnosis! Be sure you have a good written record of her current pediatrician’s diagnosis. Doing a gluten challenge for an endoscopy later in life could cause a very uncomfortable level of symptoms.   Having yourself, your husband and your son tested would be a great idea.  
    • Samanthaeileen1
      here are the lab ranges.  Normal ranges for tissue transglutaminase are: <15.0 Antibody not detected > or = 15.0 Antibody detected normal for endomysial antibody is < 1.5. So she is barely positive but still positive. 
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.