Is Makeup Or Medication Causing These Issues?

[mllepenelope]

This is my first post, so please forgive me if I'm in the wrong spot. I've searched extensively and have not been able to find and answer so I'm hopeful that this isn't a repeat question!

 

I was diagnosed with Celiac seven years ago and have been careful to stick to my gluten-free diet throughout that time. My symptoms at the time of diagnosis were all stomach/gastro related, and I had bouts of skin problems growing up as well. I am lucky to have minimal gastro issues now, but the past 12-18 months I've been suffering from a lot of mental health & skin issues. I have been on and off antidepressants in the past, so I never really considered the two could be related until a few months ago, when I was given a gluten filled roll by mistake. I was so depressed I couldn't get out of bed or stop crying and it set off a lightbulb for me. I've ALWAYS been plagued by the brain fog which I attritbuted to too much/too little sleep. I have also been struggling with a reocurring patchy rash/eczema type thing on my lips and chin.

 

I have been extremely careful lately, using only gluten free lotions, shampoo, facewash, toothpaste, etc. I have been feeling a lot better and the rash was going away until this morning. I tried to think of what I did yesterday differently and there are two possibilities.

 

1. I took my generic klonopin. It's called Clonazepam and the manufacturer is Teva Generics. I can't find it on any gluten free lists, and on their website they so helpfully guide patients to not take the drug if they are allergic to any ingredients, but don't list the actual ingredients. Perfect. I tried to call, but since it's the hoildays their office has been closed. Has anyone had any experience with this particular make?

 

2. I wore a little bit of makeup yesterday. I have thoroughly checked all of my makeup and gotten rid of anything obvious (the mascara I've been using for YEARS has wheat in it. Whoops.) but most of my makeup does have tocopheryl acetate which I'm learning COULD be an issue. I am using Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer and Tarte concealer. I've read conflicting reviews online (Tarte is gluten free! No, it's not! Etc.)

 

Honestly, I'm at a complete loss. My pharmacy knows I have Celiac and I often ask about gluten content in medications when they're knew so I'm going to be really pissed if they're just ignoring this while dolling out drugs. I'm also very into makeup, and having to switch to entirely all natural brands is going to be really depressing for me, and I'd love to avoid it if possible.

 

So basically this is a long winded rant/complaint combined with a question: does anyone have any insight on gluten in generic Clonazepam and or/ the two makeup items listed above?

 

Thank you so much in advance.

[kareng]

Make up that you do not swallow should not be a Celiac problem.  But it doesn't sound like your makeup has any gluten.  

 

 

 

Open Original Shared Link

[GF Lover]

Clonazepam does not have any gluten in it.  See here : Open Original Shared Link.

 

Your lipstick, liquid makeup or powder and face lotion would be the only items that should be of concern as far as gluten.  If you've been having these depression episodes regularly then you may need to look at other food related issues and preparation and if you eat out.  

 

Good luck

 

Colleen

[fourchickens]

Clonazepam is known for causing a Vitamin D deficiency.  And, you're probably very low on Vitamin D anyway due to the celiac (we all are).  I would recommend talking to your doctor (or pharmacist) about a good Vitamin D supplement.  I need to take iron and Vitamin D every day due to my extremely low levels (get your iron checked, too--it's another thing celiacs are chronically low on no matter how much they eat).

 

I also take a Vitamin supplement called Levity.  It has a mix of vitamins/minerals that are known to be low in people with depression.  Ask your doc if it might be OK to take with your other meds.  It significantly helps my mood as long as I take it each day.  It's kind of amazing.

 

Take care.

[mllepenelope]

Clonazepam is known for causing a Vitamin D deficiency.  And, you're probably very low on Vitamin D anyway due to the celiac (we all are).  I would recommend talking to your doctor (or pharmacist) about a good Vitamin D supplement.  I need to take iron and Vitamin D every day due to my extremely low levels (get your iron checked, too--it's another thing celiacs are chronically low on no matter how much they eat).

 

I also take a Vitamin supplement called Levity.  It has a mix of vitamins/minerals that are known to be low in people with depression.  Ask your doc if it might be OK to take with your other meds.  It significantly helps my mood as long as I take it each day.  It's kind of amazing.

 

Take care.

Thank you so much! I will look into it. I have Pernicious Anemia and give myself B12 injections, plus I take methylfolate for a folate deficiency, too, so a Vitamin D problem wouldn't shock me at all. I would think that my doctors would have flagged (or at least checked) Vitamin D levels before now, but I will absolutely look into it. I wish there was one pill that could just fix everything!

[mllepenelope]

Clonazepam does not have any gluten in it.  See here : Open Original Shared Link.

 

Your lipstick, liquid makeup or powder and face lotion would be the only items that should be of concern as far as gluten.  If you've been having these depression episodes regularly then you may need to look at other food related issues and preparation and if you eat out.  

 

Good luck

 

Colleen

Thank you! I was looking everywhere for the ingredients! I usually go by this site, and Teva was not confirmed: Open Original Shared Link.  I know that a lot of people say gluten has to be ingested but that has not at all been the case for me and several other people I know.Anytime I've accidentally used bath products with gluten ingredients (shampoo and deodorant for sure) I've had a horrible reaction. It's a frustrating disease in that nobody's symptoms are completely the same. 

[sunny2012]

Most generics use cheap fillers and binders to lower the costs. The problem is that they are frequently created overseas and full disclosure on the ingredient list is not always available. If you are in the U.S.A., there is no law that actually requires medication manufacturers to fully disclose the ingredients in medications.

 

At my pharmacy, it is up to me to have a reaction, then report to my pharmacist and get the brand ordered for me specifically. It is a lousy system which result in my being exposed to gluten. Frankly, I simply stopped taking medications the last time I got really sick from a medication. We should have the same right to life as anyone else in this world without medications causing us serious harm.

 

I don't use anything that contains gluten. No mascara, no hairspray, NOTHING. that stuff does flake all over and get into other things. Mascara ends up on my hands when I wash it off each night, And hairspray falls all over the place coating everything plus it is breathed in as it is sprayed. This stuff ends up on surfaces which we touch, then touch our face, food, and eat. It just is not worth it to me. 

[SMRI]

Most generics use cheap fillers and binders to lower the costs. The problem is that they are frequently created overseas and full disclosure on the ingredient list is not always available. If you are in the U.S.A., there is no law that actually requires medication manufacturers to fully disclose the ingredients in medications.

 

At my pharmacy, it is up to me to have a reaction, then report to my pharmacist and get the brand ordered for me specifically. It is a lousy system which result in my being exposed to gluten. Frankly, I simply stopped taking medications the last time I got really sick from a medication. We should have the same right to life as anyone else in this world without medications causing us serious harm.

 

I don't use anything that contains gluten. No mascara, no hairspray, NOTHING. that stuff does flake all over and get into other things. Mascara ends up on my hands when I wash it off each night, And hairspray falls all over the place coating everything plus it is breathed in as it is sprayed. This stuff ends up on surfaces which we touch, then touch our face, food, and eat. It just is not worth it to me. 

 

That is NOT true.....medications are tightly controlled by the FDA.  There is a very long, very detailed ingredient list along with the chemical compounds for all prescription drugs.  Also, generics are lower cost because they are no longer under patent and the R & D costs associated with the name brand drugs are no longer included in the cost. Open Original Shared Link

[beth01]

I call the manufacturer on my medications. Those lists aren't updated everyday, and ingredients can change from lot to lot. One of the lists posted hasn't been updated since 9/13. That's over a year old, would you want to trust the info from a year ago?

[sunny2012]

The way a law is implemented and enforced matters. Manufacturers are self policing. What they report as safe is accepted as safe. Right now, there are no requirements that gluten be identified in medications. Fillers and binders are considered harmless and fall under the inactive ingredients clause.

 

Sec. 201.117 Inactive ingredients.

A harmless drug that is ordinarily used as an inactive ingredient, such as a coloring, emulsifier, excipient, flavoring, lubricant, preservative, or solvent, in the preparation of other drugs shall be exempt from section 502(f)(1) of the act. This exemption shall not apply to any substance intended for a use which results in the preparation of a new drug, unless an approved new-drug application provides for such use.