Gluten in Synthroid

[Tuesday]

Opened a new, sealed bottle of synthroid and got a gluten reaction from the first pill.  I've had celiac for 1.5 years and this is my first gluten reaction to synthroid.  I was taking brand name synthroid thinking that it was gluten-free.  I'm going to try the generic made by Mylan based on information on the Gluten Free Drug website.

Anyone have experience / advice on this?  

[kareng]

41 minutes ago, Tuesday said:

Opened a new, sealed bottle of synthroid and got a gluten reaction from the first pill.  I've had celiac for 1.5 years and this is my first gluten reaction to synthroid.  I was taking brand name synthroid thinking that it was gluten-free.  I'm going to try the generic made by Mylan based on information on the Gluten Free Drug website.

Anyone have experience / advice on this?  

I have used the brand name.  it was gluten-free a few years ago.  Not sure what they would add to make it contain gluten.  Very few medications actually have gluten in them.  

[Gemini]

This might be of help:   http://www.glutenfreedrugs.com/newlist.htm  The list was updated on 4/28/2017.

The manufacturer won't guarantee gluten-free status of Synthroid but that does not mean there is gluten in the hormone's additives. 

[Tuesday]

37 minutes ago, Gemini said:

This might be of help:   http://www.glutenfreedrugs.com/newlist.htm  The list was updated on 4/28/2017.

The manufacturer won't guarantee gluten-free status of Synthroid but that does not mean there is gluten in the hormone's additives. 

Thank you.  I tried to contact Abbvie (the manufacturer of Synthroid) and will see what they say if they return my call.

[cyclinglady]

I would just suggest that you ask your GI to run a celiac panel to actually determine if you were glutened or not.  When I experienced my first glutening, my symptoms were so different from when I was diagnosed and I had no idea what I ingested.  Turns out based on my test results that I had been glutened.   I suspected a few products, but never found the actual source.  

The list Gemini provided was created by a pharmacist who advocates for celiacs.  It would be nice to see drug manufactures guarantee gluten free, but most do not.  They do maintain some pretty strict manufacturing standards so that is comforting.  

I hope you feel better fast!  

[kareng]

A single glutening should not show up in Celiac blood tests.  They are meant to show repeat exposures to gluten 

http://www.cureceliacdisease.org/faq/do-i-need-to-have-a-follow-up-test-each-time-i-get-glutened/

 

"Follow-up tests are intended to test whether there’s significant (and repeated) exposure to gluten. A mistake (or two) may cause symptoms, but they will only activate the disease for a short time, though it must be noted that each celiac responds differently. It’s the repeated exposure for the long-term that keeps the disease active enough to cause damage. November, 2012"

 

[Victoria1234]

Mylan is supposed to be safe.... I just researched it bcse. I just started it too. But I'm not super sensitive anymore. Be Great to hear if it really is or not! Thanks!

[cyclinglady]

1 hour ago, kareng said:

A single glutening should not show up in Celiac blood tests.  They are meant to show repeat exposures to gluten 

http://www.cureceliacdisease.org/faq/do-i-need-to-have-a-follow-up-test-each-time-i-get-glutened/

 

"Follow-up tests are intended to test whether there’s significant (and repeated) exposure to gluten. A mistake (or two) may cause symptoms, but they will only activate the disease for a short time, though it must be noted that each celiac responds differently. It’s the repeated exposure for the long-term that keeps the disease active enough to cause damage. November, 2012"

 

True.  I do not suspect Synthroid as the culprit.  I should have made that clear.  Tuesday should consider follow-up antibodies testing as a means of determining if her current symptoms are related to a repeated gluten exposure.  It might just be a virus and not related to celiac disease at all.  

The reality is (based in member input) that most celiacs do not receive adequate follow-up care:

http://www.cureceliacdisease.org/faq/how-often-should-follow-up-testing-occur/

You already know this Karen, but I thought I would clarify for anyone new reading this thread. 

 

[Tuesday]

On ‎7‎/‎5‎/‎2017 at 4:38 PM, Victoria1234 said:

Mylan is supposed to be safe.... I just researched it bcse. I just started it too. But I'm not super sensitive anymore. Be Great to hear if it really is or not! Thanks!

So far Mylan has been good.  I am confident it was a gluten reaction as I know what my symptoms are like and a synthroid pill and water is all I had consumed before the reaction.  

[IdeClair]

On 7/5/2017 at 3:29 PM, Tuesday said:

Thank you.  I tried to contact Abbvie (the manufacturer of Synthroid) and will see what they say if they return my call.

I started a new bottle of Synthroid a few weeks ago and have been experiencing the stomach pain I get when I eat gluten. The brand is Abbvie, Inc. I called the number on the prescription bottle and they told me they can't find any mention of gluten in it. Something is wrong, that's for sure, and it seems like the culprit is my synthroid. I'll be making more calls on Monday....offices are closed today, Saturday...

[cyclinglady]

3 hours ago, IdeClair said:

I started a new bottle of Synthroid a few weeks ago and have been experiencing the stomach pain I get when I eat gluten. The brand is Abbvie, Inc. I called the number on the prescription bottle and they told me they can't find any mention of gluten in it. Something is wrong, that's for sure, and it seems like the culprit is my synthroid. I'll be making more calls on Monday....offices are closed today, Saturday...

No gluten in this drug by this manufacturer.  Look at page 15 of this PDF from Abbie:

https://www.rxabbvie.com/pdf/synthroid.pdf

You could be reacting to lactose or corn.  Those are in the pill as inactive ingredients.  Can you consume dairy or corn?