Effectiveness Of Drugs

[Caeli]

The thought crossed my mind recently as to the effectiveness of drugs in the treatment of other medical problems in coeliacs.

The thought is that given coeliac disease atrophies the villi, that part of the small intestines that absorbs nutrients (in other words, the villi cannot work effectively in absorbing food etc), is it logical to conclude that drugs prescribed for various medical conditions would not be absorbed as well as they ought to be.

Has anybody any ideas, preferaly expert on this question? Has any research been done on this?

[debmidge]

sure, makes sense that during the damage stage, the prescription or vitamin or whatever won't be absorbed (either not absorbed all the way or somewhat). After villi healing there should be more absorption.

I wonder what the absorption rate is in a healthy, non celiac small intestine --- do normal people absorb 100% or are there degrees of absorption in non celiac disease people?

[jerseyangel]

The thought crossed my mind recently as to the effectiveness of drugs in the treatment of other medical problems in coeliacs.

The thought is that given coeliac disease atrophies the villi, that part of the small intestines that absorbs nutrients (in other words, the villi cannot work effectively in absorbing food etc), is it logical to conclude that drugs prescribed for various medical conditions would not be absorbed as well as they ought to be.

Has anybody any ideas, preferaly expert on this question? Has any research been done on this?

Hello Caeli! I have not seen you post here in a while. Hope your healing is going well.

Regarding drug effectivness, I have high blood pressure and take medication for it daily. As I have just passed the 1 year gluten-free mark, I am finding that my BP is lowering! My doctor has me monitoring it myself at home with a wrist monitor between appointments--so it's easy for me to track this. I think (and I plan to bring this up at my next appt) that possibly my intestine is healing now to the point where I am getting more of the drug's benefit. I'm not an expert, but that is my experience. Blessings!

[marciab]

I had to cut my Klonopin back from .5 mg to .125 mg because I was feeling completely drugged at the .5 mg dosage about 2 months ago. Approximately 6 months after going gluten free. I kepted lowering it from .5 to .125 gradually because I still felt drugged at the lesser doses too.

It was prescribed for nocturnal myoclonous and my current dosage appears to be enough to control it. I hope eventually to be able to stop it completely. It just takes time since it is a seizure med.

hope this helps ... marcia