Z-pack/azithromycin

[key]

Can anyone tell me if this antibiotic is gluten free or not? It says pregelatanized starch.

It is late and couldn't find a number and the pharmacy didn't know.

THanks,

Monica

[jerseyangel]

Yes it is gluten-free--it's the only antibiotic I can tolerate, so I've checked!

[key]

Thanks Patty, It was generic and I couldn't find the answer anywhere. I still am hoping I am right. I have been coughing for three weeks.

Monica

[trents]

It's a good med and has been very effective for me when I've had sinus infections. The fact that the regimine is only 5 days instead of the usual 10 prevents may people from developing GI distress.

[key]

The one I got was from some generic company and I couldn't find any information on the web or a phone number and the pharmacy couldn't help me either. I woke in the night after taking it and my stomach was bothering me for sure. I was scared to take it again. The ingredients said "pregelatinized starch", so I don't know. I actually only took the first dose, but should have finished it, but didn't want to gluten myself. I was pretty positive it was probably safe, but I am not sure how many drugs actually put gluten in them. You would think they would just be forbidden to use wheat in drugs, since they could use potatoe starch or corn starch.

So I still have no clue. The pharmacy only had the generic.

Monica

[jerseyangel]

Monica--I know what you mean--why don't they just stop using wheat across the board on the meds--most of them don't use it anyway. I did get an upset stomach when I took it, and some D also--those were side effects for me. My doctor suggested I take the first dose (which was 2 pills) separately with a lot of food, and the rest of them also with a meal--not a snack. I was glad it was ony for 5 days. Oh, the generic company wasn't Sandoz, was it?

So, are you still sick from the original problem? The next time, I would ask the doctor to write the RX with "no substitutions"--that way, you'd be sure it was safe. Even if you had to go to another drug store.

[key]

Yeah, it was late and the pharmacy was closing and I just moved here, so I am not very familiar with the area. I just didn't want to continue taking it if there was gluten in it. THe company was Greenstone for the antibiotic. I find it frustrating that I couldn't even find a phone number to call them. I have been getting gluttened from somewhere the past week. I ate at Chipotle's this past weekend and I think that is what started it. I have been doing great for two months as long as I don't eat out. I also found I have a problem with Lay's chips, shampoo with wheat probably. So I am not sure that it was the antibiotic. I was scared to take it again. I do think though that just the one dose actually has worked. I am still coughing some, but it isn't as productive and not as often. I was able to go to sleep lastnight without Hall's.

Is anyone familiar with some drugs that definitely do have gluten in them??? I think I have seen Richard post and say that not many, if any do??? Is this true?

Thanks so much. My main symptom was my lower stomach cramping, burning and increased activity, but did not have D. THis week I am more suffering with C, which is what happens when I have small amounts of gluten. If it is large amounts, I have D. It is all so crazy. Makes me wonder what goes on and what causes our intestines to not work when gluttened. I find it very frustrating to try so hard and be doing awesome and then get set back. Luckily this time it isn't So severe, but it is still annoying. I am rambling, so time to go.

Monica

[celiacmom2]

Just called Sandoz company which is a Generic Brand Walmart uses where I am at and the Azithromycin they carry said there is a product in it derived from WHEAT and that the final product didn't have gluten in it after processing. But he said to me that Sandoz does not test for gluten??? I would not buy that product. I am not taking a chance. I am so frustrated right now, why would they put wheat in medication?? Ugh.

[afinn]

Just called Sandoz company which is a Generic Brand Walmart uses where I am at and the Azithromycin they carry said there is a product in it derived from WHEAT and that the final product didn't have gluten in it after processing. But he said to me that Sandoz does not test for gluten??? I would not buy that product. I am not taking a chance. I am so frustrated right now, why would they put wheat in medication?? Ugh.

I started Sandoz's (Walmart generic)azithromycin yesterday and had an upset stomach last night and this afternoon, after I took my second dose. I didn't even think of checking if an antibiotic would have gluten in it! It obviously does have gluten because my stomach is reacting EXACTLY how it does when I eat gluten. So frustrating!!!! I'm going to have to call the pharmacy tomorrow to see about getting a different brand, since my sinus infection's pain is as bad as my stomach's reaction to gluten.

Thank you Celiacmom2 for calling Sandoz to get the info that they use a wheat derivitive in the med. Ugh!!!

[Stella2]

I've been having an upset stomach on azithromycin produced by Wockhardt, which is why I came on here. My stomach is behaving similarly to when I eat gluten, but I just read the side effects and one of the most common ones is upset stomach/diarrhea ... I'm thinking that's the culprit, because literally everything I've eaten in the past few days has been gluten free food I made from home. Idk if it's the side effects, or if it's not gluten-free -all websites I've found though say it's gluten free. Hopefully that's all it is.

[celiacmom2]

Just a tip about Walmart. I had problems with them willing to take time out to call the company Sandoz so I could take the similiar antibiotic. They gave me the phone number instead of them being good customer service and them calling them, or even knowing by experience. I had to take it right away as I was sick. So I called Kmart and they said they could get me information right away and I didn't have to call the generic brand companies. They called me back and offered to transfer my prescription to Kmart and I did. I got a gluten free off brand product and a pharmicist that cared enough to call for me right away. Anyway I am not a big fan of Kmart all the time, but am happy with their customer service and knowing they will check for the gluten for me everytime I go in to get a off brand prescription. Well Walmart lost a customer in the pharmacy department after that day.