Pharmaceutical Companies

[Moondanse]

I've been making phone calls to the different pharmaceutical companies since I got sick from my nasal spray.

I'm getting frustrated with the difficulty involved in determining if a medication is safe. It really is absolutely absurd that we have to do this. If you call the pharmacy, or mine at least, you are told that unless it's marked gluten-free they can't help you out. Give me a break. There has got to be a better way. I can't go by the lists out there, because they listed my nasal spray (Nasonex) as safe and it was not.

So, I'd like to know what your thoughts are about Allegra, Allegra-D and generic fexofenadine 180? I called Sanofi-Aventis and they said that they cannot certify that it is gluten free due to cross contamination issues. They said that the starch that they use is corn and that it is subject to change. However, the man I spoke with said that he has not known it to change. I use one of the variations of this product every day. So far, I really haven't noticed any problems though.

I'm just paranoid right now. I've been sick for well over a week, so I'm starting to get concerned that something else is causing the problem. It's probably more likely that my system is having a tough time recovering. I used the nasal spray for ten days before I determined that it was the culprit. But, enough is enough. My stomach is so sick and I look like I'm four months pregnant. I hate this. I'm feeling for frustrated, angry, sad, tired, etc, etc, etc.

I tried to find out about Trazadone and Watson Pharma told me that they cannot certify it as gluten-free. Then the guy said there were no starches listed in the ingredient list.

I have a whole medicine cabinet full of things. I had a really tough time trying to even get in contact with the pharmaceutical company for Hyoscyamine, which a lot of us use. The company listed on my bottle is Amide, but they've been acquired by another company. It took me about 45 minutes to even figure that out. Then I got dumped in to a voicemail. ARGH!!!

Who knows. If any of you know anything about any of these drugs, please let me know.

Thank you for letting me vent.

Kelli

[angel-jd1]

Moondanse-

I personally feel it isn't the pharmacy's responsibility to call the companies for us and find out the gluten free status. As you have found, it takes time, time that those people don't have. Also, I am not a person who likes to get 2nd hand information. I would rather call the company myself and speak with them myself. That way I am the one hearing exactly what is being said. I can then ask any questions I may have about what they said. I can ask about shared production lines etc.

When I call I usually ask for a pharmacist or chemist at the company. Sometimes you DO get the voicemail, leave a message, but then go ahead and call them again later if they don't return the call.

Most of the companies aren't going to "certify" it is gluten free. That is just asking for someone to sue them. They usually say something like "we don't add any gluten ingredents to ______"

All I can tell you is that you have to keep making those calls. You are doing the right thing by trying to figure out what meds are safe for you!! Hang in there......

-Jessica

I've been making phone calls to the different pharmaceutical companies since I got sick from my nasal spray.

I'm getting frustrated with the difficulty involved in determining if a medication is safe. It really is absolutely absurd that we have to do this. If you call the pharmacy, or mine at least, you are told that unless it's marked gluten-free they can't help you out. Give me a break. There has got to be a better way. I can't go by the lists out there, because they listed my nasal spray (Nasonex) as safe and it was not.

So, I'd like to know what your thoughts are about Allegra, Allegra-D and generic fexofenadine 180? I called Sanofi-Aventis and they said that they cannot certify that it is gluten free due to cross contamination issues. They said that the starch that they use is corn and that it is subject to change. However, the man I spoke with said that he has not known it to change. I use one of the variations of this product every day. So far, I really haven't noticed any problems though.

I'm just paranoid right now. I've been sick for well over a week, so I'm starting to get concerned that something else is causing the problem. It's probably more likely that my system is having a tough time recovering. I used the nasal spray for ten days before I determined that it was the culprit. But, enough is enough. My stomach is so sick and I look like I'm four months pregnant. I hate this. I'm feeling for frustrated, angry, sad, tired, etc, etc, etc.

I tried to find out about Trazadone and Watson Pharma told me that they cannot certify it as gluten-free. Then the guy said there were no starches listed in the ingredient list.

I have a whole medicine cabinet full of things. I had a really tough time trying to even get in contact with the pharmaceutical company for Hyoscyamine, which a lot of us use. The company listed on my bottle is Amide, but they've been acquired by another company. It took me about 45 minutes to even figure that out. Then I got dumped in to a voicemail. ARGH!!!

Who knows. If any of you know anything about any of these drugs, please let me know.

Thank you for letting me vent.

Kelli

[Moondanse]

Moondanse-

I personally feel it isn't the pharmacy's responsibility to call the companies for us and find out the gluten free status. As you have found, it takes time, time that those people don't have. Also, I am not a person who likes to get 2nd hand information. I would rather call the company myself and speak with them myself. That way I am the one hearing exactly what is being said. I can then ask any questions I may have about what they said. I can ask about shared production lines etc.

When I call I usually ask for a pharmacist or chemist at the company. Sometimes you DO get the voicemail, leave a message, but then go ahead and call them again later if they don't return the call.

Most of the companies aren't going to "certify" it is gluten free. That is just asking for someone to sue them. They usually say something like "we don't add any gluten ingredents to ______"

All I can tell you is that you have to keep making those calls. You are doing the right thing by trying to figure out what meds are safe for you!! Hang in there......

-Jessica

Jessica, you are right. I really was just venting. I had a terrible day and I'm aggravated with myself, and in general, that my nasal spray made me sick. Everything I eat seems to be aggravating my symptoms even more.

The long and short of it is I just want to feel better. I don't understand people who cheat, it's just not worth all of this. I've been recovering for a full week now and it still isn't out of my system. It's just bothering me even more than usual that we have such obstacles in front of us with regard to everything and anything we put on or in our body. I have faith that one of these days everything will be labled so people with Celiac will not have to jump through hoops to function.

In the meantime, thanks for allowing me to vent

[debmidge]

I agree it's so frustrating, especially if you get your prescriptions changed or need something new....

[angel-jd1]

Jessica, you are right. I really was just venting. I had a terrible day and I'm aggravated with myself, and in general, that my nasal spray made me sick. Everything I eat seems to be aggravating my symptoms even more.

The long and short of it is I just want to feel better. I don't understand people who cheat, it's just not worth all of this. I've been recovering for a full week now and it still isn't out of my system. It's just bothering me even more than usual that we have such obstacles in front of us with regard to everything and anything we put on or in our body. I have faith that one of these days everything will be labled so people with Celiac will not have to jump through hoops to function.

In the meantime, thanks for allowing me to vent

It IS frustrating and there is absolutely nothing wrong with a little venting!! Keep up the good work, everything will be fine!!

-Jessica

[mouth]

I've been making phone calls to the different pharmaceutical companies since I got sick from my nasal spray.

I'm getting frustrated with the difficulty involved in determining if a medication is safe. It really is absolutely absurd that we have to do this. If you call the pharmacy, or mine at least, you are told that unless it's marked gluten-free they can't help you out. Give me a break. There has got to be a better way. I can't go by the lists out there, because they listed my nasal spray (Nasonex) as safe and it was not.

So, I'd like to know what your thoughts are about Allegra, Allegra-D and generic fexofenadine 180? I called Sanofi-Aventis and they said that they cannot certify that it is gluten free due to cross contamination issues. They said that the starch that they use is corn and that it is subject to change. However, the man I spoke with said that he has not known it to change. I use one of the variations of this product every day. So far, I really haven't noticed any problems though.

I'm just paranoid right now. I've been sick for well over a week, so I'm starting to get concerned that something else is causing the problem. It's probably more likely that my system is having a tough time recovering. I used the nasal spray for ten days before I determined that it was the culprit. But, enough is enough. My stomach is so sick and I look like I'm four months pregnant. I hate this. I'm feeling for frustrated, angry, sad, tired, etc, etc, etc.

I tried to find out about Trazadone and Watson Pharma told me that they cannot certify it as gluten-free. Then the guy said there were no starches listed in the ingredient list.

I have a whole medicine cabinet full of things. I had a really tough time trying to even get in contact with the pharmaceutical company for Hyoscyamine, which a lot of us use. The company listed on my bottle is Amide, but they've been acquired by another company. It took me about 45 minutes to even figure that out. Then I got dumped in to a voicemail. ARGH!!!

Who knows. If any of you know anything about any of these drugs, please let me know.

Thank you for letting me vent.

Kelli

Dear Kelly

That is strange, because sanofi aventis was 1 of the first companies I had to call for my daughter. They snail mailed me a list of safe products. The letter i got says it is important ot point out that our suppliers may change the source of any inactive ingredient without our knowledge. therefore, we cannot guarantee that our products will not contain any of the below listed ingredients in the future. the list following lists are gluten corn products and potato products. Allegra Tablets and Allegra_D Tablets (12 hr) are on the list. So as of when I got the list they were safe.

Maybe I'll email them again. Nasacort AQ is gluten-free. My daughter uses it.. and has been for a couple of years. If you want send me a letter with your email address and i will scan it and email it to yo if you want.

Good luck and feel better.

Lynn