Anyone Here Sensitive To Fillers Such As Cellulose?

Nicolelynsey · May 14, 2022

1 minute ago, Scott Adams said:

You can search your medication here, find out which one you use, then look at its inactive ingredients:

https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/

Thank you!

Boss2u · May 16, 2022

On 5/14/2022 at 2:37 PM, Scott Adams said:

You can search your medication here, find out which one you use, then look at its inactive ingredients:

https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/

Hi Scott. I have to look up the inactive ingredients in every medication that a doctor suggests. Microcrystalline cellulose is a filler used in so many medications. I am sensitive to that and three other know cellulose derivatives, meaning likely all cellulose (aka wood pulp). Bandaids and stuff with adhesives irritate and scar my skin. (I've known this for many, many years). I was curious and looked up what was in these adhesives and found out that indeed cellulose is in them. It all then made sense. Cellulose is not safe for all people. Although the US FDA considers it a harmless filler, it does create major issues for those who are sensitive to it. It is used so much that we never know what has it what doesn't but I know if it reaches a certain threshold in my body, I have an immediate reaction.

Scott Adams · May 16, 2022

Although cellulose is gluten-free, you certainly can have a separate issue with it, which you've discovered. This link is very helpful to find any hidden ingredients in medications, so hopefully you are able to find a version of your medication without cellulose.

Angela Lentin · March 31, 2023

I have cellulose sensitivity, it has an e number E464 it is in my (newly started) blood pressure pills I get gas pain under my ribs & lots of belching also a gnawing emptiness in my stomach it is hateful! Angela

Tanya2023 · July 26, 2023

I seem to have became lactose, gluten and now microcrystalline cellulose intolerant. I recently had a course of Cefalexin for sinusitis which contained cellulose, gave me more mucus production and crippling headache, not to mention crippling pains in my stomach, bowel and bladder. I don’t really know what I will do if i have another infection because most tablets these days contain lactose or cellulose. Does anyone know of an alternative? And has anyone experienced the same or similar?

trents · July 26, 2023

1 hour ago, Tanya2023 said:

I seem to have became lactose, gluten and now microcrystalline cellulose intolerant. I recently had a course of Cefalexin for sinusitis which contained cellulose, gave me more mucus production and crippling headache, not to mention crippling pains in my stomach, bowel and bladder. I don’t really know what I will do if i have another infection because most tablets these days contain lactose or cellulose. Does anyone know of an alternative? And has anyone experienced the same or similar?

Ask about injectable forms of antibiotics. Have you been formally diagnosed with celiac disease?

knitty kitty · July 26, 2023

It's more likely the Cefalexin antibiotic itself has caused the symptoms as a side effect.

Antibiotics also disrupt the intestinal flora (killing off the good bacteria in the gut).

Antibiotics also destroy Thiamine Vitamin B 1. Deficiency in Thiamine can cause gastrointestinal symptoms and headaches.

Are you taking any vitamin supplements?

Tanya2023 · July 28, 2023

On 7/26/2023 at 3:02 PM, trents said:

Ask about injectable forms of antibiotics. Have you been formally diagnosed with celiac disease?

No I haven’t. They tested for celiac but said it was negative. I know these tests are sometimes unreliable so I think I’ll push for another test.

trents · July 28, 2023

You may also be allergic to cefalexin apart from gluten or microcrystalline cellulose.

If you intend to get formally tested for celiac disease you must go back to consuming gluten or the testing will be invalid. The Mayo Clinic recommends the daily consumption of two slices of wheat bread (or the gluten equivalent) for 6-8 weeks leading up to the blood draw.

D Alchemist · October 22, 2023

I found this thread, because I realize that I am hypersensitive to cellulose. I experienced this as intense burning when pooping. As if I had eaten the spiciest peppers ever.

there may be others with the symptoms, and have not figured out that their supplement is the cause of their affliction.

this thread has been very helpful. Thank you.

fushiacat · January 14, 2024

I am very sensitive to cellulose, if it is a filler in supplements or medications, even liquid ones, I get very sick. It is also used in packages of pre-shredded cheese to keep it from sticking together. It is usually not listed as an ingredient. It is also used for the same reason in those green cans of grated Parmesan cheese. If I dare eat out, I always ask if the restaurant grates their own cheese. I am ok if they do it themselves, not if they buy the kind already shredded.

CelluloseSick · March 24

So happy to have found this Post.

ive been struggling with cellulose fillers in meds for years. When I found out, I looked for meds that do not contain cellulose filler or have had to get compounded meds made with sucrose filler. My reactions are: severe migraines and liquid diarrhea ( not fun when you suffer from Ulcerative Colitis).

not sure what percentage of the population suffer from such allergy.

you'd have to be a pretty good sleuth to find this and make the connections. Bravo for you!

anyone know what percentage of population suffers from cellulose intolerance?

thanks?

CelluloseSick · March 24

Btw, I recently switched from Compounded T3/T4 ( which had cellulose in it, unbeknown to me) and was making me sick to a brand called NP Thyroid. No cellulose filler

Scott Adams · March 25

Hello @CelluloseSick, it sounds like you’ve been through a really challenging journey trying to pinpoint and avoid cellulose fillers in medications. Severe migraines and liquid diarrhea, especially with Ulcerative Colitis, must make this an incredibly difficult issue to manage. It’s frustrating how hidden these ingredients can be, and it definitely takes a lot of detective work to connect the dots. While true cellulose allergies or intolerances don’t seem to be well-documented, some people do report digestive issues, headaches, or other symptoms when exposed to cellulose-based fillers. Unfortunately, there isn’t a clear statistic on what percentage of the population suffers from this, but anecdotal evidence suggests that you are not alone. Have you found any specific resources or medical professionals who acknowledge this issue? It’s great that you’ve been able to find compounded medications with sucrose fillers—hopefully, that continues to work for you!

CelluloseSick · March 25

Thanks Scott.

its been a tough journey.

i haven’t been able to take any painkillers for pain, because they all contain some form of cellulose. I’m finally working with a compounding pharmacist to get compounded Ibuprofen w/o cellulose filler … I’ll let you know how that works out.

when I tell doctors about my problems with cellulose and medications, sadly they really don’t understand the magnitude of the problem. My reason for responding to the original post was to let others know they’re not crazy - and there’s such a thing as cellulose intolerance. Thank you so much for your response.

CelluloseSick · March 25

Just as an aside, perhaps others have the same problem, I have the same allergic reaction ( migraines, stomach pains, liquid diarrhea) to cellulose as I do to: palm/coconut oil derivatives ( seems everything has palm oil, or palmitate something in it), spinach, tomatoes, figs, grapes that I know of to date. God designed us as complex systems of organs, nerves, muscle, skin, cells so brilliantly … and it only took big pharma, big Agra to take us down.

hopefully this will be helpful to someone searching out there for answers.

thank you!

cristiana · March 25

1 hour ago, CelluloseSick said:

Just as an aside, perhaps others have the same problem, I have the same allergic reaction ( migraines, stomach pains, liquid diarrhea) to cellulose as I do to: palm/coconut oil derivatives ( seems everything has palm oil, or palmitate something in it), spinach, tomatoes, figs, grapes that I know of to date. God designed us as complex systems of organs, nerves, muscle, skin, cells so brilliantly … and it only took big pharma, big Agra to take us down.

hopefully this will be helpful to someone searching out there for answers.

thank you!

Funny you should mention this. Three times in the past I've had a similar reaction to glutening when I eat broccoli. People have suggested I try it again to make sure it is the problem but I have three distinct memories of meals containing broccoli which caused chills, feeling sick and diarrhea within an hour or two of eating (and this was before I was diagnosed with coeliac disease). Because I reacted in such a way, I have no intention of giving it another go!

CelluloseSick · March 25

Cristina, it’s possible you may find other foods that also give you the same reaction. My advice: make a list and stay away from them.

Scott Adams · March 25

How long ago were you diagnosed?

Many people with celiac disease, especially those who are in the 0-2 year range of their recovery, have additional food intolerance issues which could be temporary. To figure this out you may need to keep a food diary and do an elimination diet over a few months.

Some common food intolerance issues are dairy/casein, eggs, corn, oats, and soy. The good news is that after your gut heals (for most people who are 100% gluten-free this will take several months to two years) you may be able to slowly add some these items back into your diet after the damaged villi heal.

I had a half dozen or more temporary intolerances until my gut finally healed, and after than I was able to add back most foods (except gluten of course).

cristiana · March 26

15 hours ago, Scott Adams said:

How long ago were you diagnosed?

Many people with celiac disease, especially those who are in the 0-2 year range of their recovery, have additional food intolerance issues which could be temporary. To figure this out you may need to keep a food diary and do an elimination diet over a few months.

Some common food intolerance issues are dairy/casein, eggs, corn, oats, and soy. The good news is that after your gut heals (for most people who are 100% gluten-free this will take several months to two years) you may be able to slowly add some these items back into your diet after the damaged villi heal.

I had a half dozen or more temporary intolerances until my gut finally healed, and after than I was able to add back most foods (except gluten of course).

This is a very good comment. I found all sorts of things difficult to stomach for about 2 years after my diagnosis , that I was able to eat again after a while.

Eventually there was one thing that I still couldn't eat and that was pure oats (i.e. those certified uncontaminated with gluten, the only oats we coeliacs should be eating). I think it took until I was fully healed, and my antibodies were normal at last (about 8 years, from memory!) for me to be able to eat pure oats and now I have no issue with them whatsoever.

I remember nutritionists kept saying, "keep trying to reintroduce oats", and I thought "No way, José!", but they were absolutely right.

It is important to note, however, that a small percentage of coeliacs do react to the avenin in the oats, in the same way as coeliacs react to gluten, and that is something that will never change for them. I thought I was in that group, but it turns out I wasn't in the end.

fushiacat · March 26

Many years ago, I discovered that cellulose makes me very sick. It is often in pre-shredded cheese or the parmesan cheese in the green shaker bottle. It is used to keep the cheese from sticking and turning into a large lump.

Many medicines use this as a filler, so I have been forced to get my rx's compounded, which is never covered. Check with the drug manufacture before getting something to see if it contains cellulose. It is usually listed as an inactive ingredient.

Cellulose can be composed of a variety of things, including wheat, so it is a gamble using it if cellulose is a listed ingredient.

I know of one other person with this same problem.

Supplements also have cellulose as fillers or the capsules themselves can have it.

If I mistakenly get this, it makes me sick for days.

CelluloseSick · March 26

Fushiacat, thank you for your response.

i didn’t realize they were adding it to cheese products to prevent it from caking. That explains a lot.

fushiacat · March 26

Be careful of pre-sliced cheese, too. I have been ok getting it cut at deli's. That, too, can be a gamble, but so far there has been no cross-contamination. I have heard they use such a small amount of cellulose, they do not have to include it in the ingredients.

CelluloseSick · March 26

Thank you.

i actually get my cheeses generally from Costco: Brie, and Manchego.

but I recall getting reactions from buying Supermarket shredded Mexican mix cheese, and now I know why. Thank you.

ShariW · March 26

No problems (that I know of) to cellulose, but I have found that I have a "glutened" response to products containing inulin. Another thing to check for on labels!