Target & Wal-mart Brand Medications

[horsegirl]

I'm wondering if anyone knows whether the Target or Wal-Mart brand over-the-counter medications

such as Acetaminophen (Tylenol), Ibuprofen, multi-vitamins, or calcium supplements are gluten free?

I asked the pharmacist at Target recently, & she wasn't any help at all - said they didn't have a listing of gluten-free OTC meds, but I should be able to tell "by reading the ingredients list."

I explained to her that "starch" in meds might contain wheat, & she just looked at me.

I've tried accessing information on their website, but no luck.

I like using the store-brand products because they're SOOO much cheaper than the brand names.

But, I don't want to accidentally glutenate myself either!

Any suggestions? Also, what brands do everyone else use for:

1) Pain relievers

2) Calcium supplements

3) Antidiarrheal

4) Cold medicines

Thanks!

[Yellow Rose]

I'm wondering if anyone knows whether the Target or Wal-Mart brand over-the-counter medications

such as Acetaminophen (Tylenol), Ibuprofen, multi-vitamins, or calcium supplements are gluten free?

I asked the pharmacist at Target recently, & she wasn't any help at all - said they didn't have a listing of gluten-free OTC meds, but I should be able to tell "by reading the ingredients list."

I explained to her that "starch" in meds might contain wheat, & she just looked at me.

I've tried accessing information on their website, but no luck.

I like using the store-brand products because they're SOOO much cheaper than the brand names.

But, I don't want to accidentally glutenate myself either!

Any suggestions? Also, what brands do everyone else use for:

1) Pain relievers

2) Calcium supplements

3) Antidiarrheal

4) Cold medicines

Thanks!

I use Wal-Mart's Equate brands. I tried calling my local Wal-Mart and even the pharmasist was ignorant on gluten. He was looking for the word gluten on the ingrediant list. I called 1800WalMart and got the manufactures # from them. The manfactures told me that you have to call each time you buy and new bottle and give them the UPC code so they can look it up and make sure that they have not changed the ingrediants but at this time they are gluten free on asprin, and actimetiphine (not sure on the spelling sorry).

Yellow Rose

[glutenfreeme]

I had the same experience at Target. In fact, the pharmacist seemed annoyed and just kept repeating that it does not say "gluten" on any of their labels.

Gee thanks Target pharmacy!

I wonder if anyone knows of a list of gluten free meds for a brand like Target. You are right, the cost effective aspect is worth the extra research. I can't find anything though.

[zeta-lilly]

I've been taking target brand acetaminophen the last couple days and I can confirm that it definitely contains gluten. I feel so sick now. I went over everything I ate, drank, and was otherwise exposed to and that was the only thing that it could have been. I went gluten free recently and forgot to check my medicine cabinet. Doh!

[hermitgirl]

Certain forms of Tylenol brand have gluten. I called the company and they mailed me a list of their gluten free drugs. They also sent a BUNCH of coupons. None of the rapid release are safe (darn!) I know the caplets are safe, those are what I use. It all has to do with the coatings with their products. The list of all is at home. I will post later if anyone wants that info.

[missy'smom]

I have the same problems at the pharmacy(happens to be Walgreens) that I go to. I tried to educate them a little. They've gotten to the point that they'll let me use their phone to call the manufacturer(if they have the number or it's on or in the package/container) so that I don't have to go home and come back again!

[hermitgirl]

I had the Walmart pharmicist actually point to the number on a box and say "You need to call them" when I asked if a product contained gluten. I have found it is just way easier to call the manufacturers first. The numbers are also available on their websites so you can call before you go. I had another pharmacist at a different chain actually tell me "it shouldn't matter" if a product contains gluten.

[Cranesaxkid322]

I was nervous about getting a target brand drug as well. I recently bought the acetaminophen pm (up & up brand) extra strength/quick release (20 gelcaps). The only ingredient that was worrisome was the pregelatinized starch, as that can be derived from corn, potato or wheat. I called the target number, and finally got ahold of the pharmacist. He was unsure, but was VERY helpful in contacting the manufacturer for me. The manufacturer replied "This product does not contain any gluten. The pregelatinized starch is derived from corn."

Just thought I would share this so you can save a few bucks using target brand.

[Takala]

Attention:

This is an older thread. However, the cautions about ingredients still apply.

Especially for Tylenol. Benedryl. Motrin.

News this week (March 18th 2011) says that the FDA is taking over 3 manufacturing plants operated by Johnson & Johnson McNeil's division, because they have had so many problems with recalls.

link here: http://money.cnn.com/2011/03/10/news/companies/johnson_mcneil_fda_action/index.htm

McNeil, a division of Johnson & Johnson (JNJ, Fortune 500), said it had agreed to put its plants -- one in Las Piedras, Puerto Rico, one in Fort Washington, Pa. and one in Lancaster, Pa., under FDA supervision.

McNeil's plants in Puerto Rico and Lancaster will continue to operate, McNeil spokeswoman Bonnie Jacobs said. But "there is the potential for some impact [in production] initially as we implement the additional steps."

Stearn said McNeil can continue to manufacture and ship drugs from the Las Piedras and Lancaster plants, but not from the Fort Washington facility.

The agreement also requires McNeil to destroy all drugs under its control that have been recalled from the three facilities since December 2009.

The company shut its Fort Washington plant following a scathing FDA inspection report of the factory last May that cited 20 manufacturing violations.

That facility makes all of McNeil pediatric over-the-counter Tylenol, Benadryl and Motrin medicines. The other two facilities make adult medicines, including Tylenol.

I had noticed that in the past 2 years the list of actual ingredients in over the counter Benadryl products was getting harder and harder to figure out, from the label and not posted on their website, and that the type of packaging and the shape/color of the pills kept changing.

Benadryl is a must - have emergency staple for those people and children with severe allergic reactions, so this was especially troubling. I can't fathom a company selling an allergy medication and not be willing to disclose the ingredients, or worse, having them contaminated with unknowns, it's unethical and disgusting, especially when it's a children's medication. .

I expanded this comment into a new thread to give a little more background.

[ECUmom3]

I'm wondering if anyone knows whether the Target or Wal-Mart brand over-the-counter medications

such as Acetaminophen (Tylenol), Ibuprofen, multi-vitamins, or calcium supplements are gluten free?

I asked the pharmacist at Target recently, & she wasn't any help at all - said they didn't have a listing of gluten-free OTC meds, but I should be able to tell "by reading the ingredients list."

I explained to her that "starch" in meds might contain wheat, & she just looked at me.

I've tried accessing information on their website, but no luck.

I like using the store-brand products because they're SOOO much cheaper than the brand names.

But, I don't want to accidentally glutenate myself either!

Any suggestions? Also, what brands do everyone else use for:

1) Pain relievers

2) Calcium supplements

3) Antidiarrheal

4) Cold medicines

Thanks!

I had a bottle of Target's "All Day Allergy Relief" and wanted to know if it was gluten free. Instead of asking the pharm., I contacted the 800# on the bottle, and they were very helpful. It is in fact gluten free. I would suggest that you do the same. Have in hand a list of all the meds. you are interested in, and they should be able to give you the correct info on each one.

Also, if you live near a Costco, many of their Kirkland Signature meds. are gluten free, but there again, call the 800# to be sure.

*Note: Oops! Didn't realize the thread was that old. Sorry, but maybe the info will help someone else.

[CeliacDave]

Wanted to find out if Equate brand (Walmart) Allergy Relief Extra Strength (DIN 02240266) were gluten free. I talked to the manufacturer, Apotex, they indicated that it was gluten free and in fact all Apotex drugs are manufactured in a gluten free facility. HOWEVER, NOT ALL EQUATE BRAND PRODUCTS ARE GLUTEN FREE as there are many manufacturers of Equate products.

Hope this is helpful for someone.