Uti Med, Gluten Free Or Not...hmmmm!

[darlindeb25]

Well, for now, I wish I had never taken the stuff, or do I? Each experience any of us has, is a learning experiece for us all, so I guess it's ok I did take it. Well--here goes. On Saturday, I didn't feel well, but couldn't quite pinpoint why. I have peripheral neuropathy and have had UTI's before and my neuropathy is very good at masking symptoms for me. Around 12:45 pm, it hit me, duh Deb, you have a UTI. So I called my doctor's office, which I might add is just 5 mins away. The girl at the desk says to me, "We close at 1:30, you can just drink some cranberry juice and call us on Monday morning if you aren't feeling better, we can't fit you in today!" I wasn't a happy camper, yet wasn't feeling too bad. So, I went to the drug store and checked out this AZO Standard that I had seen on tv before, but I decided against buying it. By Monday morning, I was in quite a bit of misery and couldn't get an answer at the doctor's until 9:30, to which I was given an appointment for 4:45. Anyways, by this time, I had a roaring infection going and the doc I saw was appalled that I was turned away on Saturday and told me next time to take names!!!!

So, she gave me an antibiotic, which I have comfirmed is gluten-free. She also told me to get this AZO Standard for the pain and discomfort, which was really bad by then. My first instinct was not to use it, yet I researched it. I called the 800# and was told I could not get any info until morning. The ingredients said cornstarch, so I felt kind of ok, but still leary.

inactive ingredients: microcrystalline cellulose, pregelatinized corn starch, hypromellose, PVP, croscarmellose sodium, polyethylene glycol, carnauba wax and vegatable magnesuim stearate.

I researhed it online and never found any response to it being gluten free or not. So, finally I gave in to the pain and took it. I took it Monday night, Tuesday morning, and Tuesday at lunch. No more after that, then yesterday morning, Wednesday, I had a reaction, I think, maybe panick. My gluten reactions have changed over the years. I felt fine, except for a little tummy queasiness, which I thought might be the antibiotic. Then, the tears came, a flood of them, I couldn't stop them, they would let up and then hit again like a freight train. I got very shaky, my head felt like it was going to explode, my tummy, of course, was not too happy for a while then. Kev talked me into taking a xanax, which I finally have found a gluten-free one and after about an hour, the symptoms calmed. Of course, I was wasted for the rest of the day, and when I was finally able to go to work, I was like a zombie. This reaction is the same reaction I was getting the day after taking Xanax, which contained gluten.

I called the AZO Standard company later in the day and the girl, Angela, that I spoke with me told me that AZO is gluten free. Of course, we all know a glutened person is usually foggy and later, as I was remembering what she said, I realized the validity of her words. What she said was, "The ingredients are clearly listed and gluten is not listed, therefore, the product is gluten free." I beat myself up all afternoon over this and for all I know, the product may still contain gluten.

Has anyone else used it? Maybe I reacted to something else in it. Maybe I reacted to the phenazopyridine hycrochloride. On the box, it does say to ask your doctor about using this product if you have food allergies! Whacha all think?

Deb

[loraleena]

Try the brand UTI Relief. Same active ingredient but gluten free.

[Nyxie63]

You might also want to look into taking Uva Ursi. Its an herb. Works like cranberry tablets, but I've found it to be more effective. I take it when I feel that first little twinge and it keeps it from becoming a full-blown UTI.

[darlindeb25]

Thanks, I only saw 2 different brands here, the AZO and the other brand name one my doc mentioned, which isn't either of the ones you mentioned. To be honest Nyxie, my neuropathy kind of masks my symptoms until they get bad, usually the lower back pain is my first clue and it is still hurting me.

Thanks, both of you for responding.

[loraleena]

D-mannose is also highly effective in getting rid of UTI's. Get it at a natural food store.

[wolfie]

I have used AZO recently with no reaction at all. I believe there is gluten-free info right on their website.

Hope you are feeling better soon!

[darlindeb25]

Their website was not working the other day, nothing would open in it. Tonight it was working very, very slowly, but it did finally open and yes, I did find an area where it states it is gluten free. But, I did react to it and I will never trust it again. The reaction time directly correlated with taking this particular med, and I had not taken anything else new, other than the antibiotic, which I knew was gluten-free, also, which I am still taking, without reaction. I guess it is possible I reacted to the dye in the AZO, but, to my knowledge, I have not ever reacted to dye before.

I honestly have no idea what the reaction was to, but I know it was a reaction. I glad you used the AZO and did ok.

[num1habsfan]

It's very likely it could be not gluten-free.....i'm not sure the name of the pills even, I am always given thd black and yellow capsules and I always seem to have some sort of a reaction to them (which often feels like glutened). But if I asked doctor he says even if it isn't gluten-free there are no other substitutions. Maybe that's just a problem in Canada---I can NEVER get any meds switched to gluten-free.

~ Lisa ~

[darlindeb25]

Hi Lisa,

The AZO Standard is an over the counter med, used for the pain. I think you are probably speaking of the antibiotic the doctor is prescribing for you. Doctor's rarely have any idea of what is and isn't gluten free, we have to research that ourselves. Macrobid, which is the med I am on, is gluten free, but, the generic form has to be researched. Always call the 800# and ask--which I did, for both products--the AZO, I was told to call back at another time!

This AZO has been very much on my mind. I get very upset when I have been glutened because I am always so careful and I blame myself for taking this med. I honestly did try to research it, but just kept hitting my head against walls. The pain just over came me and against my better judgment, I took it. I should have taken the pain med I was given after my hysterectomy, but it didn't even occur to me!!!

I would like to add here: Yes, the AZO site does state the product is gluten free, I finally did get the site to open. BUT, Pfizer also told us Xanax was gluten free and I trusted them for years, only to find out the reaction I was having to Xanax was a gluten reaction too, and now, Pfizer is denying they ever said it was gluten free, yet it is still listed as gluten free on many of our lists. My new Xanax is generic Alprazolam, made by Mylan Labs and I had no reaction to it.

After this, I will be more demanding when I call my doctor's office and I will take names, then request to speak with the doctor. Better yet, next time, I will not call, I will walk in.

[pugluver31902]

It's very likely it could be not gluten-free.....i'm not sure the name of the pills even, I am always given thd black and yellow capsules and I always seem to have some sort of a reaction to them (which often feels like glutened). But if I asked doctor he says even if it isn't gluten-free there are no other substitutions. Maybe that's just a problem in Canada---I can NEVER get any meds switched to gluten-free.

~ Lisa ~

Im on that EXACT pill right now. I do have celiac, and I am a completely asymptomatic celiac and this medication makes me feel terrible. So Im thinking it might just be side effects of the medication itself, bc I could eat a whole loaf of wheat bread and I wouldnt feel a thing.