Generic Otc Prilosec (omeprazole)

[shibboleth]

I inquired with a Walgreen

[Lisa]

Thank you for your post. I take Omeprazole and have considered it gluten free.

[shibboleth]

Thank you for your post. I take Omeprazole and have considered it gluten free.

Hi MG, Prilosec and Prilosec OTC are listed as gluten free (dated 8/05) at Open Original Shared Link (dated 6/07)

[Leonesse]

Hi MG, Prilosec and Prilosec OTC are listed as gluten free (dated 8/05) at Open Original Shared Link (dated 6/07)

Today, 2/25/2009, I asked the Walgreen's pharmacist to check their gluten-free products list (which only covers Walgreen brand products) about Walgreen's Omeprazole - it is NOT gluten-free, or at least not on their gluten-free list.

Walgreen's Ferrous Sulfate (generic for Feosol) IS gluten-free according to their list, so that's what I'm trying for an iron supplement.

[Llee]

Today, 2/25/2009, I asked the Walgreen's pharmacist to check their gluten-free products list (which only covers Walgreen brand products) about Walgreen's Omeprazole - it is NOT gluten-free, or at least not on their gluten-free list.

Walgreen's Ferrous Sulfate (generic for Feosol) IS gluten-free according to their list, so that's what I'm trying for an iron supplement.

10/26/09 I called Kremer Urban today - who manufactures Ompreazole and they say while that they do not use gluten containing products in their inactive ingredients, but they do not do post mfg testing so will not certify it gluten-free.

[Lisa]

10/26/09 I called Kremer Urban today - who manufactures Ompreazole and they say while that they do not use gluten containing products in their inactive ingredients, but they do not do post mfg testing so will not certify it gluten-free.

A typical CYA statement. Many companies will not list a products as gluten free unless they test and can verify it status by those means. With no gluten containing ingredients, I would consider it gluten free.

[Raven's Mum]

Hmmmmm....... Raven's taking this. The pharmacy has checked all her meds to make sure they are gulten free up to this point. I guess I should be checking it, or getting them to check eat time I refill a precrpicption.

[ravenwoodglass]

Hmmmmm....... Raven's taking this. The pharmacy has checked all her meds to make sure they are gulten free up to this point. I guess I should be checking it, or getting them to check eat time I refill a precrpicption.

Yes generic drugs do need to be checked at each refill. If the drug is a name brand and is gluten free it will stay that way until the patent is off, at least to my understanding. Once they have a patent they can't change the binders.

[MaryJones2]

Ravenswood is correct. Generics should be checked at each refill as the inactive ingredients and suppliers can change monthly. The inactive ingredients also vary greatly from manufacturer to manufacturer. This month Walgreens might purchase a generic from one manufacturer who uses corn starch and next month get the

[Fiddle-Faddle]

Please be aware that long-term use of Prilosec and other acid-blockers is a leading cause of B12 deficiency, as you NEED acid to properly absorb the B1 in your multivitamin. Celiacs are already at risk for B12 deficiency due to malabsorption.

If you or your child continues on Prilosec or Omeprazole for more than a couple of weeks, you should take a sublingual methylcobalamin (rather than cyanocobalamin, a different form of B12 that seems less successful) supplement. They are available OTC, and the sublingual form is nearly as effective as the B12 shots.

[ravenwoodglass]

Please be aware that long-term use of Prilosec and other acid-blockers is a leading cause of B12 deficiency, as you NEED acid to properly absorb the B1 in your multivitamin. Celiacs are already at risk for B12 deficiency due to malabsorption.

If you or your child continues on Prilosec or Omeprazole for more than a couple of weeks, you should take a sublingual methylcobalamin (rather than cyanocobalamin, a different form of B12 that seems less successful) supplement. They are available OTC, and the sublingual form is nearly as effective as the B12 shots.

This is very important to keep in mind. They also can have a 'rebound' effect when folks try to get off them when they have been taking them for a long time.

I was given a script for an acid blocker after a gluten challenge produced ulcers in my stomach. I had never had them before the challenge. I used Pepto Bismal liquid first to see if it would work and took it only when needed. I only needed to take it a few times. If you are recently diagnosed and new to the diet you may want to ask your doctor if it is okay to try the pepto first. If it doesn't help you could then go to the script blockers.

[Raven's Mum]

Please be aware that long-term use of Prilosec and other acid-blockers is a leading cause of B12 deficiency, as you NEED acid to properly absorb the B1 in your multivitamin. Celiacs are already at risk for B12 deficiency due to malabsorption.

If you or your child continues on Prilosec or Omeprazole for more than a couple of weeks, you should take a sublingual methylcobalamin (rather than cyanocobalamin, a different form of B12 that seems less successful) supplement. They are available OTC, and the sublingual form is nearly as effective as the B12 shots.

Raven gets bloodwork every few months during her CF clinic visits. I'm assuming she should be ok unless they see something she's difficient in in her bloodwork???

[Fiddle-Faddle]

Thanks, Ravenwoodglass, I did forget to mention the rebound effect, which makes you think that you NEED the acid blocker! You try to quit cold turkey, and BAM! you end up with more acid reflux than you've had in your life!

Most people need to wean off slowly.

Raven'smum, can you get copies of the bloodwork results ? That way you can check to see that they really are on top of the B12 issue.

Unfortunately, the parameters for supposedly healthy levels of serum B12 levels are set way too low in most countries. In the US, it's 200-1200, which is huge! In Japan, anything under 650 is considered to need treatment, but in the US, you can have 200 and be told that you are fine, just fine. Never mind that with levels between 200-500, you can have B12-deficiency-induced neurological problems...

Incidentally, there is a connection between B12-deficiency and Alzheimer's (B12 deficiency is known to cause dementia). Japan has the lowest rates of Alzheimer's. BY FAR.

It is also possible to be B12 deficient even with adequate serum levels, due to a deficiency in producing something called intrinsic factor, which is necessary for the absorption of the B12.

from Open Original Shared Link :

"Prolonged omeprazole treatment can result in cyanocobalamin deficiency by three possible mechanisms: 1) In hypo- or achlor-hydria, protein-bound cyanocobalamin may not be adequately

released from food for transfer to R protein and intrinsic factor; 2) omeprazole may decrease intrinsic factor secretion after long-term therapy even though no effect on intrinsic factor secretion occurred after a single intravenous dose of omeprazole (14), and 3) achlor-hydria causes gastric bacterial overgrowth that may accelerate the development of cyanocobalamin deficiency by producing vitamin B12 analogs that compete with absorption and use of the vitamin."

I guess my question would be, why is your daughter on Prilosec? If it's for reflux, is anyone looking for the source of the reflux? It might be mechanical--which WOULD make Prilosec the best option. But it might be gluten-induced--which means you've already found the source of the reflux.

[KatieS]

Hi, this is my first post... I'd been living gluten free over a year, wheat free a year before that. I was finally officially diagnosed with Celiac Disease a few weeks ago, but have been reading posts here for several months now.

I have been checking out my medications, the only ones I still had concern about was omeprazole and generic flonase. I did read all of these posts, but still decided to call about it. I get my meds from Walgreens Mail Service Pharmacy. The pharmacist I talked to was unable to confirm or deny for gluten for the two meds above, but gave me the numbers to call the manufacturers myself. I called Sandoz for the omeprazole, fairly recent manufacturer so maybe that's why it fell off the Walgreen's gluten free list??? Anyway, the man I talked to was very helpful. He said they do not use any gluten containing ingredients in omeprazole, and there are only a few other meds manufactured at that facility and none of those have gluten ingredients. He did say he could not certify gluten free as they do not do testing though. I felt that was a good answer though??

I also called Apotex, the manufacturer for the generic flonase (fluticasone proprianate?), unfortunately they were less than friendly, stating they will not be able to answer consumer questions, but I insisted I be able to leave a message anyway, and they answering message said the same thing. So, they did not call me back, shocker!! But I called Walgreen's pharmacy again and explained what was said, and they followed up and called. I got a call back quickly... Apotex, in a nut shell gave a confusing answer, if I get this right??-- that none of the inactive ingredients have gluten in them, but they can not control the what they are sent, I'm guessing by distributors of the ingredients? Well, I'm not sure I want to trust that. I even read though that brand name flonase is "suspect" anyway. I may just ask my doctor for a new script for nasal spray I know if gluten free...

After reading your posts, I think I need to start weaning myself of omeprazole anyway... I've always had heartburn, assumed GERD, but now, it seems it most likely was a side effect of the celiac disease all along!! Thanks for the info on this!!