What About My "must Take" Medications With Gluten Filler?

[utahlaura]

I'm not all healed up yeat and am still eating carefully and in bits theses days. I notice, though, when I have to take one of my regular meds ( a big honkin' horse pill) that I have a slight but definite reaction to the filler in it. The reaction isn't horrible like a full blown one, so that's not my main concern.

Here's my question, though. Especially right now while I'm still healing, is this harming my progress? And what about when I'm finally much better..will this medication be dangerous to me as far as causing underlying damage?

[ShayFL]

Have you called to see if it is gluten free? Are there other brands of this drug available?

[Lisa]

Yes, I would contact that manufacturer. I have found that many/most meds do not contain any gluten, and if so a substitution may be available.

[GlutenGalAZ]

I am at work so I don't have access to my medicine list (there is a website online but is not always current).

I would call your pharmacy and get the 800 line to call the medicine company and inquire with them if the pill is gluten free.

If you are reacting to the pill (if it contains gluten) then you will always react to it. Some pills there are other generics that you can be chagned to. If you pharmacy is nice you can always ask what substitutes there are and check with the companies then talk to your doctor about what to do (just my opinon) if you check into other options then you at least are aware what is gluten free and not so when you talk to your dr if he suggests one that you know has gluten then you can see what else he can do.

Good Luck

[utahlaura]

Thanks so much, you guys for responding so fast. trouble is, though, this drug is very new and "advanced" There are no substitutes at least for me and of course no generics yet. But what about the potential damage thing? Is just this tiny little bit going to harm me? I'm 99% sure it's a gluten response. You get to recognise those pretty well after al while, ya know?

[missy'smom]

You should still contact the manufacturer and find out one way or another. Playing "what if" is not helpful. You need to collect accurate information and then proceed from there. Don't take this the wrong way as being harsh, I had to train myself to do just this.

[home-based-mom]

If it turns out this pill does contain gluten, pm Rachel--24. I'm almost positive she posted somewhere that she had some medications specially formulated just for her according to her sensitivities, and I think others may have had to do that as well.

[Lisa]

Perhaps this may help:

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[Phyllis28]

Yes, it is possible to have pills "custom made". You need to find a compounding pharmacy. I had to do this with one medication when a manufactured gluten free one was not available.

[larry mac]

Perhaps this may help:

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My Dear MG,

I noticed your list omits Oxycontin, a prescription drug abused by many in recent years. It's appearently somewhat addicting. Even Rush Limbaugh was hooked on it. I guess he's not a Celiac.

I've never had the occasion to take it. When I was recovering from surgeries, in extreme pain, taking Vicodin and other medications, I jokingly said to my wife (a nurse) that maybe I needed some Oxycontin. She got mad about it, saying I certainly did not need it! Easy for her to say so, since I was the one suffering. I guess she was right though, as I survived.

best regards, lm

[Gluten-Free Guy]

You asked about potential damage. Gluten, even in trace amounts, causes internal damage. I don't remember where I found this paragraph, but it clearly explains why you should never, never, never consume gluten in any amount: "The gluten-free diet must be carefully and continuously followed. When untreated, the disease can cause life-threatening complications. A delayed diagnosis or non-compliance with the diet places the patient at risk for developing associated conditions such as infertility, miscarriage, osteoporosis, fractures, certain types of intestinal cancer, lymphoma, or other autoimmune disorders. Continued consumption of gluten increases the chance of gastrointestinal cancer by a factor or 40 to 100 times that of the normal population."

You're in a tough spot, since your medication is new. As the others have already said, you may have to consider contacting a pharmacy that can custom-make your prescription.

Have you confirmed with the manufacturer that your drug does indeed contain gluten, or do you only suspect that it does? Without confirmation, it may be that something other than the drug is causing your problem. Hidden gluten and cross contamination are always big suspects. If you eat out, that creates considerable risk.

[ek327]

Sometimes it is HARD to find information about gluten fillers in pills. I am a nurse practitioner, with several patients who have celiac. I have developed DH and my daughter now has celiac (as of about a month ago). I have done alot of searching in the past for patients, and its tough. Most meds do have similar meds made by another manufacturer. some drug companies generally use non gluten binders. Look for the information, and talk to your primary care provider. While I admit, it takes us time, we often can find acceptable alternatives.

as for compounded medications--if it is a medication still covered by patent rights, it can't be "compounded". You also need to be careful about compounded medications, which often aren't approved. work with your pharmacist and primary care provider.

[darlindeb25]

I'm sorry to say, you can not trust www.glutenfreedrugs.com ! I am very disappointed in the fact that they still list Xanax (all forms) as gluten free. It isn't!!! I had to search and search to find a gluten free form of Xanax, and there are only 2 or 3 companies that make it gluten free. Glutenfreedrugs.com still list Pfizer labs as a safe Xanax, and it's not. Nor is Greenstones, a sudsidiary of Pfizer. Yes, I did my homework, I called their 800 line and spoke with the pharmicist there. He was adamant that their Xanax has always contained gluten. I had always reacted to it, but, because glutenfreedrugs.com said it was safe, I thought maybe what I went through was some other kind of reaction. Now, I have my Xanax (alprazolam) from Mylan Labs...never a reaction to it anymore. I personally do not trust Pfizer.

Please be very careful trusting websites for the gluten free status of drugs. ALWAYS call the lab and ask directly. You can try to get 800# from your pharmicist, or often you can find the phone #'s online. Most pharmicist's do not know the gluten free status either.

[Lisa]

I'm sorry to say, you can not trust www.glutenfreedrugs.com ! I am very disappointed in the fact that they still list Xanax (all forms) as gluten free. It isn't!!! I had to search and search to find a gluten free form of Xanax, and there are only 2 or 3 companies that make it gluten free. Glutenfreedrugs.com still list Pfizer labs as a safe Xanax, and it's not. Nor is Greenstones, a sudsidiary of Pfizer. Yes, I did my homework, I called their 800 line and spoke with the pharmicist there. He was adamant that their Xanax has always contained gluten. I had always reacted to it, but, because glutenfreedrugs.com said it was safe, I thought maybe what I went through was some other kind of reaction. Now, I have my Xanax (alprazolam) from Mylan Labs...never a reaction to it anymore. I personally do not trust Pfizer.

Please be very careful trusting websites for the gluten free status of drugs. ALWAYS call the lab and ask directly. You can try to get 800# from your pharmicist, or often you can find the phone #'s online. Most pharmicist's do not know the gluten free status either.

Deb,

If you are certain that Xanax contains gluten, I would suggest that you contact the pharmacist that owns/operates the gluten free drugs site and inform him of your "homework". There is contact information on the site. I'm certain that your efforts would be appreciated.

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