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Generic Plaquenil (Hydroxychloroquine)

splinky

By splinky
in Coping with Celiac Disease

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splinky Newbie
splinky
Posted

Hi, I'm taking Plaquenil for Lupus type symptoms and I know that the brand name product is gluten free but at $75 a month difference, I'd love to take the generic. I've tried to contact Mylan and so has my pharmacist but we can't get a definite answer. Does anyone here have a line into Mylan? I'd like to be sure before I make a switch but noone at Mylan seems to know the answer. Help!!!!!! Thanks

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GFRPH Newbie
GFRPH
Posted

Hi, I'm taking Plaquenil for Lupus type symptoms and I know that the brand name product is gluten free but at $75 a month difference, I'd love to take the generic. I've tried to contact Mylan and so has my pharmacist but we can't get a definite answer. Does anyone here have a line into Mylan? I'd like to be sure before I make a switch but noone at Mylan seems to know the answer. Help!!!!!! Thanks

I'm a pharmacist with Celiac disease and I know how frustrating it can be to get a straight answer from some of these drug companies. Often they don't want to say their products are gluten free, even though they should be, because of the very low possibility of cross contamination. There's a wonderful pharmacist, Steve Plogsted, who researches tons of medications to determine if they are gluten free. He's finding that some companies are saying that their products are not gluten free because they contain sugar alcohols, which are gluten free. He has a website www.glutenfreedrugs.com. He maintains a list of drugs that are gluten free. Unfortunately, hydroxychloroquine was not on it. That doesnt necessarily mean that it's not gluten free though. He also has a list of ingredients found in medication and whether they are

gluten free or not. You and your pharmacist can use that list compared with the ingredients for hydroxychloroquine (listed in the package insert) to determine if there are any suspect ingredients. Then, using that information, you can call the company and push them as to what they say the source of gluten is. If it's cc or sugar alcohols, then it's gluten free. Mylan used to claim that all of their drugs are gluten free so I suspect it is gluten free but I would push them on what they say is the source of gluten. Also, many companies will say that there are no gluten ingredients used but the final product is not tested so they cannot say that it is gluten free. That's legalese for gluten free.

splinky Newbie
splinky
Posted
  • Author

I'm a pharmacist with Celiac disease and I know how frustrating it can be to get a straight answer from some of these drug companies. Often they don't want to say their products are gluten free, even though they should be, because of the very low possibility of cross contamination. There's a wonderful pharmacist, Steve Plogsted, who researches tons of medications to determine if they are gluten free. He's finding that some companies are saying that their products are not gluten free because they contain sugar alcohols, which are gluten free. He has a website www.glutenfreedrugs.com. He maintains a list of drugs that are gluten free. Unfortunately, hydroxychloroquine was not on it. That doesnt necessarily mean that it's not gluten free though. He also has a list of ingredients found in medication and whether they are

gluten free or not. You and your pharmacist can use that list compared with the ingredients for hydroxychloroquine (listed in the package insert) to determine if there are any suspect ingredients. Then, using that information, you can call the company and push them as to what they say the source of gluten is. If it's cc or sugar alcohols, then it's gluten free. Mylan used to claim that all of their drugs are gluten free so I suspect it is gluten free but I would push them on what they say is the source of gluten. Also, many companies will say that there are no gluten ingredients used but the final product is not tested so they cannot say that it is gluten free. That's legalese for gluten free.

Thanks very much for your response. I'm also allergic to beet sugar so I guess checking the sugar alcohols is a pretty good idea, in any event. I'll check out the website and share it with my pharmacist. Thanks again

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      I do not know this, but since they are labelled gluten-free, and are not really a product that could easily be contaminated when making them (there would be not flour in the air of such a facility, for example), I don't really see contamination as something to be concerned about for this type of product. 
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      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

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      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

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      Thanks @Scott Adams. Do you know if Kirkland Signature supplements share facility and production lines with other products containing gluten?  I'm worried that I'll react to this brand just like I did with other gluten-free labelled supplement brands. 
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      Unexpected gluten exposure risk from cultivated mushrooms

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      Unexpected gluten exposure risk from cultivated mushrooms

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      This is a really common area of confusion. Most natural cheeses (cheddar, Swiss, mozzarella, Parmesan, brie, camembert, and most blue cheeses) are inherently gluten-free, and you’re right that the molds used today are typically grown on gluten-free media. The bigger risks tend to come from processed cheeses: shredded cheese (anti-caking agents), cheese spreads, beer-washed rinds, smoke-flavored cheeses, and anything with added seasonings or “natural flavors,” where cross-contact can happen. As for yeast, you’re also correct — yeast itself is gluten-free. The issue is the source: brewer’s yeast and yeast extracts can be derived from barley unless labeled gluten-free, while baker’s yeast is generally safe. When in doubt, sticking with whole, unprocessed cheeses and products specifically labeled gluten-free is the safest approach, especially if you’re highly sensitive.
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