Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Ugh Pharmacists

Googles

By Googles
in Coping with Celiac Disease

Recommended Posts

Googles Community Regular
Googles
Posted

I just got a new prescription and needed to decide which pharmacy to send it into based on cost and gluten-freeness. So I called the Costco pharmacy to see if the generic medication they carried was gluten free as the name-brand was more than $150 more expensive. I got transferred to a pharmacist who was of no help what so ever. I ended up asking for the name and phone number of the pharmacutical company that made the drug and the phone number they gave wasn't even correct! She was asking me what things I could take and sent me to a website to check (after which I told her that wouldn't work unless I knew what company they were using to supply them with the drug.) She said that some of the companies will say they have gluten in them because they contain sugar alcohols that sometimes reacts the same way as gluten. Does anyone know what she was talking about and the veracity of her statement? It just left me very confused. So in the end I am going to a more expensive pharmacy, but one that seems to know how to check if drugs are gluten free.

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


kareng Grand Master
kareng
Posted

Target has been helpful & called the companies. The best you can get from alot of the drug companies is that they do not add any gluten ingredients. They won't actually say gluten-free. Walgreens was very unhelpful. They are not allowed to check on gluten-free status of medicine. When I wrote the company headquarters to complain, they told me to discuss this with the pharmacist.

jerseyangel Proficient
jerseyangel
Posted

I've had very good luck with Wal Mart--they have my information in their system and will call to verify with the drug manufacturer whether the drug is ok for me. Not all locations may be as helpful, though.

CVS was of no help to me at all....

The best way to figure it out is to get the name of the drug company, Google it, and call them yourself.

Luddie Newbie
Luddie
Posted

I just got a new prescription and needed to decide which pharmacy to send it into based on cost and gluten-freeness. So I called the Costco pharmacy to see if the generic medication they carried was gluten free as the name-brand was more than $150 more expensive. I got transferred to a pharmacist who was of no help what so ever. I ended up asking for the name and phone number of the pharmacutical company that made the drug and the phone number they gave wasn't even correct! She was asking me what things I could take and sent me to a website to check (after which I told her that wouldn't work unless I knew what company they were using to supply them with the drug.) She said that some of the companies will say they have gluten in them because they contain sugar alcohols that sometimes reacts the same way as gluten. Does anyone know what she was talking about and the veracity of her statement? It just left me very confused. So in the end I am going to a more expensive pharmacy, but one that seems to know how to check if drugs are gluten free.

I have had similar experiences. However, when I phoned the manufacturer (Mylan for generic thyroid meds) the consumer rep was most courteous and really tried to be helpful. She looked at the ingredients and said that there were "no gluten products added" and that the alcohol was synthetic. I asked if they assayed the finished product and of course the answer was no. I then asked if they had changed the formulation or had changed suppliers in the past year (when I started getting glutened). She said that any time a new supplier comes along they have to fill out and file with the company answers to a bunch of questions.. And, she said she had been there for 5 years and this profile had never changed. So that leaves me with the further question of where do the suppliers get their raw materials? I've heard that some come from China and even from Eastern Europe. So, how would we ever be able to find out? Even when people are very nice and helpful, they simply may not know. We have to get the legislation passed so that "gluten free" actually has a definition in the U.S. Canada has it as far as I know (correct me if I'm wrong). That would certainly make our lives much easier!

psawyer Proficient
psawyer
Posted

Canada has it as far as I know (correct me if I'm wrong). That would certainly make our lives much easier!

Here is the applicable Canadian regulation. It applies to food sold in Canada, but food sold outside Canada may not have to adhere to the rule.

Food and Drug Regulation B.24.018

No person shall label, package, sell or advertise a food in a manner likely to create an impression that it is gluten-free unless the food does not contain wheat, including spelt and kamut, or oats, barley, rye or triticale or any part thereof.

Under this rule, gluten-free means gluten-free. It even goes so far as to say that selling "gluten-free oats" is illegal in Canada. It is so restrictive, when taken with another regulation, that many foods that are actually gluten-free may not legally be so labeled.

Luddie Newbie
Luddie
Posted

Here is the applicable Canadian regulation. It applies to food sold in Canada, but food sold outside Canada may not have to adhere to the rule.

Food and Drug Regulation B.24.018

No person shall label, package, sell or advertise a food in a manner likely to create an impression that it is gluten-free unless the food does not contain wheat, including spelt and kamut, or oats, barley, rye or triticale or any part thereof.

Under this rule, gluten-free means gluten-free. It even goes so far as to say that selling "gluten-free oats" is illegal in Canada. It is so restrictive, when taken with another regulation, that many foods that are actually gluten-free may not legally be so labeled.

Wow! I hope we can get this sort of legislation enacted here!! Thanks for the specifics.

  • 3 weeks later...
Asianmom Newbie
Asianmom
Posted

I am dealing with this today too!!! I am 7 1/2 weeks pregnant and SO sick with all day/morning sickness. My OB was great and talked to a pharmacist in house to find out what meds I could take that were gluten free. 1 came up...so they called it into CVS. I LOVE my CVS pharmacist, but when I went to pick it up...it was generic. I asked if she checked to see if the generic was gluten free...because the branded was. She said I guess. So she pulled up the information and said...I think so but not sure. REALLY? You can't even really check??? I just talked to a great customer service guy at headquarters and a main pharmacist for CVS will call me today to find out. The manufacturer to this generic is in germany and I sent them an email 1 1/2 days ago with no response.

Why is it that pharmacist treat drug interactions very seriously...but something as serious as gluten is just brushed off?

THANKS!

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


compucajun Rookie
compucajun
Posted

Target has been helpful & called the companies. The best you can get from alot of the drug companies is that they do not add any gluten ingredients. They won't actually say gluten-free. Walgreens was very unhelpful. They are not allowed to check on gluten-free status of medicine. When I wrote the company headquarters to complain, they told me to discuss this with the pharmacist.

I had the same experience with Walgreens - very unhelpful to the point of being RUDE !

I found a small, local pharmacy about 50 miles from my house that helps me.

It is a far drive, but it is better than being sick

I've been working out a schedule where they can mail me a three month's supply of my daily meds.

FarmCat Newbie
FarmCat
Posted

psawyer, on 12 January 2011 - 08:57 PM, said:

"Here is the applicable Canadian regulation. It applies to food sold in Canada, but food sold outside Canada may not have to adhere to the rule.

Food and Drug Regulation B.24.018

No person shall label, package, sell or advertise a food in a manner likely to create an impression that it is gluten-free unless the food does not contain wheat, including spelt and kamut, or oats, barley, rye or triticale or any part thereof.

Under this rule, gluten-free means gluten-free. It even goes so far as to say that selling "gluten-free oats" is illegal in Canada. It is so restrictive, when taken with another regulation, that many foods that are actually gluten-free may not legally be so labeled."

PLEASE note that the above regulation specifically states FOOD and not DRUGS. I don't know about Canada, but I do know about the United States. The allergen labelling that is required for food is NOT required for drugs in the United States, and it may be the same in Canada.

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):



    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):



  • Recent Activity

    1. Churley
      - Churley replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      10

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

      Have you tried Pure Encapsulations supplements? This is a brand my doctor recommends for me. I have no issues with this brand.
    2. asaT
      - asaT replied to Scott Adams's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      48

      Supplements for those Diagnosed with Celiac Disease

      plant sources of calcium, such as spinach, have calcium bound to oxalates, which is not good. best source of calcium is unfortunately dairy, do you tolerate dairy? fermented dairy like kefir is good and or a little hard cheese. i do eat dairy, i can only take so much dietary restriction and gluten is hard enough! but i guess some people do have bad reactions...
    3. asaT
      - asaT replied to Scott Adams's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      48

      Supplements for those Diagnosed with Celiac Disease

      i take b12, folate, b2, b6, glycine, Nac, zinc, vk2 mk4, magnesium, coq10, pqq, tmg, creatine, omega 3, molybdnem (sp) and just started vit d. quite a list i know. I have high homocysteine (last checked it was 19, but is always high and i finally decided to do something about it) and very low vitamin d, 10. have been opposed to this supp in the past...
    4. nanny marley
      - nanny marley replied to hjayne19's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      20

      Insomnia help

      Great advise there I agree with the aniexty part, and the aura migraine has I suffer both, I've also read some great books that have helped I'm going too look the one you mentioned up too thankyou for that, I find a camomile tea just a small one and a gentle wind down before bed has helped me too, I suffer from restless leg syndrome and nerve pain hence I...
    5. David Blake
      - David Blake commented on Scott Adams's article in Product Labeling Regulations
      1

      FDA Moves to Improve Gluten Labeling—What It Means for People With Celiac Disease

      My question I have proposed to the FDA through their website is why Prescription and OTC drug manufacturers are not required to list what binding ingredients were used to bine the drug? They list this on Capsules which are made of cellulose but not on pills? As it stands I or my pharmacist must contact the manufacturer to find out and my list is long from...
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      133,344
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Scottweath
    Newest Member
    Scottweath
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.6k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

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

      By Churley · Posted

      Have you tried Pure Encapsulations supplements? This is a brand my doctor recommends for me. I have no issues with this brand.
    • asaT
      Supplements for those Diagnosed with Celiac Disease

      By asaT · Posted

      plant sources of calcium, such as spinach, have calcium bound to oxalates, which is not good. best source of calcium is unfortunately dairy, do you tolerate dairy? fermented dairy like kefir is good and or a little hard cheese. i do eat dairy, i can only take so much dietary restriction and gluten is hard enough! but i guess some people do have bad reactions to it, so different for everyone.  
    • asaT
      Supplements for those Diagnosed with Celiac Disease

      By asaT · Posted

      i take b12, folate, b2, b6, glycine, Nac, zinc, vk2 mk4, magnesium, coq10, pqq, tmg, creatine, omega 3, molybdnem (sp) and just started vit d. quite a list i know.  I have high homocysteine (last checked it was 19, but is always high and i finally decided to do something about it) and very low vitamin d, 10. have been opposed to this supp in the past, but going to try it at 5k units a day. having a pth test on friday, which is suspect will be high. my homocysteine has come down to around 9 with 3 weeks of these supplements and expect it to go down further. i also started on estrogen/progesterone. I have osteoporosis too, so that is why the hormones.  anyway, i think all celiacs should have homocysteine checked and treated if needed (easy enough with b vit, tmg). homocysteine very bad thing to be high for a whole host of reasons. all the bad ones, heart attack , stroke, alzi, cancer..... one of the most annoying things about celiacs (and there are so many!) is the weight gain. i guess i stayed thin all those years being undiagnosed because i was under absorbing everything including calories. going gluten-free and the weight gain has been terrible, 30#, but i'm sure a lot more went into that (hip replacement - and years of hip pain leading to inactivity when i was previously very active, probably all related to celiacs, menopause) yada yada. i seemed to lose appetite control, like there was low glp, or leptin or whatever all those hormones are that tell you that you are full and to stop eating. my appetite is immense and i'm never full. i guess decades or more ( i think i have had celiacs since at least my teens - was hospitalized for abdominal pain and diarrhea for which spastic colon was eventually diagnosed and had many episodes of diarrhea/abdominal pain through my 20's. but that symptom seemed to go away and i related it to dairy much more so than gluten. Also my growth was stunted, i'm the only shorty in my family. anyway, decades of malabsorption and maldigestion led to constant hunger, at least thats my theory. then when i started absorbing normally, wham!! FAT!!!    
    • nanny marley
      Insomnia help

      By nanny marley · Posted

      Great advise there I agree with the aniexty part, and the aura migraine has I suffer both, I've also read some great books that have helped I'm going too look the one you mentioned up too thankyou for that, I find a camomile tea just a small one and a gentle wind down before bed has helped me too, I suffer from restless leg syndrome and nerve pain hence I don't always sleep well at the best of times , racing mind catches up I have decorated my whole house in one night in my mind before 🤣 diet changes mindset really help , although I have to say it never just disappears, I find once I came to terms with who I am I managed a lot better  , a misconception is for many to change , that means to heal but that's not always the case , understanding and finding your coping mechanisms are vital tools , it's more productive to find that because there is no failure then no pressure to become something else , it's ok to be sad it's ok to not sleep , it's ok to worry , just try to see it has a journey not a task 🤗
    • nanny marley
      nothing has changed

      By nanny marley · Posted

      I agree there I've tryed this myself to prove I can't eat gluten or lactose and it sets me back for about a month till I have to go back to being very strict to settle again 
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.