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

Exact Opposite Reaction To Meds?


Duhlina

Recommended Posts

Duhlina Apprentice

All my life I seem to have the exact opposite reaction to medications. If I take Nyquil, it's like speed and I'm up all night, same with Benadryl - most people take these and are down for the count. I also seem to have a very high tolerance to pain meds. Basically nothing works. The last time I went to the ER I had an abscessed tooth. They ended up prescribing me Dilaudid (morphine derivative) because nothing else works....well, Darvocet worked but it's been taken off the market. Even the Dilaudid did squat for me! Nothing works! I end up taking one more than I should and then I get sick from it.

Is this something that the celiac causes? Am I the only person that has this symptom?


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



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



lovegrov Collaborator

I know folks without celiac who have the same thing with Nyqui and Benadryl. And some folks simply have a high resistance to pain meds. Pretty hard to pin it on celiac.

richard

Jestgar Rising Star

It can happen to anyone. It's related to body chemistry, not celiac disease.

love2travel Mentor

I have always had this problem as well but do not see a link to my celiac. Benadryl, morphine, Demerol, Oxycontin - you name it, they have kept me wired and wide awake! :angry:

However, my chronic pain management doctor told me that those with fibromyalgia (myself) are extremely sensitive to meds and that side effects can be much worse than those who do not have FMS. And as FMS is an auto-immune disease as well, who knows whether there is a correlation? :huh:

Strawberry-Jam Enthusiast

I have the same problem. There are some medicines like that which keep me up but if I take half the dose they put me down.

Caffeine makes me alert if I have one cup of tea, and sleepy if I have a cup of coffee's worth or more.

Pain medications don't work for my headaches, but do help with cramps so idk if I am immune to pain meds or if only my headaches are immune to pain meds.

My mother has the same problem but does not have celiac.

mushroom Proficient

Yeah, Nyquil, Benadryl = speed; sleeping pills = insomnia, antidepressants (well, the only one I ever took) made me depressed), pain meds - the onlly thing that works is Demerol (all morphine derivatives make me vomit :huh: , Tylenol will take the edge off something mild :) I am a contrarian when it comes to most meds :blink: But I don't know of a connection to celiac.

T.H. Community Regular

Theoretically, it could contribute.

Celiacs don't just absorb nutrients properly, we can potentially not absorb meds properly as well, when we're undiagnosed. So some ingredients of the meds may be absorbing at different rates than they should, or in different amounts than they should, so they might be having different effects. The side effects might be more likely to occur if we're not absorbing the meds properly, possibly.

That said, my GI doc (he's the celiac go-to guy in my city) said that a much higher percentage of his patients with celiac disease seem to have more issues with medicine side effects. I know that myself, my daughter, and my grandmother (who we suspect had it) always get lots of bizarro side effects to medicines we've had to take.


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



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



mushroom Proficient

Theoretically, it could contribute.

Celiacs don't just absorb nutrients properly, we can potentially not absorb meds properly as well, when we're undiagnosed. So some ingredients of the meds may be absorbing at different rates than they should, or in different amounts than they should, so they might be having different effects. The side effects might be more likely to occur if we're not absorbing the meds properly, possibly.

That said, my GI doc (he's the celiac go-to guy in my city) said that a much higher percentage of his patients with celiac disease seem to have more issues with medicine side effects. I know that myself, my daughter, and my grandmother (who we suspect had it) always get lots of bizarro side effects to medicines we've had to take.

Could be, although I would think (hope :o ) I am absorbing better now. Just had a "bizarro" summer where I was tried on lots of different meds and reacted to most of them in one way or another that meant I couldn't take them. I even reacted to meds (two antibiotics) I have tolerated fine before. The fewer meds I take the better :ph34r:

pricklypear1971 Community Regular

I'm one of those that overreacts. Recently to corticosteroids, antibiotics....,

Ironically I can drink coffee all night and go to sleep in a blink. But give me ONE EXCEDRIN....and I'm cleaning my room and reorganizing drawers with a 102+ fever.

I'm just weird.

Archived

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


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,912
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    westman3d
    Newest Member
    westman3d
    Joined

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):


  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):





  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):



  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Rogol72
      @klmgarland, My dermatitis herpetiformis didn't clear up until I became meticulous about cross contamination. I cut out gluten-free oats and all gluten-free foods, dairy and gluten-free rice. Additionally, getting the right amount of protein for my body weight helped significantly in my body's healing process ... along with supplementing with enough of all the vitamins and minerals ... especially Zinc and Magnesium. I went from 70kg to 82kg in a year. Protein with each meal 3 times daily, especially eggs at breakfast made the difference. I'm not sure whether iodine was a problem for me, but I can tolerate iodine no problem now. I'm off Dapsone and feel great. Not a sign of an itch. So there is hope. I'm not advocating for the use of Dapsone, but it can bring a huge amount of relief despite it's effect on red blood cells. The itch is so distracting and debilitating. I tried many times to get off it, it wasn't until I implemented the changes above and was consistent that I got off it. Dermatitis Herpetiformis is horrible, I wouldn't wish it on anyone.  
    • klmgarland
      Thank you so very much Scott.  Just having someone understand my situation is so very helpful.  If I have one more family member ask me how my little itchy skin thing is going and can't you just take a pill and it will go away and just a little bit of gluten can't hurt you!!!! I think I will scream!!
    • Scott Adams
      It is difficult to do the detective work of tracking down hidden sources of cross-contamination. The scenarios you described—the kiss, the dish towel, the toaster, the grandbaby's fingers—are all classic ways those with dermatitis herpetiformis might get glutened, and it's a brutal learning curve that the medical world rarely prepares you for. It is difficult to have to deal with such hyper-vigilance. The fact that you have made your entire home environment, from makeup to cleaners, gluten-free is a big achievement, but it's clear the external world and shared spaces remain a minefield. Considering Dapsone is a logical and often necessary step for many with DH to break the cycle of itching and allow the skin to heal while you continue your detective work; it is a powerful tool to give you back your quality of life and sleep. You are not failing; you are fighting an incredibly steep battle. For a more specific direction, connecting with a dedicated celiac support group (online or locally) can be invaluable, as members exchange the most current, real-world tips for avoiding cross-contamination that you simply won't find in a pamphlet. You have already done the hardest part by getting a correct diagnosis. Now, the community can help you navigate the rest. If you have DH you will likely also want to avoid iodine, which is common in seafoods and dairy products, as it can exacerbate symptoms in some people. This article may also be helpful as it offers various ways to relieve the itch:  
    • Scott Adams
      It's very frustrating to be dismissed by medical professionals, especially when you are the one living with the reality of your condition every day. Having to be your own advocate and "fight" for a doctor who will listen is an exhausting burden that no one should have to carry. While that 1998 brochure is a crucial piece of your personal history, it's infuriating that the medical system often requires more contemporary, formal documentation to take a condition seriously. It's a common and deeply unfair situation for those who were diagnosed decades ago, before current record-keeping and testing were standard. You are not alone in this struggle.
    • Scott Adams
      Methylprednisolone is sometimes prescribed for significant inflammation of the stomach and intestines, particularly for conditions like Crohn's disease, certain types of severe colitis, or autoimmune-related gastrointestinal inflammation. As a corticosteroid, it works by powerfully and quickly suppressing the immune system's inflammatory response. For many people, it can be very effective at reducing inflammation and providing rapid relief from symptoms like pain, diarrhea, and bleeding, often serving as a short-term "rescue" treatment to bring a severe flare under control. However, experiences can vary, and its effectiveness depends heavily on the specific cause of the inflammation. It's also important to be aware that while it can work well, it comes with potential side effects, especially with longer-term use, so it's typically used for the shortest duration possible under close medical supervision. It's always best to discuss the potential benefits and risks specific to your situation with your gastroenterologist.
×
×
  • 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.