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  • Sarah Curcio
    Sarah Curcio

    By Sarah Curcio •

    Gluten-Free Prescription Medications and Dietary Supplements

    Reviewed and edited by a celiac disease expert.

    Prescriptions don't include "gluten-free" on their labels, and, unlike foods, are also not required to list any of the top eight common food allergens that they might contain.

    Gluten-Free Prescription Medications and Dietary Supplements - Image: CC BY 2.0--r.nial.bradshaw
    Caption: Image: CC BY 2.0--r.nial.bradshaw

    Celiac.com 11/30/2021 - We all know symptoms of celiac disease are activated by the consumption of gluten, which can be found in wheat, barley, rye, and even oats that aren’t certified gluten-free. Most individuals who go on a gluten-free diet will think about food only, not necessarily medications. However, the truth of the matter is you need to be careful with both nutritional supplements, and over-the-counter and prescription medications, as they could contain gluten. 

    More often than not, excipients, which are binding agents or inactive ingredients in pills, tend to contain wheat, potato, corn, or rice. Additionally, even if a brand name drug is gluten-free, this does not mean that its generic version is. Nutritional supplements tend to be easier because a lot of companies now label their bottles "gluten-free", or list all ingredients used in them on the packaging. For supplements that are not clearly labelled, checking the product on their company Web site is the best way to be sure, and sometimes you may need to call the manufacturer directly. 

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    Currently, however, prescriptions don't include "gluten-free" on their labels, and, unlike foods, are also not required to list any of the top eight common food allergens that they might contain. If you know your pharmacist well, they might be able to assist you, or you could reach out directly to the manufacturer. Another option is the Dailymed Web site which allows you to search for most prescription medications, including their generic equivalents, to find out what inactive ingredients are used to make them.

    Search for inactive ingredients and allergens contained in prescription medications:

    Below are some potential suspect inactive ingredients that could contain gluten if their source is not specified:

    • Modified starch 
    • Pregelatinized starch
    • Pregelatinized modified starch
    • Dextrates
    • Dextrin
    • Dextrimaltose
    • Caramel coloring 

    So, the next time you have to refill a prescription keep this information handy. That way, you protect your villi from further damage. 

    Reference: 


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    Helen Vajk

    The pharmaceutical industry makes a profit better than the food industry.  So why is there any excuse for not knowing and testing whether the 8 main allergens are in the medications that we are PAYING FOR? Some years ago I had to get anti-malaria meds before a medical trip to West Africa.  Several email conversations with GlaxoSmithKlein not helpful.  Finally filled the prescription, took one Malarone at home.  Seriously not gluten-free.   Luckily doxycycline works, found from celiac site that it was OK.  What happened the gluten in medication bill reintroduced in April 2021? 

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    rock503
      On 12/6/2021 at 10:47 PM, Helen Vajk said:

    The pharmaceutical industry makes a profit better than the food industry.  So why is there any excuse for not knowing and testing whether the 8 main allergens are in the medications that we are PAYING FOR? Some years ago I had to get anti-malaria meds before a medical trip to West Africa.  Several email conversations with GlaxoSmithKlein not helpful.  Finally filled the prescription, took one Malarone at home.  Seriously not gluten-free.   Luckily doxycycline works, found from celiac site that it was OK.  What happened the gluten in medication bill reintroduced in April 2021? 

    Expand Quote  

    It makes absolutely no sense that FDA regulated prescription medications do not disclose allergens. Feels like class action lawsuit.

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    Guest Amk
      On 12/6/2021 at 10:47 PM, Helen Vajk said:

    The pharmaceutical industry makes a profit better than the food industry.  So why is there any excuse for not knowing and testing whether the 8 main allergens are in the medications that we are PAYING FOR? Some years ago I had to get anti-malaria meds before a medical trip to West Africa.  Several email conversations with GlaxoSmithKlein not helpful.  Finally filled the prescription, took one Malarone at home.  Seriously not gluten-free.   Luckily doxycycline works, found from celiac site that it was OK.  What happened the gluten in medication bill reintroduced in April 2021? 

    Expand Quote  

    I couldn’t agree more with the frustration shared here.  I have celiac and genetically high cholesterol and am on crestor, which cannot be confirmed to be gluten-free.  The generic forms are not gluten-free with the exception of one that I cannot be guaranteed to be dispensed from one particular manufacturer (Mylan).  My very well-known insurance company will not cover my Crestor and I am paying over $400 for one month supply of crestor.  I’ve appealed numerous times to no avail.  Even though the insurance company paperwork says to let them know if I am allergic to any incredients in the medication and to contact them for help.  Gluten-free labeling, and overall acceptance as gluten as an allergen or instigator of auto-immune disease is very needed within the pharmaceutical industry.

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    trents

    And the problem with generics is that the dispensing pharmacy will often switch manufacturers to get better prices. That and the fact that much of our medication is manufactured in China which makes it difficult to monitor compliance with allergen concerns.

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    Rebmes

    A couple of years ago, a study was done on off-brand supplements, and it was found that many of them use things like peanuts as a filler, and this is not identified on the label.

    We have a long way to go before allergens are properly identified in our foods, or medications.

    The worst part is that Celiac patients generally have other conditions and/or diseases, for which they require medications that can contain gluten. Our governments continue to let us down, and sometimes, I wonder if it's intentional.

     

     

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    Guest Sigmund Fraud

    Guest Sigmund Fraud

    Posted

      On 12/17/2021 at 10:31 PM, Rebmes said:

    A couple of years ago, a study was done on off-brand supplements, and it was found that many of them use things like peanuts as a filler, and this is not identified on the label.

    We have a long way to go before allergens are properly identified in our foods, or medications.

    The worst part is that Celiac patients generally have other conditions and/or diseases, for which they require medications that can contain gluten. Our governments continue to let us down, and sometimes, I wonder if it's intentional.

     

     

    Expand Quote  

    Drug companies bought and owned the politicians. They basically write the legislation. Nothing going to change until we stop treating big Pharma like gods. Drug companies will only do what is right if they are forced to 

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  • About Me

    Sarah Curcio

    Sarah Curcio is a health and wellness writer and advocate. She's also an Amazon Best Selling Author. 

    She has worked with many different coaches, but her real passion is working with health coaches. 

    Since 2011, she has been the founder and leader of Celiac and Allergy Support. Come and join the support group here: www.meetup.com/allergy.

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