gluten in birth control pills??

Ange7894 · Joined: 27 May 2006 Posts: 125 Location: Meriden, CT

Hi all,

I hope someone can guide me in the right direction because I'm having no luck with my doc's office or the pharmacy. Does anyone know if any of the birth control pill brands out there contain gluten, and if some don't, what are they so I can talk to my doc about them? I talked to my doc about my CD issue and she put me on the patch to avoid the possibility that the pills could contain gluten. But I'm not liking it very much. In fact, I'm hating how my body has been feeling since been on it, and I'd really like to try the pills again (I was on them many years ago).

Thanks!
Ange.
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Sheralyn · Joined: 23 Oct 2006 Posts: 162 Location: Utah

Call and check.

here is a link with listed BC pills gluten free

http://homepage.mac.com/sholland/celiac/GFmedlist.pdf

aklap · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 7795 Location: WI, USA

Hi Ange,

Sorry to hear that. If you use that GF Med list - please verify [verbally or email] the product with the drug company just to make sure. That list was published in Oct, while it's recent, it never hurts to double & triple check stuff. Smile

Good luck!
_________________
Al

“We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa

Sheralyn · Joined: 23 Oct 2006 Posts: 162 Location: Utah

I'm really mad. When I checked the list in the previous thead it said, "Ortho Tri Cyclen" is gluten free. Since I'm on Ortho Tri Cyclen lo, I thought it was gluten free too. After I saw what Al wrote I figured I had better call the company to find out, about Ortho Tri Cyclen Lo.
The lady at Ortho McNeil didn't even know if they had gluten in them. She told me to ask my doctor. Shocked

HOW SHOULD SHE KNOW, THEY SHOULD KNOW WHAT GOES INTO THIER OWN PILLS. When you email the company they send a quick response back to your email, that says

"We ask that you contact us by telephone to adequately respond to your questions. Please call the Ortho-McNeil Janssen Scientific Affairs Customer Communications Center at 1-800-526-7736, Option 2, Option 1. We are available between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. weekdays, Eastern Time.

We will be happy to answer any general product related question. If you have a question that relates to the treatment of a personal medical condition, please contact your healthcare professional, since this individual is most familiar with your medical history."

I'M ANGRY! Evil or Very Mad

So If any one does find out which ones ARE gluten free, please let us know!

aklap · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 7795 Location: WI, USA

Hi Sheralyn,

I've run into that with drug companies. You get vague answers or none at all. You might try calling back and ask to talk to a manager or someone higher up in the chain. SOMEONE should be able to that question better than that!!

I'd be PO'ed too!!!
_________________
Al

“We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa

Torrey · Joined: 11 Apr 2005 Posts: 865 Location: Hawthorne, NJ

Very interesting question...

Makes me wonder...I was on Ortho Cyclen for years...I went to the doc for my regular 6-month check-up, and she asked if I was happy with my BCP. I said, to be honest, I really wasn't. The main reason I was put on it was for regulatory purposes...and that was the only thing that was good about it. It would make me nauseous when I took the pills, and I still got horrible cramps and long periods...

So...when I was there in September, my doc put me on a new pill: Loestrin Fe...I thought it would be good--less cramps, no nausea, and short periods...well, um, I still have yet to get my monthly cycle (sorry if this is TMI, but it's making me wonder...)...

I called my doc after the first month of nothing and she said my body may just be adjusting and to see what happens after another package of pills...

Still nothing...

Now, don't get me wrong, I love not having to invest in Tampax, but still...being 31, I should *not* be experiencing this...

So, I went back a couple of weeks ago, and she gave me a script for another pill: Estro-Step...does anyone know anything about it? I have to go fill the script this weekend, so I am just curious...and still sans period...

PS-> I'm *not* pregnant...just had to throw that one out there...
_________________
~Torrey Smile

August 24, 1975
GF BD July 12, 2004

Sheralyn · Joined: 23 Oct 2006 Posts: 162 Location: Utah

Since the makers of "Ortho Tri Cyclen" couldn't tell me if the pills had gluten in them. ( They need to get someone who has brains to answer people questions over the phone). I called Wal-Marts phamacy, they quickly looked up all ingredients for me, and verified they were gluten free.

So call Wal -mart they were more then happy to answer my questions.

I'm soooo happy I haven't been getting glutened for the last 2 months, without my knowledge.

staircar · Joined: 21 Feb 2007 Posts: 23

Torrey,
Your doctor is probably right, that your body may be adjusting to the pills.. they say things should even out after the third pack. However, if you are really not happy with the pill, your doctor should not just keep switching you.. it might just be that hormonal birth control is not good for you.

It might be that there's gluten in the pills, but I think it's more likely that it's all the hormones! they can really mess us up can't they Laughing

they definitely have their benefits but you have to decide if those outweigh the risks... i've found birth control is a bit like cd, doctors really don't know much about it! Laughing

gl