celiac and prescription drugs

[Dot]

Many seniors are on prescription drugs as I am. I am wondering how anyone here as found a way to getting around meds that are harmful to them?
Thanks! Dot
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Eat, drink, be merry......and wise!

[paw]

When I was told to go GF, I looked at each of my medicines and suppliments and checked online to see that the exact one I take (generics) were GF and there is no dairy in them. Dairy might not be a problem for you. My vitamins had to be changed to a different brand, but my prescription medicines were all ok. I don't take a lot of medicines at this time.

When I get a new prescription I ask the doctor if it contains gluten or dairy. If they don't know, I ask them to check. They all have computer access in their office and I want to know before I get to the pharmacy or worse, I pay for it and get home and look it up myself and find it is not safe.

I hope this works for you too! P.S. I am not a senior yet, but it does not matter on this issue. If a drug your doctor wants you to use contains gluten, they should be able to find a similar drug in many cases.
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Dairy free 7-2004
Gluten free 10-2005
female

[Dot]

Hi paw,
Thanks for your reply and I got some good out of it right off the bat! I never entertained the idea of asking my doc to check the ingredients; what a great thought. One I will remember.

Story goes; last week I visited cardiology and he decided I needed a mild dose of a particular med. After taking the second dose I noticed constant intestinal cramping and began running to the john (right in the middle of my son's arrival from CA and I had not seen him for like six years!). By the third dose I was a very sick lady with the nausea and john hopping and really bad cramps. I put two and two together and said, oh my, this started with the new medication.

My son and I agreed I should stop it. Within just two days my stomach is still a little funky but much, much better with no more cramps.

I went on line and found something that said common side effect could be a swelling of the intestinal tract (don't have the exact name) in some patients causing cramping, etc.

I am just amazed this doc being told my wheat allergies. I believe even if this med may not have gluten, perhaps it's just a med that can cause this in general and why would not a physician think about that??? I am not happy with that!

I called the office and some young lady called back later and said the doc wants you to just cut it in half. He does not know at this time, but I refuse to do that. I told the young lady, I have wheat allergy and it makes no difference, a thimble full or five cups. So I just think if this med can do this to me, why would I want my innards to settle for it at half the dose at all?????

What do you think and sorry for the long, long response.
Take care, DOT
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Eat, drink, be merry......and wise!

[paw]

I am sorry your doctor is not taking this seriously. That would make me angry. I am allergic to some medicines and I carry the list on a card in my wallet. I make sure Doctors, nurses, pharmacists etc. all know what I can't have. I treat wheat, gluten and dairy the same way because I don't want to take a pill that will make me sick.

So far they have been able to find me other medicines when their first choice is one I am allergic to. I have not had any suggested yet that contain wheat, so I hope that continues to not be a problem.

If it was my doctor I would speak to him/her personally (going through an office assistant is not the same at all) and say "I am allergic to an ingredient in this medicine -- we need to try something else" If they did not help you then, I would be looking for another doctor! Good luck getting this taken care of.

I would not take another of these pills until you speak with the doctor. You can look up the medicine online (or post the name here and I will try to find it) and check the ingredients and the side effects. That might answer your question.
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Dairy free 7-2004
Gluten free 10-2005
female

[pashort]

http://www.glutenfreedrugs.com/

You can check out prescription and over the counter medicines on this website.