Medical Resources
The following companies, support groups, and websites provide lists of both over-the-counter and prescription drugs that are reportedly gluten-free. Some of these lists also provide directories of drug manufacturers. The large majority of drugs are gluten free, but you don't want to be taking one of the few that do contain gluten. The main concern is whether the binders and fillers (inactive ingredients) are from a GF source.
Steve Plogsted, who maintains the Gluten Free Drugs site listed below, wrote an article titled: Medications and Celiac Disease, Tips from a Pharmacist http://healthsystem.virginia.edu/internet/digestive-health/nutritionarticles/PlogstedArticle.pdf . Other sites that have information about gluten free drugs are:
http://www.ashp.org/s_ashp/docs/files/PS_Celiac_Flyer.pdf ,
as well as
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/86125.php
http://www.celiaccentral.org/Hidden/47/vobId__1627/ (National Foundation for Celiac Awareness site)
CVS pharmacies has a data base of their GF over-the-counter products.
They will look up specific products for you at 888-607-4287, Customer Relations
RJ's Note: The best way to determine if a drug is GF is still by calling the manufacturer. There may be errors on any given list, or the GF status of a drug may have changed since the list was made. Many of the sources below list the name and numbers of most the major drug manufacturers. Otherwise, you have to go to your pharmacy and find out who manufactures the drug that has been prescribed for you, and then contact them.
All over-the-counter medications contain an 800 phone number which may be called for more specfic ingredient information.
www.celiac.com
This website includes a very large list of Gluten-Free Medicines / Medications. It does not give the dates as to when these drugs were verified as gluten free, or how they were verified.
www.clanthompson.com
This company sells gluten-free drug lists for PCs, Palm Handhelds, and in booklet form. The PC and Handheld lists are updated every six weeks. Listserv comments.
On the Clan Thompson website they maintain a "Free Info Lists" section. These include a Prescription Drugs List and an Over-the-Counter Meds List.
CVS maintains a GF list of their over-the-counter products. You can call Customer Relations at 888-607-4287 for the GF status of any particular product they carry. They will not send you the list (as of 10/26/06) because "the products change too often".
www.glutenfreedrugs.com
Steve Plogsted, PharmD, is a pharmacist at Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio and maintains this free website. He has had years of experience assisting people with gluten-related medication questions. There are no dates listed on the website, so some of the information might be old. A list of pharmaceutical company phone numbers can be found at the bottom of the Therapeutic List.
www.rxlist.com
This website lists ingredients and effects of drugs, and much more. RJ's Note: The list of ingredients may not be helpful unless you know which ingredients would contain gluten, and which ones wouldn't. But if you are particularly knowledgeable this may be a useful site.
http://homepage.mac.com/sholland/celiac/GFmedlist.pdf
This list was compiled from various sources by the Wheaton Gluten Free Support Group. It is a 29-page pdf. The information was current as of October, 2008. They call it "Partial List of Gluten-Free Medications, Nutritional Products, and Vitamins." They also list the pharmaceutical companies that have a policy to make all of their medications GF.
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Note: Also refer to the Medical section in SD Resources for a good diagnostic laboratory in San Diego, as well as physician recommendations.
www.glutenfreedietitian.com This website by Tricia Thompson, MS, RD includes a lot of interesting information. It includes a state-by-state listing of dietitians specializing in celiac disease and the gluten-free diet. There is also information about the proposed Codex standard for foods to be labeled GF (will come into effect possibly in July), explains what 20 ppm means, talks about quinoa and why it is a great grain for us, and much more.
From the Gluten Intolerance Group (GIG)
www.gluten.net
This website has many free publications that are of interest to CD patients. Besides the two listed above, there are also publications concerning associated autoimmune diseases, diabetes, anemia, and thyroid conditions.
www.iacprx.org/ Referral Service
This website will refer you to a nearby pharmacy that will compound medications for you. Sometimes medications need to be compounded because an appropriate commercially-made GF one is not available.
"Gluten In Medications" & a free download for a Pharmacist Educational Brochure
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