If your physician has prescribed you a gluten free diet, you need to be aware that many medications are not gluten free. If you go to any pharmacy, chances are you will be surrounded by medications that have gluten as an ingredient, unlike the gluten free medications that you may need under your doctor prescribed gluten free diet. Vitamins, tablets, capsules and liquid medications may all contain gluten.

Glutens Are Used In Many Medications

Glutens are added to medications because they are useful as fillers and as a substance that will either hold the medication together (binder) or thicken it. You can also find gluten containing ingredients being used to coat the pills, to mask the flavor or scent or as an ingredient that will increase the stability of the medication. If you have been prescribed a gluten free diet, you should be aware that the gluten products contained in these medications could cause irritation and the symptoms that you are trying to avoid.

Ask Your Pharmacist

If you are in doubt about any medication, inform your pharmacist of your special dietary need for gluten free medications and ask the pharmacist about the entire list of ingredients that go into any of your medications. If you are buying drugs as an over the counter medication, read the entire label carefully so you can determine whether or not there is any gluten contained in the formula.

Typical Names Of Gluten Products In Medications

Examples of the names for gluten ingredients that are used in the manufacture of medications include detrates, dextrins, maltodextrins, pregelatinized starch and sodium starch glycolate. You will need to ask your pharmacist about any other possible names that are used for gluten based ingredients in your prescribed and over the counter medications so that you can safely choose gluten free medications.

Your dietary needs are important and you should heed your doctor’s advice for gluten free medications so, with your pharmacist’s help, you can avoid the numerous gluten products that are used in many medications. You will be best served by becoming informed about the names that are used to identify the glutens in medications.

Despite the fact that many drug manufacturers use gluten ingredients in their formulas, there are also many drug manufacturers who are aware of the growing number of people who need to have gluten free medications and there are many prescription and over the counter medications that do not use gluten products.