gluten-free medications

Now THIS is a gigantic pain in the ass. There is no current regulation on labeling gluten in medication and many times, the pharmacists won’t know. So you call the manufacturer, but even they don’t always know. Beyond frustrating.

Here's an example. I’ve been on a specific medication for about 12 years now. It renews every month and every month it’s the same pill. But one day Mrs. Dude picked up my meds. I opened the bottle and WHAT THE HELL?? They looked totally different. Checked the label…it was the right medication. Checked the manufacturer (since it’s a generic) and CRAP…a new manufacturer. Is it gluten-free??

I looked online. Nothing.
I called the pharmacy. Did not know.
They called the manufacturer. I waited.
They called me back. They said it SHOULD be safe.

There was potential good news in 2013 when the Gluten in Medication Disclosure Act was introduced in Congress. It went down in flames. And again in 2015. And yet again in 2019. Why? Because politicians are like most people; if it doesn’t affect them, they don’t care. And lord knows how many of them are in the pockets of the large pharmaceutical companies. A fellow celiac emailed his local congressman about supporting the act and what did he get in response? A canned letter bashing The Affordable Care Act. Unreal. This is why congress has a 9% favorability rating, falling below traffic jams and cockroaches.

I'd like to say keep the faith but I'm losing it myself.

In the meantime, enjoy the Pistol Annies singing their song "Takin Pills".