Guest guest Posted September 21, 2007 Report Share Posted September 21, 2007 Nortriptyline is a generic drug, so the only way to find out is to contact the manufacturer. This means you have to ask your pharmacy which manufacturer they use, as there are many generic manufacturers. When you call the manufacturer, don't just ask about gluten, but ask also if they use anything with the work " starch " and if they know that the starch is not made from wheat. I called 3 drug companies, one said that they knew the drug was gluten-free, but to check back frequently because that could change, depending on the batch. The other two said " we don't know if it's made with wheat or not. " Drug companies don't have the same rules about labeling that foods do (and they should). As a follow up on my previous post, I contacted several congressional/senatorial committees, as well as individual legislators, and the celiac advocacy group several weeks about about this. Not one has responded. --- Lillyth Denaghy Keogh-Quillan <lillythdenaghykeogh@...> wrote: > Anyone know if it's gluten free? > > > > The pharmacist I spoke to says it's not. My doc says > she spoke to a > pharmacist who says it is, and an old post from > celiac.com 2005 says it's > not. > > Anyone know for sure? > > ________________________________________________________________________________\ ____ Got a little couch potato? Check out fun summer activities for kids. http://search./search?fr=oni_on_mail & p=summer+activities+for+kids & cs=bz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 22, 2007 Report Share Posted September 22, 2007 I did a bit of searching on nortriptyline and found several references to nortriptyline containing gluten (it says on the label “starch (gluten)”. It does not say what the source of the gluten is (could be wheat, corn, potato, etc.). I also found a 2003 reference to it from a distributor stating that it does contain gluten: http://www.pharmascience.com/pms_en/healthcare/_MS-INFO/Ingredients/GLUTEN_E.pdf However, pharmascience is not the manufacturer of the drug. I could not find it on any list of gluten-free drugs. This drug appears to be marketed under various names by various manufacturers, including generic ones. I tried to find a manufacture’s name and website, but got nowhere. The only way you can find out for sure on this one is to have the pharmacist give you the specific name of the drug and its manufacturer’s name and phone number (from the patient insert). Looking at the inactive ingredients may be useful if it actually says “ wheat gluten” on the label; then you know for sure it is not GF. Otherwise, you should call the manufacturer directly and ask if it is gluten-free. If they are clueless or the answer is in any way uncertain, I would stay away from that particular version of the drug. You could ask the pharmacist to call for you, (it’s their job, after all), but this case is weird enough that I would suggest you make the call yourself. If the version of Nortriptyline sold at that pharmacy cannot be confirmed to be GF, you could try to find another manufacturer that makes it (from a different pharmacy or ask if your pharmacist has access to other brands). I also found reference to a similar-sounding drug that seems to be from Canada that states it is GF (check with your dr to see if it is a suitable substitute): Nu-Nortriptyline (nortriptyline HCl) http://bodyandhealth.canada.com/drug_info_details.asp?brand_name_id=406 & rot=4 If all else fails, Stokes Pharmacy can formulate a gluten-free version for you if none are commercially available. Go to their site and click on the “contemporary compounding” link. STOKES MEDICAL ARTS PHARMACY, INC. 639 Stokes Road Medford, New Jersey 08055 1•800•754•5222 or 609•654•5222 Email: pharmacist@... www.stokesrx.com) No disrespect to your doctor, but without direct confirmation of gluten-freedom from the manufacturer, I would consider this drug suspect of containing gluten. You need to hear direct from the manufacturer on this one. Pam Newbury Santa Cruz Celiac Support Group From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of Lillyth Denaghy Keogh-Quillan Sent: Thursday, September 20, 2007 11:13 PM Subject: [ ] Nortriptyline Anyone know if it’s gluten free? The pharmacist I spoke to says it's not. My doc says she spoke to a pharmacist who says it is, and an old post from celiac.com 2005 says it's not. Anyone know for sure? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 22, 2007 Report Share Posted September 22, 2007 Oh my God, what a sweetheart you are, doing all that research! I have a call into the mfr (from the box). Wouldn’t you know it, I called at 2:05, and they closed at 5pm Eastern time… It’s a sad day when you can’t trust your doc… Since I don’t have a formal Dx, her response was “what makes you think you’re allergic to gluten?” My response? “Umm, the fact that I sh*t out my insides for three days after I have any gluten?”… From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of Pam Newbury Sent: Friday, September 21, 2007 7:06 PM Subject: RE: [ ] Nortriptyline I did a bit of searching on nortriptyline and found several references to nortriptyline containing gluten (it says on the label “starch (gluten)”. It does not say what the source of the gluten is (could be wheat, corn, potato, etc.). I also found a 2003 reference to it from a distributor stating that it does contain gluten: http://www.pharmascience.com/pms_en/healthcare/_MS-INFO/Ingredients/GLUTEN_E.pdf However, pharmascience is not the manufacturer of the drug. I could not find it on any list of gluten-free drugs. This drug appears to be marketed under various names by various manufacturers, including generic ones. I tried to find a manufacture’s name and website, but got nowhere. The only way you can find out for sure on this one is to have the pharmacist give you the specific name of the drug and its manufacturer’s name and phone number (from the patient insert). Looking at the inactive ingredients may be useful if it actually says “ wheat gluten” on the label; then you know for sure it is not GF. Otherwise, you should call the manufacturer directly and ask if it is gluten-free. If they are clueless or the answer is in any way uncertain, I would stay away from that particular version of the drug. You could ask the pharmacist to call for you, (it’s their job, after all), but this case is weird enough that I would suggest you make the call yourself. If the version of Nortriptyline sold at that pharmacy cannot be confirmed to be GF, you could try to find another manufacturer that makes it (from a different pharmacy or ask if your pharmacist has access to other brands). I also found reference to a similar-sounding drug that seems to be from Canada that states it is GF (check with your dr to see if it is a suitable substitute): Nu-Nortriptyline (nortriptyline HCl) http://bodyandhealth.canada.com/drug_info_details.asp?brand_name_id=406 & rot=4 If all else fails, Stokes Pharmacy can formulate a gluten-free version for you if none are commercially available. Go to their site and click on the “contemporary compounding” link. STOKES MEDICAL ARTS PHARMACY, INC. 639 Stokes Road Medford, New Jersey 08055 1•800•754•5222 or 609•654•5222 Email: pharmaciststokesrx www.stokesrx.com) No disrespect to your doctor, but without direct confirmation of gluten-freedom from the manufacturer, I would consider this drug suspect of containing gluten. You need to hear direct from the manufacturer on this one. Pam Newbury Santa Cruz Celiac Support Group From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of Lillyth Denaghy Keogh-Quillan Sent: Thursday, September 20, 2007 11:13 PM Subject: [ ] Nortriptyline Anyone know if it’s gluten free? The pharmacist I spoke to says it's not. My doc says she spoke to a pharmacist who says it is, and an old post from celiac.com 2005 says it's not. Anyone know for sure? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 22, 2007 Report Share Posted September 22, 2007 Her question may have been well-meant, diagnostic, although a bit badly worded. Yes, the question could be sarcastic, doubting, but perhaps she simply meant what she said -- no more, no less. Let's hope so. H. In a message dated 9/21/07 10:52:49 PM, lillythdenaghykeogh@... writes: Since I don’t have a formal Dx, her response was “what makes you think you’re allergic to gluten?â€Â ************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 22, 2007 Report Share Posted September 22, 2007 I didn’t mean that to come off like she was sarcastic, she wasn’t. My point in bringing that up is that she obviously doesn’t take it as seriously as she would if I had a Dx. The folks in the pharmacy don’t do that. They just take it at face value when I tell them I can’t have gluten. They even put it in my allergy record – no gluten, no starch. But hey, on the bright side, at least my Gyn – unlike my GP – knows that a blood test for IaG & TtG will come back negative if you’re GF. My GP insisted the blood tests would show celiac even if you weren’t eating gluten! From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of flatcat9@... Sent: Saturday, September 22, 2007 2:25 AM Subject: Re: [ ] Nortriptyline Her question may have been well-meant, diagnostic, although a bit badly worded. Yes, the question could be sarcastic, doubting, but perhaps she simply meant what she said -- no more, no less. Let's hope so. H. In a message dated 9/21/07 10:52:49 PM, lillythdenaghykeoghcomcast (DOT) net writes: Since I don’t have a formal Dx, her response was “what makes you think you’re allergic to gluten?” ************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 19, 2010 Report Share Posted May 19, 2010 Hi ... I've been on a minimum daily dose of nortriptyline for about 20 years. It was initially prescribed by a rheumatologist who thought I had fibromyalgia. I can tell you that it worked wonders in terms of keeping me asleep at night. Prior to starting it, I would sleep in 1-3 hour increments, with big gaps in between. A few weeks ago, my dosage was increased from 20mg to 50mg, because it's thought to help with pain. (I've had fairly severe leg pain for about 4 months.) I can't tell yet whether it's working, but I can tell you that it's making me REALLY sleepy during the day. Regards, > > Has anyone used this drug for pain relief? If so, I'd love to hear the good and the bad of how it went for you. You can post here or contact me off line. > > Thanks for whatever you are willing to share. > > > CA Bay Area > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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