Pharmaceuticals

The labelling standard for pharmaceutical products is the same as for food products i.e. they can be labelled as gluten free if the product contains no detectable gluten and contains no oats or barley malt. In addition if any ingredient is derived from gluten this source must always be declared.

Many pharmaceutical companies do not label their products as gluten free. Therefore you need to be able to check that there is no ingredient from a gluten source.

The declaration of ingredients may be on the product packaging or in the product’s Consumer Medicine Information (CMI).

A CMI is designed to inform consumers about prescription and pharmacist-only medicines. It provides information about a medicine and is written by the pharmaceutical manufacturer.

A CMI gives you important facts to know before, during and after taking your medicine. The content of a CMI is defined by legislation and includes headings such as how to take your medicines, side effects, a description of the product and ingredients. The legislation ensures the leaflet is accurate, unbiased and easy to use.

There are no active ingredients within medications that we are aware of that contain gluten. Gluten may however be found in ‘excipients’. Excipient means an ingredient of a medicine other than an active ingredient. They are added to medicines (tablets) to make them easier to handle and swallow. It is a requirement that any ingredient from a gluten source within an excipient must be declared.

Therefore ask your pharmacist or doctor to check or print out the CMI.

Like a food product, if you do not see wheat, rye, barley, oats or contains gluten, the product will be suitable.

Prescription medications should only be taken or ceased under medical advice. If you have concerns about whether a prescribed medication is gluten free or not, do not cease taking it without consulting your doctor.

Pharmaceuticals that are not taken by mouth/ingested e.g. skin, drips, injections are of no concern.