Does anyone know if this is gluten-free? I have never taken the generic but that was all they had in stock @ CVS. The Pharmacist said they were gluten-free but I took it about an hour ago & I am DYING!!!! I can't remeber the last time I was this sick! Also, I am allergic to the -cillin family but the name brand Z-Pak is fine for me. Could this possibly have that in there?

EDIT: I am getting conflicting information: I have found several websites that say that there is not a generic form. I'll continue to look to see what the confusion is.

I got sick when I had a generic Z-Pack over the Christmas Holidays. It was the Pfizer (sp) generic brand. The company told me it contained no gluten ingredients but could not guarentee it was gluten free. My body told me the medicine had gluten in it.

What brand were you given?

The only way to tell if the meds have gluten is to call the company and ask them directly.

I've never had a problem calling (with either brand name or generic). I always am connected to either a nurse or pharmacist.

The Z-Pack is about the only antibiotic I can take. I'm allergic to penicillan, so I know it dosen't have any of that family of drug in it. It can cause stomach upset, nausea, D, etc. I get some D while on it, but I've only used the name brand.

The generic Pfizer version Azythromyacin (sp?). The pharm told me that the generic & the name brand have all the same ingredients but my stomach is calling him a LIAR!!! I am online trying to find a compounding pharmacy for future use. I am not going through this again!

Yes, the Pfzer version is Azythromyacin. That's what made me sick.

I've had no problems with either, but the formulations of generics and 'brand-name' are slightly different, so they may well be tolerated differently by different people. From calling the company, it is my understanding they are both gluten free, but I would advise you to confirm that. Unfortunately, in a situation like this (and many will disagree with me), I would suggest *not* discontinuing the antibiotic before you can either confirm that it is/is not gluten free, or get a different antibiotic from your doctor.

Azithrymyocin is gluten free. I'm on it, have been for an extended period of time. It is in the macrolide family of antibiotics.

A lot of people don't react well to it. I hope you feel better soon, Jessica.

A couple of years ago, before I realized I had a gluten problem, I took an antibiotic (can't remember the name, but I sure wish I could), and I swear to God, I thought my insides were going to explode! My abdomen just swelled bigger and bigger and bigger until I was looking seriously pregnant. The gas and flatulance were nightmarish, so bad that I couldn't even laugh about it. The pain was horrible. This lasted all night long. I will never forget it.

i just wanted to throw out there that this one may not be gluten related if there is no obvious source of gluten, i've taken it and it has done a number on my tummy, and it has done the same to my mother this past week and she's non celiac. tough it out and maybe ask for an alternative next time. alot of antibiotics are very tough on our already sensitive tummies and it may have nothing to do with gluten.

you can ask for an alternative immediately. I had to do than when on biaxin, on time, and changed antibiotic mid-course. the important part is to not discontinue or interrupt the cycle of treatment. just call your doctor, be *very* clear in the message on the phone about the side effects and whether or not toughing it out is an option (do consider that option quite seriously, however; there's a time and place for it).

I got the Pharm to give me the name brand Z-Pak to try & see if it is different. If not I am going to call & definitely get an alternative. Thanks Ya'll! You have been most helpful!

Jessica, funny you mentioned about CVS today. I went in for a follow up on the Armour levels and the Dr. told me they will no longer call into CVS for multiple reasons. One being that they won't stock the name brands with lower profit margins and often substitute for the generics with higher profit margins. The other reason is that they keep telling patients that the Dr. hasn't called in a prescription and they have, it's just not getting filled. (They did this to him on a RX he called in-kind of funny)

I am switching to Wal-greens this week. I have always hated that CVS anyway, even when it was Eckards.

Kat.

The last time I took the Z-pak, I got horrible cramps and "D". A few of my coworkers also had similiar symptoms too. I am also allergic to penicllin (sorry can't spell) so this is an antiboitic that I get sometimes.