By Jeanne Yacoubou, MS
In September 2024, The VRG acquired an e mail from pharmacist Jasmine Uchi at VeganMed about our 2022 article on alpha-gal syndrome (AGS). In that article, we said that beef-derived magnesium stearate and stearic acid used as inactive elements in prescription drugs might produce signs, a few of them life-threatening, in folks with AGS, however weren’t generally present in them at present. This conclusion was based mostly on interviews with main producers of magnesium stearate and stearic acid and with a number of drug producers. We realized from them that plant-derived elements have been extra frequent however not assured in all circumstances and made this clear in our article.
Because of this, we emphasised in our article that involved people – resembling AGS victims, folks with dairy allergic reactions, and vegans – ought to examine the ingredient sources utilized in every bottle of remedy that they’re prescribed earlier than buy. Some ingredient sources ceaselessly change based mostly on provide availability with out prior discover. To forestall misunderstanding and potential authorized legal responsibility, pharmaceutical makers will usually state that both plant- or animal-derived elements could also be used. Labels – together with package deal inserts – might not specify the supply. The one approach to discover out is to contact the producer and hope the knowledge you obtain is correct and up-to-date.
Uchi wrote about our article: “Whereas the knowledge offered is effective, it’s essential to acknowledge that pharmaceutical producers can change their formulations or suppliers at any time. This 12 months, now we have acquired confirmations from a number of producers indicating that their magnesium stearate does comprise animal-sourced elements.” We requested for the names of producers who use beef-derived inactive elements of their merchandise. We have been then instructed: “After cautious consideration and dialogue with our crew, now we have decided that offering the names of producers who use animal-derived stearic acid just isn’t advisable, as formulations can change over time. We suggest commonly verifying this data with the producers or using trusted sources…”
VeganMed Pharmacy Record for “Alpha-Gal-Pleasant” and “Vegan-Pleasant” Medicines
For this text replace, The VRG wished to offer extra data, so we turned to the VeganMed web site. We discovered a checklist of ten pharmacies designated as “alpha-gal-friendly” and “vegan-friendly.”
We contacted every of them by telephone seeking three of the medicines we had researched in our earlier article: lisinopril, vicodin, and clonidine at varied dosages.
Three pharmacies didn’t reply. Of those who did reply, apart from one pharmacy, they have been all conscious of VeganMed and their itemizing on that website as a supply of “alpha-gal-friendly” medicines. Just a few instantly mentioned they’d contact VeganMed for “alpha-gal-friendly” makers of the three prescription drugs. Others said they compound (i.e., formulate) their very own medicines as a approach to assure that their merchandise are vegan. To compound, they buy the lively ingredient and blend it on website with plant-derived inactive elements to make tablets.
As famous within the desk beneath, all pharmacies besides one are licensed to promote medicines – together with on-line gross sales – solely of their state.
| Pharmacy | State | Feedback |
| Debbie’s Household Pharmacy | AR | Most useful of all; provided to name my native pharmacy to help; will compound or promote VeganMed-certified meds |
| OptioRx | All | Spoke with the IL pharmacist; they solely do compounding and solely in capsule or liquid kind (no tablets); undecided how OptioRx operates in different states |
| ScriptWorks | CA | Compounding solely; might make only one of the three based mostly on lively ingredient availability |
| Ozark Complete Healthcare | MO | Supplied to ask VeganMed and relay data. |
| 501 Pharmacy | NC | Very useful; presents compounding and reselling VeganMed-certified merchandise; contacted VeganMed and forwarded checklist of makers to The VRG |
| Tahlequah Drug Firm | OK | Very useful; Referred to as again with data requested from VeganMed and he or she adopted up with firms to verify; reported vegan lisinopril obtainable from Solco; vegan vicodin obtainable as liquid solely from Eywa; vegan clonidine obtainable from Ajanta or Lupin |
| Claremore Indian Hospital | OK | Pharmacist not conscious of VeganMed itemizing; appeared up medicine they use and located (1) lisinopril made by Exelan and (2) vicodin made by Mallinckrodt, each containing lactose and magnesium stearate (both plant or animal); and (3) clonidine made by Teva comprises magnesium stearate of unknown supply |
The VeganMed web site has a temporary description about how they certify medicines as “alpha-gal-friendly” or “vegan-friendly.” It seems they require written documentation from producers. It’s unknown whether or not VeganMed independently exams drug samples to find out if animal elements are current. It seems they certify dozens, if not tons of, of firms spanning prescription drugs, cosmetics, and dietary dietary supplements.
But, even with certification, it’s unlikely there can be an absolute assure that the remedy within the bottle you’re holding in your hand is vegan until the producer had beforehand declared that they by no means use animal elements. To the perfect of our information, no drug producer has ever made such a vegan declaration. Folks with AGS or dairy allergic reactions want to pay attention to this.
It’s greatest to make use of a VeganMed’s “alpha-gal-friendly” or “vegan-friendly” certification as a start line, – however contact the producer your self as verification.
We requested a number of pharmacists interviewed for this text in the event that they knew of – or had achieved enterprise with – a confirmed vegan drug producer. All of them replied that they’d not ever heard of a vegan drug producer. Likewise, they knew of no producer that often or all the time makes use of animal-derived elements.
One pharmacist mentioned that questions on inactive elements have “exploded” since AGS has develop into extra well-known lately. He additionally mentioned researching inactive ingredient sources is “new” for pharmacists they usually should belief what producers inform them similar to customers.
The VeganMed website comprises a retailer the place you should buy many over-the-counter medicines and private care objects which have been authorised by VeganMed as “animal-free.” When you click on the Purchase Now button, you’re robotically directed to Amazon.com. By the URL that seems within the deal with bar, VeganMed is an Amazon affiliate, incomes a fee on merchandise bought.
Discovering Vegan Medicines
Inactive elements in lots of medicines, each prescription and over-the-counter, could also be animal-derived. Corporations usually are not legally required to checklist sources on labels. So, what are you able to do in case you are vegan or have AGS or dairy allergic reactions? Listed below are just a few options.
- When unsure, contact the drug producer and request ingredient supply data in writing. Be particular concerning the dosage you’ve been prescribed. Present the NDC quantity (often on the entrance of a package deal beneath the model title) and the lot quantity if doable.
- Seek the advice of VeganMed web site’s useful checklist of animal-derived elements offered as an infographic in a weblog put up on their website. Though the checklist is AGS-related, and will not be exhaustive, these elements are utilized in all types of prescription drugs, cosmetics, and dietary dietary supplements. Use that checklist as a place to begin in your individual drug analysis.
- Repeat this course of for each prescription refill, even when stuffed on the identical pharmacy. It can’t be overstated that ingredient suppliers might change with out discover.
The contents of this posting, our web site and our different publications, together with Vegan Journal, usually are not meant to offer private medical recommendation. Medical recommendation ought to be obtained from a certified well being skilled. We frequently depend upon product and ingredient data from firm statements. It’s not possible to be 100% positive a few assertion, information can change, folks have completely different views, and errors may be made. Please use your greatest judgment about whether or not a product is appropriate for you. To make certain, do additional analysis or affirmation by yourself.
