Gluten-Free Options for the Top 100 Pediatric Medications.

OBJECTIVE

Celiac disease and gluten sensitivities are on the rise, with a greater prevalence of the condition in children than adults. Resources to ascertain gluten content exist but can be incomplete and focus on medications for adults. The objective of this research is to determine gluten-free status of the top 100 pediatric medications dispensed.

METHODS

The top 100 pediatric medications were identified by using Optum Clinformatics Data Mart database. After list creation, manufacturers and National Drug Code (NDC) for each drug were procured and used to contact manufacturers directly for gluten content information.

RESULTS

Evaluation of 689 NDCs was completed with 50.2% of medications documented to be gluten-free. Additional categories were confirmed gluten-free but cannot confirm cross-contamination (22.6%), cannot confirm gluten-free (25.7%), and contains gluten (1.5%). Resource tables were developed from findings though information may change, based on manufacturing ingredients and processing.

CONCLUSIONS

Pediatric medications differ in gluten content, compared with medications for adults. Incomplete information exists regarding gluten content of medications, especially pediatric resources. Development of a pediatric-specific resource for gluten content of commonly dispensed medications in children and adolescents will hopefully benefit patients with celiac disease.