By Jeanne Yacoubou, MS
In September 2024, The VRG obtained 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 substances in prescription drugs might produce signs, a few of them life-threatening, in individuals 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 substances have been extra frequent however not assured in all instances and made this clear in our article.
Consequently, we emphasised in our article that involved people – equivalent to AGS victims, individuals with dairy allergy symptoms, and vegans – ought to examine the ingredient sources utilized in each bottle of medicine that they’re prescribed earlier than buy. Some ingredient sources ceaselessly change based mostly on provide availability with out prior discover. To stop misunderstanding and potential authorized legal responsibility, pharmaceutical makers will typically state that both plant- or animal-derived substances could also be used. Labels – together with bundle inserts – might not specify the supply. The one option 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, we have now obtained confirmations from a number of producers indicating that their magnesium stearate does include animal-sourced elements.” We requested for the names of producers who use beef-derived inactive substances of their merchandise. We have been then informed: “After cautious consideration and dialogue with our staff, we have now decided that offering the names of producers who use animal-derived stearic acid shouldn’t be advisable, as formulations can change over time. We advocate often verifying this data with the producers or using trusted sources…”
VeganMed Pharmacy Record for “Alpha-Gal-Pleasant” and “Vegan-Pleasant” Drugs
For this text replace, The VRG needed to supply 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 cellphone in the hunt for three of the medicines we had researched in our earlier article: lisinopril, vicodin, and clonidine at numerous dosages.
Three pharmacies didn’t reply. Of those who did reply, aside from one pharmacy, they have been all conscious of VeganMed and their itemizing on that website as a supply of “alpha-gal-friendly” medicines. A couple of instantly stated 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 option to assure that their merchandise are vegan. To compound, they buy the energetic ingredient and blend it on website with plant-derived inactive substances to make tablets.
As famous within the desk under, 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; supplied 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); unsure how OptioRx operates in different states |
| ScriptWorks | CA | Compounding solely; might make just one of the three based mostly on energetic ingredient availability |
| Ozark Whole Healthcare | MO | Supplied to ask VeganMed and relay data. |
| 501 Pharmacy | NC | Very useful; affords compounding and reselling VeganMed-certified merchandise; contacted VeganMed and forwarded checklist of makers to The VRG |
| Tahlequah Drug Firm | OK | Very useful; Known as again with data requested from VeganMed and he or she adopted up with corporations to verify; reported vegan lisinopril out there from Solco; vegan vicodin out there as liquid solely from Eywa; vegan clonidine out there from Ajanta or Lupin |
| Claremore Indian Hospital | OK | Pharmacist not conscious of VeganMed itemizing; regarded 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 accommodates magnesium stearate of unknown supply |
The VeganMed web site has a transient 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 checks drug samples to find out if animal substances are current. It seems they certify dozens, if not lots of, of corporations spanning prescription drugs, cosmetics, and dietary dietary supplements.
But, even with certification, it’s unlikely there might be an absolute assure that the medicine within the bottle you’re holding in your hand is vegan until the producer had beforehand declared that they by no means use animal substances. To the very best of our data, no drug producer has ever made such a vegan declaration. Folks with AGS or dairy allergy symptoms want to pay attention to this.
It’s finest to make use of a VeganMed’s “alpha-gal-friendly” or “vegan-friendly” certification as a place to begin, – 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 executed enterprise with – a confirmed vegan drug producer. All of them replied that that they had not ever heard of a vegan drug producer. Likewise, they knew of no producer that normally or at all times makes use of animal-derived substances.
One pharmacist stated that questions on inactive substances have “exploded” since AGS has change into extra well-known lately. He additionally stated researching inactive ingredient sources is “new” for pharmacists they usually should belief what producers inform them identical to customers.
The VeganMed website accommodates a retailer the place you should buy many over-the-counter medicines and private care gadgets which were permitted by VeganMed as “animal-free.” When you click on the Purchase Now button, you might be mechanically directed to Amazon.com. By the URL that seems within the deal with bar, VeganMed is an Amazon affiliate, incomes a fee on merchandise offered.
Discovering Vegan Drugs
Inactive substances in lots of medicines, each prescription and over-the-counter, could also be animal-derived. Corporations are usually not legally required to checklist sources on labels. So, what are you able to do if you’re vegan or have AGS or dairy allergy symptoms? Listed below are just a few strategies.
- When unsure, contact the drug producer and request ingredient supply data in writing. Be particular in regards to the dosage you’ve been prescribed. Present the NDC quantity (normally on the entrance of a bundle underneath the model title) and the lot quantity if attainable.
- Seek the advice of VeganMed web site’s useful checklist of animal-derived substances offered as an infographic in a weblog publish on their website. Though the checklist is AGS-related, and might not be exhaustive, these substances are utilized in all kinds 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 crammed 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, are usually not supposed to supply private medical recommendation. Medical recommendation needs to be obtained from a professional well being skilled. We regularly rely upon product and ingredient data from firm statements. It’s not possible to be 100% positive a couple of assertion, data can change, individuals have completely different views, and errors might be made. Please use your finest judgment about whether or not a product is appropriate for you. To make sure, do additional analysis or affirmation by yourself.