Benadryl/soy???

ldubois7 · Post by **ldubois7** » Tue May 27, 2014 5:05 am

Hi all!

I can't find the thread, discussed a few months back, about Benadryl containing soy. I am experiencing seasonal allergies, and taking Allegra and Benadryl. I have the ultra tabs in the Benadryl, not the fastmelts.

Does anyone remember the outcome of the discussion as to what form of Benadryl contains soy, or not? I think that magnesium stearate it the product could indicate soy. If so, what else does everyone use for H1 & H2 antihistamines that don't contain allergens or sugar alcohols??

Thanks!

Post by **tex** » Tue May 27, 2014 10:11 am

Hi Linda,

I believe that this is the thread that you are searching for:

? for Tex, Polly and/or Mary Beth, re: histamine list vs MRT

Tex

carolm · Post by **carolm** » Tue May 27, 2014 10:27 am

HI Linda and Tex,

I have been able to tolerate the Walgreens version of Benadryl (Wal-dryl), after calling the makers of Benadryl and finding out both product lines have soy. I get the dye free Wal-dryl. I don't use it often but this spring it did help with my seasonal allergies. I've been able to back off the Wal-dryl and just go with Claritin for the past couple of weeks.

Carol

ldubois7 · Post by **ldubois7** » Tue May 27, 2014 11:40 am

Thanks Tex & Carol,

Isn't it magnesium stearate that is made from soy? If so, my Allegra has it, too!

I don't have a Walgreens near me. Does anyone know of another diphenhydramine product with no soy, gluten, dairy, eggs, or sugar alcohols?

I found this online for Benadryl but it didn't specify which product:

Benadryl® Allergy contains the histamine-blocker diphenhydramine. This product relieves: runny nose; sneezing; itchy, watery eyes; itchy throat.

Ingredient

ACTIVE INGREDIENT
(IN EACH CAPSULE) PURPOSE
Diphenhydramine HCl 25 mg Antihistamine
Inactive ingredients

candelilla wax, colloidal silicone dioxide, crospovidone, hypromellose, microcrystalline cellulose, polyethylene glycol, providone, pregelatinized starch, starch, stearic acid, titanium dioxide, and talc

There's no magnesium stearate in this form....maybe they changed it since I purchased mine about 5 months ago?

ldubois7 · Post by **ldubois7** » Tue May 27, 2014 11:59 am

Chris Kresser doesn't find magnesium stearate harmful and doesn't mention soy in this article...

http://chriskresser.com/harmful-or-harm ... m-stearate

So, I am really confused, because i know I read someplace, recently, that it can be derived from soy!

JFR · Post by **JFR** » Tue May 27, 2014 12:48 pm

My understanding is that magnesium stearate can be derived from any number of vegetable oils including soy.

Jean

Leah · Post by **Leah** » Tue May 27, 2014 8:44 pm

I buy the Costco brand and have no problems with it. I also take Allegra. no problems. and yes, I believe magnesium stearate can be made from different oils
Leah

ldubois7 · Post by **ldubois7** » Wed May 28, 2014 5:09 am

I don't have a Cosco near me either, but I have been taking 1/2 Allegra & 1/2 Benadryl daily for several days with no side effects. Actually, I'm feeling better!

I'll look for other brands at the drug stores to see what I can find, but it's difficult to find them free of all the allergens that I want to stay away from.

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Wed May 28, 2014 7:58 pm

Linda
over the past 4 years, i have contacted MANY (at least 10) pharmaceutical companies asking for clarification if there is soy in the Mag sterate. None replied.
My pharmacist also tried and had no luck getting an answer.
research online, it is a 50/50 chance to have soy.
I do everything i can to avoid it, albeit, i found that it is used more often in pharma products that are gluten and lactose free.

Hence my motivation to not use or minimise any OTC/prescription medications.
using the Magnesium, Vit C, and Zinc instead of OTC h1 and h2 blockers is working awesomely (and there is no risk of any soy!)

Post by **tex** » Wed May 28, 2014 9:59 pm

Linda wrote:So, I am really confused, because i know I read someplace, recently, that it can be derived from soy!

As Jean, Leah, and Gabes pointed out, magnesium stearate can indeed be made from soy, and if you ask a product rep, they are almost always going to say say that their product may contain soy, because many/most companies source ingredients from different sources from time to time, depending on availability and pricing.

However, as I pointed out in my next-to-last post in the thread that I listed a link to above, despite the fact that it can be made from hydrogenated soy, these days magnesium stearate is almost always made from hydrogenated cottonseed or palm oil. And that post is where you read that it can be made from soy (at least it's one of the places).

Tex

ldubois7 · Post by **ldubois7** » Thu May 29, 2014 5:35 am

Thanks, Tex, I did read (on a soy free site) recently that mag. stearate contained soy, too, as well as your comment. So, I guess it is hit or miss. Too bad the companies that make the products can't give you the form (source) it's made from, that would really help us. I guess it's asking too much of them.

I picked up a couple gallon of fresh PA maple syrup yesterday, which I thought was 100% pure. The gentleman who makes it, told me that it's not considered organic because he has to put in a few drops of fat to keep the suds down when its heated. When I asked what the fat was, he wasn't sure, but thought it was "like vegetable oil", but only a few drops are used in a huge barrel. That makes me wonder about any product we purchase, let along supplements and pharmaceuticals! No wonder I don't do well on anything in pill form!!!

So that brings me to Gabes.... I would try your "histamine cocktail" in a minute except that finding a source for supplements has been difficult. Freeda has done well for me with the HCL, and Vit. D, but not the multivitamin or L-glutamine, but it's worth a shot. So, that will be my next course of action.

Have you tried stinging nettle tea? It is supposed to help with histamine as well as OTC antihistamines.

Leah · Post by **Leah** » Thu May 29, 2014 9:02 am

Linda, if you don't have Costco or Walgreens in your area, can you order Benadryl on line? It's not expensive and with the Costco one, it's a huge bottle (Kirland brand. 600 tabs)
Leah

ldubois7 · Post by **ldubois7** » Thu May 29, 2014 11:56 am

Hi Leah!

The Kirkland brand has magnesium stearate (may not be a soy source, if you're ok with it) and cornstarch, so that's out for me!

Benadryl liquid has sorbitol, and I don't do well with sugar alcohols. :(

Leah · Post by **Leah** » Thu May 29, 2014 6:37 pm

bummer!