How Can I Find Out The Active And Inactive Ingredients In Medications?

Posted on Wed, 11 Apr 2018

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Wed, 11 Apr 2018 Answered on

Fri, 8 Sep 2023 Last reviewed on

Question : How can I find out the active and inactive ingredients in medications? I am allergic to corn and all its derivatives. Am having lots of side effects to lyrica, but want to be sure what I take instead doesn't have corn products.

Answered by Dr. Vasudha (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Allergy can be managed as follows.

Detailed Answer:

Hi,

Unfortunately most of the Gabapentin preparations for reliving nurogenic pain. (including Lyrica) do have corn starch as an active ingredient.

In such condition you have to:-

- See for relieving the basic cause of pain (for example- spondylitis with pinched nerve). I would be in better position to suggest more specifically, if I know exact nature of pain & it's exact diagnosis made by nurophysician.

The allergic side effects can be overcome by accompanying anti allergy treatment... with your treating doctor's advise OR desensitization treatment to remove the allergic tendency.

Pain can be managed by NSAID drugs in association with physiotherapy exercises & increasing pain resistance.

- Meet your treating doctor & ask for corn free pain medicines like cocaine or opioids (which are notorious for their habit forming effect) but need to be given in few cases.

I feel that answers your query.

Thank you.

Regards,
Dr. Vasudha Jayant Athavale
General & Family Physician

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar