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Could the shiny coating on your pills be worsening your M.E. symptoms?
Introduction
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (M.E.) is a debilitating condition affecting thousands in the UK, with no known cause or cure. I propose a hypothesis: sugar-coated pills, like glossy painkillers, contraceptives, and other over-the-counter remedies, might trigger M.E. symptoms in some people, similar to allergies or food sensitivities. As someone with M.E., I’ve noticed this pattern in my own life and want to share it with the UK M.E. community to see if others have similar experiences.
Personal Experience
For 25 years, I’ve lived with intermittent M.E. symptoms—profound fatigue, weak limbs, neck weakness, body aches, and brain fog. I’ve noticed a clear pattern: these symptoms flare up about three days after taking sugar-coated pills (e.g., over-the-counter painkillers or laxatives) and fade days after stopping them. This has happened repeatedly, leading me to suspect the shiny coating—possibly shellac, a common ingredient also found in varnishes, cosmetics, and confectionery. Shellac in pills seems to affect me most consistently.
Fifteen years ago, I applied shop-bought nail varnish and instantly felt unwell—hand spasticity, brain fog, and a sense my brain was caving in. Removing it cleared my symptoms within hours. Months later, varnishing my pine floor caused similar issues (hand spasticity, leg weakness, swallowing difficulties) when fumes were created when heated by a radiator, mimicking early Motor Neurone Disease. Placing a rug between the radiator and floor reduced the fumes, and fresh air cleared my symptoms. I suspect shellac in both cases, linking to my M.E. flares from sugar-coated pills. Is this a quirky allergy unique to me, or are others affected? I need your help to find out.
Historical Context
The unpopular term “Yuppie Flu” emerged in the 1980s to describe M.E. like symptoms among young, upwardly mobile women. This coincided with the widespread use of sugar-coated oral contraceptives, popular among this group. Could these coatings have triggered symptoms in predisposed individuals? This idea is speculative but merits exploration.
Similarly, the 1955 Royal Free Hospital outbreak, where over 300 staff developed M.E.-like symptoms, aligns with the introduction of Panadol, a paracetamol-based painkiller launched in UK hospitals that year. Initially prescription-only, Panadol was marketed as gentle on the stomach, possibly due to a sugar coating (pending confirmation). While there’s no direct evidence Panadol was used during the outbreak, its hospital availability makes it a plausible candidate for fever or pain management. I’m researching historical records and welcome insights from former staff or relatives to clarify this link.
Why This Matters
If sugar-coated pills are a trigger, avoiding them could prevent symptom flares for some M.E. patients. This simple, testable idea aligns with the notion that M.E. involves heightened sensitivity to environmental factors, like allergies.
Call to Action
I’m reaching out to the UK M.E. community to explore this hypothesis. Have you noticed M.E. symptoms flaring 2–5 days after taking sugar-coated pills, such as painkillers or contraceptives? If so, what happened when you switched to non-coated alternatives? Please share your experiences in the replies below. Together, we can collect anecdotal data to see if this pattern holds and decide whether to pursue further research, either as a community or with professional researchers.
Next Steps
Check your medicine cabinet for sugar-coated pills (shiny, glossy tablets). Swap them for non-coated tablets or capsules. Labels often don’t specify coatings, so ask your pharmacist if unsure.
Important: Don’t stop prescription medications without consulting your GP. If your pills are sugar-coated, your GP can suggest non-coated alternatives.
Keep a diary of when you stop taking sugar-coated pills and note symptom changes. My symptoms improved days after stopping, but I’d taken them briefly. If you’ve used these pills long-term, recovery might differ—your input is vital.
I’m a retired registered mental health nurse with a lifetime of experience and a Master’s Degree in Counselling. Your insights could help unravel a piece of the M.E. puzzle.
Acknowledgments
Thank you to the UK M.E. community for your resilience and advocacy. This work is inspired by our shared journey toward answers.
Note: This is a hypothesis based on personal observation, not a proven theory. Always consult a healthcare professional before changing medication.
References
Underhill, R., & Baillod, R. (2021). Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Organic Disease or Psychosomatic Illness? A Re-Examination of the Royal Free Epidemic of 1955. Medicina, 57(1), 12. https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/medicina57010012
Introduction
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (M.E.) is a debilitating condition affecting thousands in the UK, with no known cause or cure. I propose a hypothesis: sugar-coated pills, like glossy painkillers, contraceptives, and other over-the-counter remedies, might trigger M.E. symptoms in some people, similar to allergies or food sensitivities. As someone with M.E., I’ve noticed this pattern in my own life and want to share it with the UK M.E. community to see if others have similar experiences.
Personal Experience
For 25 years, I’ve lived with intermittent M.E. symptoms—profound fatigue, weak limbs, neck weakness, body aches, and brain fog. I’ve noticed a clear pattern: these symptoms flare up about three days after taking sugar-coated pills (e.g., over-the-counter painkillers or laxatives) and fade days after stopping them. This has happened repeatedly, leading me to suspect the shiny coating—possibly shellac, a common ingredient also found in varnishes, cosmetics, and confectionery. Shellac in pills seems to affect me most consistently.
Fifteen years ago, I applied shop-bought nail varnish and instantly felt unwell—hand spasticity, brain fog, and a sense my brain was caving in. Removing it cleared my symptoms within hours. Months later, varnishing my pine floor caused similar issues (hand spasticity, leg weakness, swallowing difficulties) when fumes were created when heated by a radiator, mimicking early Motor Neurone Disease. Placing a rug between the radiator and floor reduced the fumes, and fresh air cleared my symptoms. I suspect shellac in both cases, linking to my M.E. flares from sugar-coated pills. Is this a quirky allergy unique to me, or are others affected? I need your help to find out.
Historical Context
The unpopular term “Yuppie Flu” emerged in the 1980s to describe M.E. like symptoms among young, upwardly mobile women. This coincided with the widespread use of sugar-coated oral contraceptives, popular among this group. Could these coatings have triggered symptoms in predisposed individuals? This idea is speculative but merits exploration.
Similarly, the 1955 Royal Free Hospital outbreak, where over 300 staff developed M.E.-like symptoms, aligns with the introduction of Panadol, a paracetamol-based painkiller launched in UK hospitals that year. Initially prescription-only, Panadol was marketed as gentle on the stomach, possibly due to a sugar coating (pending confirmation). While there’s no direct evidence Panadol was used during the outbreak, its hospital availability makes it a plausible candidate for fever or pain management. I’m researching historical records and welcome insights from former staff or relatives to clarify this link.
Why This Matters
If sugar-coated pills are a trigger, avoiding them could prevent symptom flares for some M.E. patients. This simple, testable idea aligns with the notion that M.E. involves heightened sensitivity to environmental factors, like allergies.
Call to Action
I’m reaching out to the UK M.E. community to explore this hypothesis. Have you noticed M.E. symptoms flaring 2–5 days after taking sugar-coated pills, such as painkillers or contraceptives? If so, what happened when you switched to non-coated alternatives? Please share your experiences in the replies below. Together, we can collect anecdotal data to see if this pattern holds and decide whether to pursue further research, either as a community or with professional researchers.
Next Steps
Check your medicine cabinet for sugar-coated pills (shiny, glossy tablets). Swap them for non-coated tablets or capsules. Labels often don’t specify coatings, so ask your pharmacist if unsure.
Important: Don’t stop prescription medications without consulting your GP. If your pills are sugar-coated, your GP can suggest non-coated alternatives.
Keep a diary of when you stop taking sugar-coated pills and note symptom changes. My symptoms improved days after stopping, but I’d taken them briefly. If you’ve used these pills long-term, recovery might differ—your input is vital.
I’m a retired registered mental health nurse with a lifetime of experience and a Master’s Degree in Counselling. Your insights could help unravel a piece of the M.E. puzzle.
Acknowledgments
Thank you to the UK M.E. community for your resilience and advocacy. This work is inspired by our shared journey toward answers.
Note: This is a hypothesis based on personal observation, not a proven theory. Always consult a healthcare professional before changing medication.
References
Underhill, R., & Baillod, R. (2021). Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Organic Disease or Psychosomatic Illness? A Re-Examination of the Royal Free Epidemic of 1955. Medicina, 57(1), 12. https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/medicina57010012
