Pancreatin
About Pancreatin
Pancreatin is an oral enzyme replacement therapy used to treat digestive difficulties caused by a lack of natural digestive enzymes in the body. It is commonly prescribed for individuals whose pancreas does not produce enough enzymes to digest food properly, which can happen due to long-term pancreas swelling, cystic fibrosis, or after surgical removal of the pancreas.
To achieve the best results, you must take Pancreatin consistently with every meal and snack. Always take this medication during your meals with a full glass of water, and consider adopting a balanced, lower-fat diet with smaller, more frequent meals to support your digestive health.
While taking Pancreatin, some people may experience mild stomach-related side effects, such as bloating, nausea, or mild stomach discomfort. If you notice any severe side effects, such as intense abdominal pain or a severe skin rash, you should contact your doctor right away.
Do not take this if you have a known allergy to pork proteins, as these digestive enzymes are sourced from pigs. Before you begin taking this medication, talk to your doctor if you have a history of gout, kidney problems, or bowel blockages.
This medication can interact with other substances, including certain antacids and iron supplements, which may reduce its effectiveness or absorption. If you are pregnant, planning a pregnancy, breastfeeding, or are an elderly individual, consult your doctor or pharmacist to ensure this therapy is safe and appropriate for your specific needs.
Uses of Pancreatin
• Treatment of Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency: Pancreatin compensates for the deficiency of digestive enzymes and supports digestion in conditions such as chronic pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), cystic fibrosis (a genetic disorder that affects the lungs), and pancreatic cancer.
• Treatment of Steatorrhea (Fatty Stools): Pancreatin helps break down fats, reducing fat content in stools and preventing malnutrition.
• Support after Gastrointestinal Surgery: Pancreatin may be used to assist digestion when the flow or production of digestive enzymes is impaired after procedures like pancreatectomy (surgical removal of the pancreas) and gastric bypass (a weight-loss surgery that reduces stomach size).
Medicinal Benefits
By supporting the digestion of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates, Pancreatin provides several important digestive and nutritional benefits, including:
- Improves Food Digestion: Helps the body break down nutrients more effectively, supporting normal digestive function.
- Reduces Digestive Discomfort: Helps relieve symptoms such as bloating, excess gas, abdominal discomfort, and indigestion after meals.
- Enhances Nutrient Absorption: Improves the absorption of essential vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients from food.
- Helps Prevent Weight Loss: Supports proper calorie and nutrient uptake, reducing the risk of unintended weight loss associated with poor digestion.
- Reduces Greasy or Oily Stools: Helps improve fat digestion, decreasing symptoms such as fatty, foul-smelling stools.
- Supports Overall Nutritional Health: By improving nutrient utilisation, it can help reduce fatigue and nutritional deficiencies linked to pancreatic enzyme insufficiency.
Directions for Use
- Pancreatin should be taken immediately after a meal or snack.
- Follow your doctor's instructions on the dosage and timing of this medication.
- Swallow Pancreatin as a whole with a glass of water.
- You may also open the capsules and mix the granules (do not crush them) with soft foods like yoghurt or applesauce, or with an acidic liquid such as apple, pineapple, or orange juice. Consume the mixture immediately.
- Do not crush or chew this medication.
Storage
Side Effects of Pancreatin
Common Side Effects (Usually mild):
- Mild stomach pain or discomfort
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhoea or constipation
- Bloating and gas
Serious Side Effects (Call a doctor right away):
- Signs of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat, severe dizziness, or trouble breathing
- Severe or unusual abdominal pain, especially in the lower right stomach area
- Joint pain, swelling, or symptoms of gout
Medicines Containing this Salt
View AllDrug Warnings
- Never skip food: Always take Pancreatin with food; taking it without food can cause severe irritation to your stomach lining.
- Do not chew the beads: If you open the capsules to mix them with soft food, swallow the mixture immediately without chewing to prevent mouth irritation.
- Do not switch brands: Different brands of this medication may not work the same way in your body. Always consult your pharmacist or doctor before changing products.
- Keep the bottle sealed: These enzymes are highly sensitive to moisture and can lose their strength quickly if the container is left open.
- Watch for severe stomach pain: Contact your doctor immediately if you experience severe, persistent stomach pain, as this can be a sign of a rare but serious bowel issue.
Drug Interactions
Pancreatin can interact with certain medicines that affect digestion or nutrient absorption, potentially altering treatment effectiveness or nutritional status, including:
- Calcium or magnesium-based antacids: Taking these antacids at the same time may reduce the effectiveness of Pancreatin.
- Iron supplements: This medication may decrease the absorption of iron in your body, potentially requiring your doctor to monitor your iron levels.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
cautionIt is unknown whether alcohol interacts with Pancreatin. Please consult your doctor if you have any concerns regarding this.
Pregnancy
cautionPancreatin belongs to pregnancy category C. Consult your doctor before taking Pancreatin if you are pregnant; your doctor will prescribe only if the benefits outweigh the risks.
Breast Feeding
cautionIt is unknown whether Pancreatin passes into breast milk. Consult your doctor before taking Pancreatin; your doctor will decide whether breastfeeding mothers can take Pancreatin or not.
Driving
cautionPancreatin does not affect your ability to drive. However, Pancreatin may cause dizziness. So, do not drive or operate machinery unless you are alert.
Liver
cautionDose adjustment may be needed. Consult your doctor before taking Pancreatin if you have a liver impairment or any concerns regarding this.
Kidney
cautionDose adjustment may be needed. Consult your doctor before taking Pancreatin if you have kidney impairment or any concerns regarding this.
Children
safe if prescribedPancreatin can be given to children if prescribed by the doctor. The dose depends upon the child’s age and body weight.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Eat smaller, more frequent meals: Eating five to six small meals throughout the day instead of three large ones can make food easier to digest and reduce stomach strain.
- Manage fat intake: Work closely with a dietitian to ensure you are consuming healthy fats in amounts that your prescribed dose of Pancreatin can manage.
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of water throughout the day to support healthy digestion and help prevent constipation.
- Avoid alcohol and smoking: Both alcohol and tobacco can irritate your pancreas, worsen your digestive symptoms, and lower the effectiveness of your therapy.
Special Advise
- Try to avoid taking an antacid within 1 hour before or after you take Pancreatin. Simultaneous use of antacids containing calcium carbonate and/or magnesium hydroxide may lead to pancreatin deficiency.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency: The Pancreas plays an essential role in the digestion of food. It produces enzymes that help in the breakdown of food and the absorption of nutrients. Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency occurs in individuals whose bodies do not produce sufficient amounts of their own enzymes. This leads to the inability to properly digest food due to the pancreas's lack of a digestive enzyme. Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency could occur due to various conditions such as cystic fibrosis (an inherited disorder that damages the lungs and digestive system), pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), diabetes, celiac disease (inability to digest gluten), pancreatic cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, Zollinger-Ellison disease, and pancreatic or stomach surgery. Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency symptoms include abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhoea, flatulence, weight loss, and steatorrhea (loose, fatty, smelly stools).
FAQs
Pancreatin is used to treat Pancreatic insufficiency (pancreatin enzyme deficiency).
Pancreatin contains pancreatin enzymes that break down food and convert it into energy. Pancreatin is a combination of amylase (to digest starch), protease (to digest protein), and lipase (to digest fat). Together, it fulfils the digestive enzymes' requirements in conditions such as pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), cystic fibrosis (a genetic disorder that damages the lungs), pancreatic cancer, pancreatectomy (surgical removal of the pancreas), and steatorrhea (loose fatty stool due to poor fat absorption).
Pancreatin might interfere with the absorption and reduce the effectiveness of folic acid and iron. To prevent this, maintain a minimum gap between both.
Diarrhoea might be a side-effect of Pancreatin. Drink enough fluids and eat non-spicy food if you experience diarrhoea. Consult your doctor if you experience watery diarrhoea or if you find blood in your stools. Do not take anti-diarrhoeal medicine on your own.
Mixing Pancreatin with non-acidic food or liquids, chewing or crushing may cause irritation in the mouth. It might also change the way Pancreatin works in the body. Do not hold Pancreatin or its contents in your mouth.
To treat your condition effectively, continue taking Pancreatin for as long as your doctor has prescribed it. Many patients will need to take Pancreatin for the rest of their lives. Do not hesitate to consult your doctor if you experience any difficulties while taking Pancreatin.
Pancreatin is a pancreatic enzyme derived from the pancreatic organs of pigs used for food. Consult your doctor before taking Pancreatin if you are allergic to the pig (pork), cow products or buffalo products.
Pancreatin may cause side effects such as nausea, mild stomach pain, diarrhoea, and mild skin rash. Most of these side effects do not require medical attention and will resolve gradually over time. However, you are advised to talk to your doctor if you experience these side effects persistently.
Pancreatin is safe to be used in children if prescribed by the doctor. The dose is determined by the child’s age and body weight.
Take Pancreatin during or immediately after eating a meal or a snack, and drink plenty of water.
Include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, poultry without skin, fish, yoghurt, cheese, and non-fat/low-fat milk. Avoid high-fat, deep-fried, and buttered foods.
No, you should not take Pancreatin on an empty stomach. The enzymes in the medication require food to work and can irritate your stomach lining if taken without a meal or snack. Talk to your doctor if you have questions about your dosing schedule.
You can open the capsule and mix the contents with a small amount of acidic soft food, such as applesauce. Swallow this mixture immediately without chewing, and follow with a glass of water. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you need further help.
You should consult your healthcare provider before using Pancreatin if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Your doctor will weigh the benefits and potential risks to decide if it is safe for you. Talk to your doctor to discuss your options.
Yes, Pancreatin is typically prescribed as a long-term treatment for chronic conditions where the pancreas does not produce enough enzymes. Your doctor will monitor your progress and adjust your dose as needed. Talk to your doctor about your long-term care.
Pancreatin helps your body absorb nutrients and fats properly, which can lead to healthy weight gain or weight maintenance if you have previously lost weight due to malabsorption. It does not cause abnormal weight gain. Talk to your doctor if you have concerns about your weight.
It is highly recommended to avoid alcohol while taking this medicine. Alcohol can damage your pancreas, worsen your underlying condition, and interfere with how well the medicine works. Talk to your doctor about your alcohol consumption.
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