Pancreatin
About
Pancreatin is a pancreatic enzyme supplement indicated for the treatment of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (pancreatin enzyme deficiency) due to cystic fibrosis (an inherited disorder that damages the lungs and digestive system), chronic pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), or other conditions. Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency occurs in people whose bodies do not make enough of their own enzymes.
Pancreatin contains Pancreatin, which is a combination of digestive enzymes such as porcine-derived lipases, proteases, and amylases. These enzymes help in the digestion of food. Pancreatin mixes thoroughly with the food and helps in digestion as it passes through the gut.
You are advised to take Pancreatin for as long as your doctor has prescribed it for you, depending on your medical condition. In some cases, Pancreatin may cause certain common 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.
Inform your doctor before taking Pancreatin if you have gout, asthma, or any disease condition. Consult your doctor before taking Pancreatin if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Pancreatin may cause dizziness, so drive with caution. It is unknown whether alcohol interacts with Pancreatin; please consult your doctor if you have any concerns regarding this. Pancreatin can be given to children if prescribed by the doctor; the dose depends upon the child’s age and body weight.
Uses of Pancreatin
Medicinal Benefits
Pancreatin is a pancreatic enzyme supplement indicated for the treatment of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (pancreatin enzyme deficiency) due to cystic fibrosis (an inherited disorder that damages the lungs and digestive system), chronic pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), or other conditions. Pancreatin is a combination of digestive enzymes such as porcine-derived lipases, proteases, and amylases. These enzymes help in the digestion of food. Pancreatin mixes thoroughly with the food and helps in digestion as it passes through the gut. Pancreatin may also be used to treat steatorrhea (oily, smelly stools due to lack of fat absorption).
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Pancreatin
- Nausea
- Mild stomach pain
- Diarrhoea
- Mild skin rash
In-Depth Precautions and Warning
Drug Warnings
Do not take Pancreatin if you are allergic to pork (pig), cow or buffalo products. Consult your doctor if you experience stomach pain, swelling, constipation, and vomiting as patients taking Pancreatin with cystic fibrosis may develop a rare bowel condition called fibrosing colonopathy. Inform your doctor before taking Pancreatin if you have gout, asthma, or any disease condition. Consult your doctor before taking Pancreatin if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Pancreatin may cause dizziness, so drive with caution. It is unknown whether alcohol interacts with Pancreatin; please consult your doctor if you have any concerns regarding this. Pancreatin can be given to children if prescribed by the doctor; the dose depends upon the child’s age and body weight.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interactions: Pancreatin may interact with calcium, iron, and calcium supplements.
Drug-Food Interactions: No interaction found/established.
Drug-Disease Interactions: No interaction found/established.
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 Pancreatin can be taken by breastfeeding mothers or not.
Driving
safe if prescribedPancreatin does not affect your ability to drive. However, Pancreatin may cause dizziness. So 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 small portions of meals 3-5 times a day as larger meals make the digestive system work overtime.
- Include diet rich in fruits and vegetables.
- Avoid processed, deep-fried foods as they are hard to digest.
- Maintain a balanced diet which includes proteins, carbohydrates, and fats.
- Stay hydrated by drinking enough water as it helps the digestive system to function smoothly.
- Avoid highly processed foods which contain trans-fat, hydrogenated fats, and saturated fats. Instead of include foods containing monounsaturated, polyunsaturated and omega-3 fatty acids. Include olive oil, peanut oil, seeds, nuts, salmon, and tuna fish as they contain healthy fats
- Avoid foods rich in fibre such as brown rice, barley, lentils, and peas as they might interfere with the enzyme activity.
- Avoid or limit alcohol consumption as it can cause increased damage to the pancreas.
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: Pancreas play an important role in the digestion of food. It produces enzymes which help in the breakdown of food and absorption of nutrients. Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency occurs in people whose bodies do not make enough of their own enzymes. This leads to the inability of proper food digestion due to the pancreas' 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, pancreatic or stomach surgery. Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency symptoms include abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhoea, flatulence, weight loss, and steatorrhea (loose, fatty, smelly stools).
FAQs
Pancreatin contains ‘pancreatin enzymes’ breakdown food and converts it into energy. Pancreatin is a combination of amylase (to digest starch), protease (to digest protein) and lipase (to digest fat). Thus, together it fulfils the digestive enzymes requirements in the pancreatitis conditions (inflammation of the pancreas), pancreatic cancer, post-surgery of the pancreas, and steatorrhea (loose fatty stool due to poor fat absorption).
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 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 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 effectually 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 be reluctant to speak with your doctor if you experience any difficulty while taking Pancreatin.
