Guest guest Posted January 30, 2004 Report Share Posted January 30, 2004 Hello, I am new to this board but not new to Pancreatitis. My husband, seven year old son and three year old daughter all have a very rare gene mutation of Hereditary Pancreatitis R116C. My question today is about Viokase-16. Is anyone else taking it? What are the side effects? Is it working for you? Are you taking any other mediciations? My husband has been taking Pancrease Enzymes for years and our son has also been taking them since October 2002, but my husband's new G.I. doctor wants him (my husband) to try the Viokase instead. His reasoning is because the Pancrease Enzymes do not get broken down until later in the instestines because first the capsule itself needs to be broken down and then each of the individual beads inside of the capsule get broken down. Apparently the Viokase-16 is a tablet and gets broken down much quicker. By the way my husband does not have a pancrease anymore so he does not have any pancreatic juices to help break down his food. He had his pancreas removed when he was 11 years old and has been diabetic since then. Thanks, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 30, 2004 Report Share Posted January 30, 2004 Dear , Welcome to the PAI!! You will find lots of friendly helpful people who will be checking with you asking how you, your husband, son, and little daughter are doing. My goodness what a houseful of very sick folks, that's awful that your children have this also. It's hard enough to deal with as an adult. You might post for Peg. Her son Brandan had bad pancreatitis, but had the total pancreatectomy, and islet cell transplant (to avoid the diabetes) He is doing so well! Shirley has also had this operation and had good results. She is so sweet. Dr. Sutherland did the surgery which he pionneerd (sp.) in 1970. As far as the Viokase 16 tablets (PANCRELIPASE USP), they are as you described. I used to take the Viokase 8 tablets, but my doctor wanted to increase the amount of enzymes that I take with each meal. Each tablet contains: Lipase-16,000 USP units. (USP is the gold standard for measuring presciption amounts) Protease- 60,000 USP units. Amylase- 60,000 USP units I take 8 tablets with each meal (when eating) I don't take them on an empty stomach. I have found Viokase-16 to be very helpful with my digestion. I have pancreas divism, and developed Chronic Panc in 1990 and have had a couple of surgeries. I am also an insulin dependent diabetic, so I know what that's like. Your husband must have had terrible problems, to have his pancreas removed so young. I'm sure that it is hard for you with two family members involved. You have done a smart thing in joining this group. The caretaker's role is often overlooked. Take care and I'll be praying for you and your family. Please feel free to post back to me! :-) Your New Pancreatitis Friend, Henry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 30, 2004 Report Share Posted January 30, 2004 Hi it was interesting and sad to read you post. I myself am a 3rd generation with pancreatitis, although my problems are not suppose to be genetic I often find it strange that me my father and his mother all have had the same symptoms. My pancreas problems are an annular pancreas and pancreatic divisum. I know that my father difinitely had pancreatitis when I was a young girl, his mother always had colitis and spent most of her days in the bathroom, and she had terrible pain and was always up all night long in pain, she rarely ever drove anywhere and rarely ever went anywhere. All of the physicans I have ever seen were made aware of this but none have ever even contemplated having any type of testing done, as a matter of fact I bet they wouldn't even know what to order. My concern is my daughter, she is now 19 and will be 20 in August and she has had some symptoms before but they went away, recently she told me anytime she eats anything with fat in it she gets diarrhea and boy do I know that one. Any info regarding tests would be greatly apprciated. Atwell LPN Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 31, 2004 Report Share Posted January 31, 2004 Hello, I was on Viokase 16 before my whipple and it seemed to do the trick as well as the others. I rember that the pills were huge. My doctors reason for switching from creon was because he said Viokase is more effective for pain management. Good luck. Rob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 31, 2004 Report Share Posted January 31, 2004 Rob!!! With all this talk this week about Whipples, I'd been thinking about you. It's so great to hear from you! How are you doing? I hope your life has been full and happy since your surgery. I just wanted to say " hi " to let you know that we don't forget our pancreatitis friends from the past, just because they have successful surgery and move on with their lives (as they should). It's great that you could drop in and contribute, and I hope your sun is shining brightly these days. With hope and prayers, Heidi Heidi H. Griffeth South Carolina SC & SE Regional Rep. PAI, Intl. Note: All comments or advice are personal opinion only, and should not be substituted for professional medical consultation. Rob wrote: I was on Viokase 16 before my whipple and it seemed to do the trick as well as the others. My doctors reason for switching from creon was because he said Viokase is more effective for pain management. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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