Pancreatic Enzymes

[Guest guest]

I take Lipram. I take 2 with meals and 1 with snacks. It has helped with the

diarrhea. Not the pain though!

Angie in SC

" The happiest of people don't necessarily have the

best of everything; they just make the best of everything that comes along

their way. "

[Guest guest]

,

No, you don't have to have abnormal lab work to go on the enzymes. Some

doctor's do require some positive evidence of chronic pancreatitis before they

will prescribe the enzymes, while it COULD be abnormal amylase and lipase

levels, it could just as easily be some physical manifestations of the problem,

such as diarrhea or oily stools, pain after eating, weight loss, etc.

You can buy OTC digestive enzymes at most health food stores and some

pharmacies, as well. Those enzymes would be safe for anyone with digestive

problems to take. The difference with the ones that need a doctor's

prescription, (Creon, Ultrace, Lipram, Pancrelipase, Viokase), is that the types

that are only available by prescription have much higher quantities of lipase

and protease, and are subsequently much more effective.

There is a very small handful of physician's who don't believe that pancreatic

enzymes make a difference. All I can say about that, is that medical research

DOES support their effectiveness, and I feel sorry for anyone who has a

doctor who doesn't believe in them!!

In my case, an inability to gain weight was a problem I'd had for two years

prior to starting the enzymes. As soon as I started using them in the correct

dosage amount, I was able to slowly re-establish and maintain my former

healthy weight.

With love, hope and prayers,

Heidi

Heidi H. Griffeth

Bluffton, SC

South Carolina State Rep.

South Eastern Regional Rep., PAI

http://www.pancassociation.org/anthology#Heidi.html

Note: All comments or advice are from personal experiences or opinion only,

and should not be a substitute for consultation with your medical professional.

wrote,

> Do you have to have abnormal lab work to go on the enzymes?

[Guest guest]

,

You wrote, " I'm on Lipram 20's.....you are saying I need 3-4 of those per

every meal & snack? I have tried only 2 per meal which my G.I. says should be

more than enough. "

I know there has been much response regarding enzymes. It is impossible to

compare. We can listen to the experiences of others to give us a broader

understanding of what to expect, but anything specific other than that has too

many variables. It is important to also evaluate a particular treatment regimen

based on the outcome oriented results.

Digestive enzymes are standardized preparations of lipase, which breaks down

fat, amylase, which breaks down starch, and protease, which breaks down

protein. The names of these individual products are, generally, based on the

Lipase content. Each product will have a different ratio of the enzymes,

however.

This information is used when choosing a product. For example, do you eat

more protein, starches, or fats?

There are a handful of products available, some are prescription, some OTC.

I personally use Pancreatin by Solgar, an OTC product available through health

food stores. It provides 15,000 units lipase and 75,000 units of both

amylase and protease per enteric coated tablet. I take two per meal, one per

snack. I am good to go. However, that was only after a trial and error period

of

evaluating the different product combinations.

It is important to start enzyme therapy off at a moderate baseline level to

evaluate the body's response to the particular enzyme preparation. The

initial dosage recommendations are 4,000 to 30,000 units of Lipase with each

meal,

and preferably on the lower dose. As Heidi mentioned, research has determined

that the body needs a certain amount of lipase for proper digestion, but it

is important to realize that includes what the body produces, in addition to

the amount supplemented. That is why some people can do okay taking Creon-5,

etc.

Enzymes are given to treat the symptoms of pancreatic insufficiency, which

are nausea, diarrhea, bloating, etc. Unfortunately, adverse reactions to any

enzyme preparation can include, nausea, diarrhea, and bloating. That can be

confusing, therefore, monitoring the stools for decrease fat content, floating,

malodor, etc., can determine if the symptoms are related to poor efficacy of

the enzyme preparation or to adverse side effects.

Keeping you in thought & prayer,

Karyn E. , RN,

Exec. Director PAI / 1-

KarynWms@...

http://www.pancassociation.org