Pancrelipase

Pancrelipase is used for:

User Reviews & Ratings As a treatment for... Avg User Ratings [?] Pancreatic Exocrine Dysfunction 1 reviews Rate it! 10 Cystic Fibrosis 1 reviews Rate it! 10 Chronic Pancreatitis 0 reviews Rate it! 9.0 Compare with other drugs.

Improving food digestion in patients who cannot digest food properly because they have a pancreas problem (exocrine pancreatic insufficiency) caused by cystic fibrosis or certain other conditions.

Pancrelipase is a digestive enzyme combination. It works by helping the body to digest protein, starch, and fat.

Do NOT use Pancrelipase if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Pancrelipase
• you have inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis) or a flare-up of long-term pancreas problems

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using Pancrelipase :

Some medical conditions may interact with Pancrelipase . Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances (including pork proteins)
• if you have gout, high uric acid levels, or a history of kidney problems
• if you have a history of pancreas problems or stomach or bowel problems (eg, blockage, short bowel syndrome, Crohn disease)
• if you have trouble swallowing capsules

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Pancrelipase . However, no specific interactions with Pancrelipase are known at this time.

Ask your health care provider if Pancrelipase may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use Pancrelipase :

Use Pancrelipase as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• Pancrelipase comes with an extra patient information sheet called a Medication Guide. Read it carefully. Read it again each time you get Pancrelipase refilled.
• Take Pancrelipase by mouth with each meal or snack as directed by your doctor.
• Swallow Pancrelipase whole. Do not break, crush, chew, or hold Pancrelipase in your mouth before swallowing. Doing so may increase the risk of mouth irritation from Pancrelipase . Follow with a glass of water or juice.
• If the patient is an infant (up to 12 months), open the capsule and sprinkle the contents into the infants mouth or over a small amount of applesauce at room temperature. Do NOT mix Pancrelipase directly in breast milk or formula. If sprinkled onto applesauce, give the mixture to the infant right away. After giving Pancrelipase , follow it with breast milk or formula. Be sure that none of the medicine is crushed, chewed, or left in the mouth.
• If the patient is an adult or child older than 12 months who cannot swallow the capsule whole, open it and sprinkle the contents over a small amount of acidic soft food (such as applesauce) at room temperature. Mix the medicine with the food and swallow the entire mixture right away. Follow with a glass of water or juice. Be sure that none of the medicine is crushed, chewed, or left in the mouth. Check with your doctor if you are unsure which foods you may mix with Pancrelipase .
• If you miss a dose of Pancrelipase , skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once or take a dose without a snack or a meal.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Pancrelipase .

Important safety information:

• Pancrelipase may cause dizziness. This effect may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines. Use Pancrelipase with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it.
• Do not take more than the recommended dose without checking with your doctor.
• Pancrelipase may increase the risk of developing a rare, serious condition called fibrosing colonopathy. When this occurs, it is usually with high doses over a long period of time. It has been most commonly reported in children with cystic fibrosis. Contact your doctor right away if you experience unusual or severe nausea, vomiting, or stomach pain, or severe or persistent loose stools, constipation, or diarrhea.
• Pancrelipase comes from pork (pig) pancreas tissue. There is an extremely rare risk of developing a viral disease from this product. No cases of viral disease from pork pancreas products have been identified.
• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: It is not known if Pancrelipase can cause harm to the fetus. If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Pancrelipase while you are pregnant. It is not known if Pancrelipase is found in breast milk. If you are or will be breast-feeding while you use Pancrelipase , check with your doctor. Discuss any possible risks to your baby.

Possible side effects of Pancrelipase :

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Dizziness; gas; headache; stomach pain.

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); painful, swollen joints; severe or persistent loose stools, diarrhea, or constipation; severe or unusual nausea, vomiting, or stomach pain.

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. You may also report side effects at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center (http://www.aapcc.org), or emergency room immediately.

Store Pancrelipase at room temperature up to 77 degrees F (25 degrees C). Brief storage at temperatures between 77 and 104 degrees F (25 and 40 degrees C) is permitted for up to 30 days. Store in the original container away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep Pancrelipase out of the reach of children and away from pets.

General information:

• If you have any questions about Pancrelipase , please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
• Pancrelipase is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.
• If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.

This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Pancrelipase . If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.

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