Pancreatin [High Lipase]

Indications

Pancreatin [High Lipase] is used to treat exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. This can be due to cystic fibrosis, chronic pancreatitis, pancreatectomy or other conditions.

⚠️ Always consult a registered physician before taking any medicine.

Pharmacology

Pancreatin contains pancreatic enzymes that break down food in the duodenum and the proximal small intestine. They split fats into monoglyceride, glycerol and free fatty acids. Proteins are broken into peptides and amino acids, and starches into dextrins and short chain sugars such as maltose and maltriose. In this way pancreatin does the same work as the digestive enzymes the pancreas normally secretes.

Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Pregnancy category C. No animal reproduction studies have been done with pancrelipase, and it isn't known whether pancrelipase can harm the baby when given to a pregnant woman, or whether it can affect the ability to have children. The risk and the benefit should be weighed against the need to give a pregnant woman with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency enough nutritional support. Patients should tell their healthcare professional if they are pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant while being treated with Pancreatin.

Nursing mothers: It isn't known whether pancrelipase passes into human milk. Patients should tell their healthcare professional if they are breast-feeding.

⚠️ Talk to your doctor before taking any medicine during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

Dosage Reference

⚠️ Reference ranges from official sources only. Consult your doctor for personalized dosing.

Adults: Infants (up to 12 months): Pancreatin may be given at 2,000 to 4,000 lipase units per 120 mL of formula or per breast-feeding. Don't mix the contents of the capsule directly into formula or breast milk before giving it. Children older than 12 months and younger than 4 years: Start with 1,000 lipase units/kg of body weight per meal for children under 4 years. The maximum is 2,500 lipase units/kg of body weight per meal (or no more than 10,000 lipase units/kg of body weight per day), or less than 4,000 lipase units/g fat ingested per day. Children 4 years and older and adults: Start with 500 lipase units/kg of body weight per meal for those older than 4 years. The maximum is 2,500 lipase units/kg of body weight per meal (or no more than 10,000 lipase units/kg of body weight per day), or less than 4,000 lipase units/g fat ingested per day. Administration: Pancreatin is not interchangeable with any other pancrelipase product. Swallow it whole. For infants or patients who can't swallow intact capsules, the contents may be given without crushing or chewing, followed by fluid so that all of it is swallowed.