Pancrelipase

What is/are Pancrelipase?

Pancrelipase is a mixture of porcine-derived pancreatic amylase, pancreatic lipase, and chymotrypsin.

Amylase, pancreatic lipase, and chymotrypsin (a kind of protease) are digestive enzymes normally produced by the pancreas.

Pancrelipase is used in the treatment of some digestive disorders, primarily exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, which can result from cystic fibrosis, chronic pancreatitis, and after pancreatectomy. Pancrelipase is similar to the drug pancreatin, but has an elevated content of lipase.

Adverse effects

Less serious side effects of pancrelipase may include:

•     Nausea or vomiting;
•     Mild stomach pain or upset;
•     Diarrhea or constipation;
•     Bloating or gas;
•     Greasy stools;
•     Rectal irritation;
•     Headache, dizziness;
•     Cough; or
•     Weight loss.

This article uses material from the Wikipedia article Pancrelipase, which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0.