Pancreatic enzymes (medication)

Pancreatic enzymes
Complex of lipase with colipase
Clinical data
Trade namesCreon, Pancreaze, Pertzye, others[1]
AHFS/Drugs.comMonograph
MedlinePlusa604035
Routes of
administration		By mouth
ATC code
Legal status
Legal status
  • AU: S4 (Prescription only)
  • EU: Rx-only[2]
  • In general: ℞ (Prescription only)
Identifiers
CAS Number
DrugBank
ChemSpider
  • none
UNII
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
ECHA InfoCard100.053.309 Edit this at Wikidata

Pancreatic enzymes, also known as pancreases or pancrelipase and pancreatin, are commercial mixtures of amylase, lipase, protease and lactase.[3][4] They are used to treat malabsorption syndrome due to certain pancreatic problems.[3] These pancreatic problems may be due to cystic fibrosis, surgical removal of the pancreas, long term pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, or MODY 5, among others.[3][5] The preparation is taken by mouth.[3]

Common side effects include vomiting, abdominal pain, constipation, and diarrhea.[3] Other side effects include perianal irritation and high blood uric acid.[5] The enzymes are from pigs.[5] Use is believed to be safe during pregnancy.[5] The components are digestive enzymes similar to those normally produced by the human pancreas.[6] They help the person digest fats, starches, and proteins.[5]

Pancreatic enzymes have been used as medications since at least the 1800s.[7] They are on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.[8] In 2021, it was the 243rd most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 1 million prescriptions.[9][10]

  1. ^ "Pancrelipase Uses, Side Effects & Warnings".
  2. ^ "Micrazym and associated names". European Medicines Agency. 21 March 2024. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Pancrelipase". The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. Archived from the original on 18 January 2017. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  4. ^ "Pancreatin". The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. Archived from the original on 18 January 2017. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  5. ^ a b c d e British national formulary: BNF 69 (69 ed.). British Medical Association. 2015. pp. 82–83. ISBN 978-0-85711-156-2.
  6. ^ Stuhan MA (2013). Understanding Pharmacology for Pharmacy Technicians. ASHP. p. 597. ISBN 978-1-58528-360-6. Archived from the original on 14 September 2017.
  7. ^ Banik SP, Khowala S, Pal C, Mukherjee S (2015). "Proteomic approaches to identify novel therapeutics and nutraceuticals from filamentous fungi: prospects and challenges". In Bagchi D, Swaroop A, Bagchi M (eds.). Genomics, Proteomics and Metabolomics in Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods. John Wiley & Sons. p. 274. ISBN 978-1-118-93046-5. Archived from the original on 18 September 2017.
  8. ^ World Health Organization (2019). World Health Organization model list of essential medicines: 21st list 2019. Geneva: World Health Organization. hdl:10665/325771. WHO/MVP/EMP/IAU/2019.06. License: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.
  9. ^ "The Top 300 of 2021". ClinCalc. Archived from the original on 15 January 2024. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  10. ^ "Pancrelipase Amylase; Pancrelipase Lipase; Pancrelipase Protease - Drug Usage Statistics". ClinCalc. Retrieved 14 January 2024.