Medicines for the Treatment of Pancreatitis

Definition

Pancreatitis refers to an inflammatory process affecting the pancreas: the disease can appear violently and suddenly (acute pancreatitis), or worsen slowly but surely, also causing rather serious permanent disorders (chronic pancreatitis).

Causes

Numerous and heterogeneous are the etiological elements underlying pancreatitis: abuse of alcohol (alcoholic pancreatitis) and certain drugs, gallbladder stones, pancreatic or duodenal cancer, cystic fibrosis, bacterial infections, hypercalcemia, hyperparathyroidism, hypertriglyceridemia, genetic predisposition, duodenal ulcer, smoking and surgical trauma (postoperative pancreatitis).

Symptoms

The most common symptom that accompanies the different forms of pancreatitis is certainly the severe pain in the lower abdomen, acute, intense, continuous or intermittent. Abdominal pain is accompanied by aerophagia, altered body temperature, chills, weight loss, indigestion, loss of appetite, nausea, presence of fat in the stool, intense salivation and vomiting.

Diet and Nutrition

The information on Pancreatitis - Medicines for the Treatment of Pancreatitis is not intended to replace the direct relationship between health professional and patient. Always consult your doctor and / or specialist before taking Pancreatitis - Medicines to Treat Pancreatitis.

Medicines

Treatment for pancreatitis most often requires hospitalization of the patient; the first goal that must be taken into consideration is the reduction of pain, inflammation and other symptoms:

Fasting for a short time is essential to give the pancreas the opportunity to regain full functionality. After having inflamed the pancreatic gland, the patient must still follow a healthy and balanced diet, drinking plenty of fluids and gradually taking light foods in his diet.
Don't drink alcohol.
In some cases, it is possible to hydrate the person with pancreatitis with intravenous fluids (drip).
The nasogastric tube is useful to prevent the acidic stomach juices from entering the duodenal duct: in this way, the stimulation of the pancreas activity is denied.
Taking therapeutic aids (painkillers and antipyretics) to relieve pain and lower fever.
Like any disease, before proceeding with any drug therapy, it is essential to identify with certainty the triggering cause of the problem.
In cases of severity, surgery is the last resort.

The following are the classes of drugs most used in the therapy against pancreatitis, and some examples of pharmacological specialties; it is up to the doctor to choose the most suitable active ingredient and dosage for the patient, based on the severity of the disease, the state of health of the patient and his response to treatment:

Antibiotics: recommended in case of pancreatitis associated with bacterial infections (pseudomonas, Klebsiella, enterococci):

Third generation cephalosporins (eg Cefotaxime: Cefotaxime, Aximad, Lirgosin, Lexor). The dosage should be indicated by the doctor. Generally, the treatment should be continued for 7-10 days.
Imipenem (eg. Imecitin, Tienam, Tenacid) (class: beta-lactam antibiotics): to be taken intramuscularly at a dosage of 500-750 mg every 12 hours; alternatively, take the drug intravenously, at a dosage of 1-2 grams per day.

In the event of non-healing and persistence of pancreatitis symptoms after 7-10 days of treatment, the surgical option is almost always the best.

Pancreatic enzymes: the administration of pancreatic extracts (eg Pancreatin, Creon, Pancrex) has proved particularly useful for the treatment of pancreatitis, in order to compensate for the significant reduction in exocrine pancreatic secretion. Enzymes are important for promoting the digestion of more or less complex molecules, such as proteins, fats and starches. Consequently, a deficit of pancreatic enzymes - a very likely occurrence in a context of pancreatitis - can significantly compromise digestive activity, favoring bloating, flatulence, abdominal pain and bloating, diarrhea, etc.
The dose of "pancreatic enzyme intake" must be established by the physician, according to the volume and consistency of the stool and the number of discharges the patient has during the day. Pancreatic enzymes are taken by mouth.

Therapeutic aids for pain control in case of pancreatitis:

Ketorolac (eg. Girolac, Rikedol, Benketol, Kevindol) the drug should be administered at a dose of 30 mg every 4-6 hours. Do not exceed 90 mg / day. It belongs to the class of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Also used to reduce fever. Alternatively use paracetamol.
Meperidine or Pethidine (eg Demerol, Petid C) opioid analgesic drug to be taken orally at a dosage of 50-100 mg every 4 hours, as needed. Or, intramuscularly / intravenously or subcutaneously, at a dosage of 25-100 mg every 4 hours.
Tramadol (eg. Tralenil, Tramadol, Fortradol) the drug is an opioid derivative whose dose must be established by the doctor based on the intensity of pain in the context of pancreatitis (variable dosage from 25 to 400 mg per day. Consult your doctor)

Notes: If the antibiotic therapy does not bring any benefit to the patient, it is possible to proceed in several ways:

Removal of gallstones (when pancreatitis is related to a stone)
Surgical excision: removal of a part of the diseased pancreatic tissue
Removal of liquids concentrated in the pancreas
Administration of proton pump inhibitors: useful only in the case of peptic pathology in the context of pancreatitis
Removal of the gallbladder: in case of obstructive pancreatitis