Prescription Based Pancreatic Enzyme Recommendations

[powerofpositivethinking]

although I am still waiting to visually see the results, I got a call from the GI doctor's office the other day telling me my pancreatic elastase testing came back with abnormally low numbers indicating pancreatic insufficiency.  I am also malabsorbing neutral and total fats.

 

I keep seeing the prescription med Creon coming up in my searches, but are there any other prescription based enzymes that any of you have taken?  Also my doctor said these may or may not be covered by insurance.  Any experience with that?  Thanks in advance!

[1desperateladysaved]

My son takes Pancreaze enzymes.  It is covered by my insurance, but I pay a co-pay of 25 dollars for 100 capsules.  My youth son takes 3 a day, 1 with each meal.  More information from the label.  It says pancrelipase.  Each capsule contains  lipase 4,200, amylase 17.500, protease 10,000 usp units.   They say they are Delayed-Release Capsules.  I looked them up on the internet before, so you can probably find more information there if you need it.

[powerofpositivethinking]

that makes me very happy to hear your insurance covers it!  is this the one he takes?  Open Original Shared Link  does he notice a big difference with it?

 

 

My son takes Pancreaze enzymes.  It is covered by my insurance, but I pay a co-pay of 25 dollars for 100 capsules.  My youth son takes 3 a day, 1 with each meal.  More information from the label.  It says pancrelipase.  Each capsule contains  lipase 4,200, amylase 17.500, protease 10,000 usp units.   They say they are Delayed-Release Capsules.  I looked them up on the internet before, so you can probably find more information there if you need it.

[lrmilas]

It was so nice to see your post because I am in exactly the same place, except that I recently had some big lapses on my gluten free diet.  In the last few months I have lost 20 pounds, and feeling very shaky and weak. My GI doc also said I need pancreatic enzymes (Creon) for "pancreatic insufficiency"... but I am wondering if the pancreas will resume normally on a gluten-free diet.  It appears you have been gluten free for a year.  So... maybe these are not connected? 

[1desperateladysaved]

 It appears to be the same ingredient.  My son was about 9 when he began taking these enzymes with meals.  He had failed to grow at the expected rapid rate for his background.  We eventually did a stool test and discovered that his enzyme levels were very low.  Just after he began the enzymes I noted that his too small jaw began to increase at a surprising rate.  In fact when I pointed this out to the doctor, he showed his excitment about it.  My son  began to grow and put on more weight.  We came nearly to the end of his prescription and I stopped his taking it to see if we could get by  He felt no bloating or ill effects.  However, his growth and weight gain came nearly to a stand still.  We had him retested and discovered his enzyme level was zero!  He is back on them.

 

I noticed his sister had small jaw and teeth crowding.  I gave her some of my non-prescription enzymes.  She had teeth loose in her mouth that the dentist claimed would never fall out because her jaw was too small.  About 3 days later she lost one of these teeth and within 3 more days, she lost 3 of them.

 

I think enzymes work WHEN there is a need for them.  The doctor told me insurance will cover if there is a demonstrated need for them.  He considered the fact that my son began growing after starting them as reasonable proof.  The recent stool test (while not taking the enzymes) with 0 registering pancreatic enzymes could be used as a factor too.

 

The functional medicine nurse I see told me that in a damaged small intestine the villi damage can cause them to fail to do their job of telling the pancreas to fire.  The enzymes can help to break down the food while the villi heal.  For me (in celiac) that means that I may not need them forever.

 

The doctor that originally prescribed these for my son is trained in osteopathic and functional medicine.  I also remember my MD telling me to take enzymes when she diagnosed me.

 

This appears to be the exact product in my bottle.  Open Original Shared Link

[powerofpositivethinking]

thank you!  the studies that I've read say the enzymes will help with growth and weight gain, but the weight gain is certainly something I do not need because I'm already slightly overweight 

 

 

 

 It appears to be the same ingredient.  My son was about 9 when he began taking these enzymes with meals.  He had failed to grow at the expected rapid rate for his background.  We eventually did a stool test and discovered that his enzyme levels were very low.  Just after he began the enzymes I noted that his too small jaw began to increase at a surprising rate.  In fact when I pointed this out to the doctor, he showed his excitment about it.  My son  began to grow and put on more weight.  We came nearly to the end of his prescription and I stopped his taking it to see if we could get by  He felt no bloating or ill effects.  However, his growth and weight gain came nearly to a stand still.  We had him retested and discovered his enzyme level was zero!  He is back on them.

 

I noticed his sister had small jaw and teeth crowding.  I gave her some of my non-prescription enzymes.  She had teeth loose in her mouth that the dentist claimed would never fall out because her jaw was too small.  About 3 days later she lost one of these teeth and within 3 more days, she lost 3 of them.

 

I think enzymes work WHEN there is a need for them.  The doctor told me insurance will cover if there is a demonstrated need for them.  He considered the fact that my son began growing after starting them as reasonable proof.  The recent stool test (while not taking the enzymes) with 0 registering pancreatic enzymes could be used as a factor too.

 

The functional medicine nurse I see told me that in a damaged small intestine the villi damage can cause them to fail to do their job of telling the pancreas to fire.  The enzymes can help to break down the food while the villi heal.  For me (in celiac) that means that I may not need them forever.

 

The doctor that originally prescribed these for my son is trained in osteopathic and functional medicine.  I also remember my MD telling me to take enzymes when she diagnosed me.

 

This appears to be the exact product in my bottle.  Open Original Shared Link