Mezim is a necessary drug for a pregnant woman’s first aid kit
Pregnancy is a long-awaited and exciting time in a woman’s life. Waiting for a small miracle requires patience and strength. During pregnancy, a woman needs to take care not only of her health, but also of the life and full development of her baby in the womb.
The immune system at this time is weakened and easily susceptible to viruses and diseases. The expectant mother cannot always control what she eats and whether it is safe. She may often experience abdominal discomfort. In this case, Mezim will come to the rescue. It’s not for nothing that the name rhymes with the word “irreplaceable.” It relieves uncomfortable sensations in the stomach area.
It is imperative for a pregnant woman to consult an obstetrician-gynecologist before starting to take the medicine.
Prevention of digestive disorders
It is possible to completely eliminate or reduce the problems of digestive disorders during pregnancy using preventive methods. They are safe and simple, but require attention, patience and some restrictions, these are:
- nutritional discipline: not to convey, eat a balanced diet - the cause of a deficiency of digestive enzymes may be a lack of protein foods, microelements, vitamins;
- limit as much as possible fatty, spicy, salty, flour, chocolate in the diet. In order not to overload the stomach and control saturation, it is useful to switch to fractional meals;
- feasible physical activity - walks at a calm rhythm, gymnastics for pregnant women activate intestinal motility;
- do not overeat before going to bed - an acute attack of hunger can be relieved by drinking a glass of warm water, kefir, or eating yogurt, a piece of cheese, or boiled chicken;
- It is advisable to eat fruits as an independent dish in the first half of the day - they take a long time to digest;
- enriching the diet with fruits, vegetables, herbs, cereals, fermented milk products;
- You can drink herbal teas or infusions, probiotics or biokefirs (lactobacillus) - after consulting a doctor.
Let's summarize The most reasonable decision is to consider Mezim a “conditionally safe” drug for pregnant women and take it only as prescribed by a doctor. For any alarming symptoms, it is important to avoid self-medication. Only a specialist can make the right decision, assess the individual characteristics of the body, the state of health of the expectant mother, the duration of pregnancy and how it proceeds, and decide whether Mezim should be taken and in what dosage.
Release forms and analogues
Available in the form of thin-coated tablets.
Varieties:
- Mezim forte. Take 1 to 4 tablets during or before meals. Take the tablet without chewing, with the required amount of water. The pediatric dose is agreed with the pediatrician. Can be taken for several days or months (depending on the course of the disease).
- Mezim forte 10000. A single dose is from 2 to 4 tablets. Take before or during meals. Do not chew, swallow whole with water. It is possible to increase the dose to improve the general condition. Duration of use according to instructions.
- Mezim form 20000. Take 1-2 tablets with meals. Drink 1 glass of water. The course of treatment is from 2 days to several weeks.
There are other remedies that differ from Mezim to a slight extent. They cost less. They are also called analogues.
- Pancreatin is a common substitute for Mezim.
- Creon. It is the main preparation of pancreatin. After using Creon as a substitute for Mezim, fewer side effects occur than from taking other analogues. Can be used from birth. The dosage is prescribed by the pediatrician. It has a good effect in the treatment of dysbiosis in newborns.
- Pangrol. Available in capsules. Dosage according to the attached instructions. Can be used for children after consulting with a pediatrician.
- Festal. In addition to pancreatin, this preparation contains hemicellulose and bovine bile (extract).
- Holenzim. Cannot be used by children under 12 years of age. Afterwards the dosage is prescribed by the attending physician.
It is better to purchase the drug Mezim or its analogues. The analogues have the same composition. But the therapeutic effect may occur more slowly. Their use instead of Mezim is allowed and even recommended. Cheap fakes and substitutes do not give the desired effect. Substitutes have a different composition of substances, which may differ significantly from Mezim. Their use is possible only under the supervision of a doctor, as there is a possibility of negative consequences.
Indications for use
The popular and safe drug Mezim (international name - Pancreatin, manufacturer - Berlin-Chemie AG) has been prescribed to adults and children from 3 years of age for more than two decades to compensate for the deficiency of food enzymes in case of episodic or systemic problems with food digestion for the following indications:
- flatulence, diarrhea, discomfort when overeating, consuming unusual, heavy, rough foods as short-term manifestations in practically healthy people;
- non-infectious diarrhea;
- chronic diseases affecting the pancreas - dysfunction of the liver, bladder, pancreatitis, including chronic, cystic fibrosis;
- intestinal infections;
- complex therapy after irradiation or resection of the stomach and small intestine.
Mezim compensates for partial or complete deficiency of pancreatic enzymes if their production is impaired or insufficient for complete digestion and absorption of food.
Instructions for use and dosage during pregnancy
Mezim should be taken before meals or during meals, 1 tablet. Take the medicine only with water, swallowing the whole tablet without chewing. After swallowing, do not lie down. You need to walk, stand or sit for about five minutes.
1st trimester
The drug is approved for use during pregnancy. There are enzymes and substances that are safe for the body. Relieves attacks of toxicosis, which torments a pregnant woman in the early stages. Despite all the advantages, it should be taken with caution, especially in the first trimester. It's better to consult a doctor.
A pregnant woman should carefully monitor her diet to avoid the use of medications.
2nd trimester
The second trimester is considered safe by obstetricians and gynecologists. Early toxicosis goes away. Appetite increases, and, as a result, troubles associated with the gastrointestinal tract arise.
Some doctors purposefully prescribe Mezim in the second trimester. During this period, disturbances in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract occur. To correct this, the stomach needs help in the form of pancreatin. The drug is part of Mezim.
3rd trimester
It is advisable to coordinate the use of the drug in the third trimester of pregnancy with the supervising physician. During the last term, a woman may experience side effects from taking Mezim. In the third trimester, a woman sometimes experiences heaviness in her stomach. Mezim solves this problem.
Operating principle
The active substance of the drug is pancreatin, which includes protease, lipase and amylase. These substances belong to the category of digestive enzymes synthesized by the pancreas. Proteases are responsible for the digestion of proteins, amylase promotes the breakdown of carbohydrates, and lipase – fats.
All these substances are present in pancreatic juice, which penetrates from the pancreas into the duodenum. They then begin to interact with bile and intestinal enzymes. The result of this reaction is the creation of compounds that break down food into simpler elements.
The active substance of the drug - pancreatin - helps to cope with disturbances in the process of food digestion, which are caused by insufficient activity of digestive enzymes.
Mezim Forte: dosage features
The dosage during pregnancy is determined by the doctor. You should not indulge in self-medication during this period. The dosage is one to two tablets 3-4 times a day.
After taking the medicine, you need to stand or sit for a few minutes so that the drug does not enter the esophagus instead of the stomach. Because of this, the desired effect will not occur.
We can come to the conclusion that it is possible to use Mezim during pregnancy if the benefits after using the drug exceed the possible harm to the fetus. But it’s better to reconsider your diet during pregnancy and balance your diet. Before starting to take the drug, be sure to discuss any unclear points with your doctor.
Contraindications
Despite its low toxicity, the product has several contraindications. It is prohibited to take Mezim while pregnant in the following situations:
relapse of chronic pancreatitis, which is characterized by intense abdominal pain, vomiting, nausea; acute pancreatitis; high sensitivity to the ingredients of the drug; tendency to allergies, including reactions to medications.
If there are contraindications to the use of the medicine during pregnancy and lactation, the specialist should give recommendations to alleviate the health condition. These include restoring a normal diet, avoiding overeating, and eliminating fatty and fried foods.
On a note. Some antacid preparations containing calcium and magnesium may reduce the effectiveness of Mezim. If necessary, the simultaneous use of such drugs, the doctor increases the dosage of the enzyme agent.
How to eat so you don't take pills later
Try to keep your gastronomic desires under control, do not overeat (especially at night), eat less of any “harmful” foods such as smoked meats, spicy seasonings, chips, etc.
Try to eat healthy foods rich in fiber, vitamins, more fresh and stewed or raw vegetables, fruits, juices, yoghurts, kefir.
If you are tempted to eat something, then it is better to drink a cup of aromatic tea with something tasty, but quite light, and then take a walk in the fresh air in the nearest public garden.
This helps curb excessive appetite, promotes your health and relieves heaviness in the stomach after thoughtless overeating.
Side effects
Among the side effects that may accompany taking Mezim, the following :
- allergic reactions (rash, sneezing, lacrimation, bronchospasm);
- constipation;
- diarrhea;
- nausea;
- change in bowel movements;
- abdominal pain.
If these symptoms occur, you should inform your doctor and stop taking the drug.
What does mezim contain?
In addition to the enzymes it contains, Mezim contains excipients - silicon dioxide, magnesium stearate, cellulose and lactose, which also do not cause concern.
The instructions for use of Mezim say that its effect on the course of pregnancy and the health of the unborn child has not been studied. In other words, no one can say for sure whether it is safe for pregnant women or not.
However, practice shows that no harm has been found from the use and consumption of Mezim during pregnancy.
If there is an urgent need for its use by a pregnant woman, then it is considered a fairly safe and not very effective drug, and doctors often prescribe Mezim to pregnant women for various disorders of the digestive system. In addition, Mezim has practically no side effects.
Disadvantages and side effects of the drug
Before starting therapy with your favorite medication, you should study the instructions for it to become familiar with the possible unpleasant consequences of use.
Side effects:
- Various allergic reactions.
- The risk of stenosis of the sections located at the bottom of the small intestine. This condition can occur in patients with cystic fibrosis.
- Problems with bowel movements (constipation).
- Hyperuricemia and hyperuricosuria.
- Deterioration of the intestines' ability to absorb iron.
- Mezim can cause intestinal obstruction.
- An attack of vomiting or nausea.
- When taking the medicine for a long time, abnormal levels of lactic acid in the blood plasma may occur.
- Angioedema (Quincke) or the occurrence of anaphylactic shock.
The severity of side effects of the drug can be minimized by following the doctor’s recommendations and the prescribed dosage. If, however, a pregnant woman notices any of the listed reactions to the drug, she should immediately stop taking it.
