Features of using Pancreatin during pregnancy

For a pregnant woman, the joyful anticipation of the birth of a baby is often complicated by various problems in the body. Constant fatigue, morning sickness and digestive disorders are common symptoms. In order not to feel unwell for several weeks or months, you should take medications that help the body in difficult times.

To normalize the production of digestive enzymes and improve the functioning of the digestive system as a whole, pancreatin is often prescribed . However, you first need to figure out whether it is possible to drink pancreatin during pregnancy, what contraindications are present and possible consequences for the fetus.

Causes of problems with the digestive system in pregnant women

Almost every pregnant woman is familiar with the feeling of nausea, bloating, heartburn, constipation, flatulence and increased gas formation. In most cases, the main reason for all this is a change in the woman’s hormonal levels. During gestation, her metabolism changes, and the digestion of food slows down. In addition, the constantly increasing size of the uterus puts pressure on the organs of the digestive tract, and the growing level of progesterone in the blood weakens the tone of the smooth muscles of the stomach and intestines. As a result, all this leads to relaxation of the sphincter between the stomach and esophagus, which contributes to the appearance of heartburn, impaired digestive function and untimely removal of undigested masses from the body.

Indigestion is a companion of almost every pregnant woman

In addition, malfunction of the digestive tract can be caused by:

• violation of the diet (excessive consumption of fried, fatty, smoked and spicy foods, freshly squeezed juices, restriction of fiber and liquid in the diet, long breaks between meals and large single portions, etc.);
• physical inactivity (a sedentary lifestyle helps to slow down the already reduced motility of the stomach and intestines);
• restricting exposure to fresh air and disrupting sleep and wakefulness (it is known that frequent stay in poorly ventilated areas, lack of sleep and fatigue can cause nausea);
• nervous overstrain and stressful situations (they can contribute to bloating and increased gas formation);
• pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract (gastritis, enzyme deficiency, peptic ulcer, colitis, etc.).

Pregnancy and digestion

Digestive problems while expecting a baby occur during all periods of pregnancy.

In the initial 3-4 months, these are usually manifestations of early toxicosis, when a woman feels nausea, experiences the urge to vomit in the morning and her sense of taste changes.

At a later date, the early symptoms are replaced by others, no less unpleasant. Under the influence of major hormonal changes in the placenta, the intestines suffer from decreased tone, and the pregnant woman begins to suffer from problems known for this period - constipation.

In the second or third trimester, the rapidly growing uterus begins to displace and squeeze the stomach upward, which forces recently eaten food to move back into the esophagus, causing painful heartburn.

Did you know? In the public consciousness, the opinion has long been strengthened, supported by a number of medical specialists, that the slowdown in the digestive process in pregnant women occurs under the influence of the body itself, which tries to fully and first of all transfer all the nutrients and beneficial substances to the developing fetus.

What is Pancreatin

Pancreatin is an enzyme preparation that is available from pharmacies without a prescription. Its main component is pancreatin, an enzyme obtained from the cells of the pancreas of cattle. That is, we can safely say that this medicine is completely natural. Pancreatin contains important enzymes: amylase, lipase and protease. Amylase is responsible for the breakdown of carbohydrates, lipase - fats, and protease - proteins. Thanks to them, incoming food products are fully digested and absorbed in the small intestine.

Pancreatin enzyme is obtained from bovine pancreatic cells.

The drug is available in several forms:

• in tablets, convex on both sides. Each tablet is coated in pink or brown (depending on the manufacturer). In the pharmacy you can find the drug in blisters of ten tablets, packed in cardboard packaging of one, two or five blisters, as well as in dark glass bottles of 60 tablets, packed in cardboard boxes. One tablet contains 100 mg of the active component with the enzymatic activity of lipase 140 units, protease 25 units, amylase 1500 units. The price varies from 20 to 70 rubles;
• in dragees with a brown glossy surface, packed in blisters of ten pieces. One cardboard box contains five blisters. One dragee contains an active component with the enzymatic activity of lipase 4300 FIP units, protease 200 FIP units. and amylase 3500 FIP units. The price varies from 30 to 80 rubles;
• in enteric capsules packed in blisters. One blister contains ten capsules, one cardboard package contains two blisters. This form of the drug is much more difficult to find in pharmacies than the previous two. Pancreatin analogues can usually be found in capsule form.

Pancreatin is available in the form of biconvex enteric-coated tablets

If Pancreatin is used strictly as prescribed by the attending physician, it can significantly improve the functioning of the digestive tract without harming either the mother or the baby.

If the drug is abused, the activity of enzymes may increase, which is why there is a possibility of other problems with the stomach, intestines and pancreas.

Video: properties of Pancreatin

Categorical contraindications

In addition to side effects, which you can quickly get rid of with the so-called “mild scare”, “Pancreatin” also has a number of serious contraindications that must be taken into account especially strictly during pregnancy.

Contraindications:

• individual hypersensitivity to the components of the drug;
• acute form of pancreatitis;
• exacerbation of chronic pancreatitis.

If there is a need for drug intervention during the period of bearing a child, you must always take into account the fact that the medications used can affect not only a separately selected diseased organ, but also the entire body as a whole. It will be useful for you to learn how to take vitamins during pregnancy. Therefore, when in the absence of previously diagnosed chronic gastrointestinal diseases, but severely noticeable discomfort in the digestive organs, you should immediately consult a specialist, without resorting to self-medication.

Can the drug be used during pregnancy?

Ten years ago, the American organization that controls the quality of food and drugs classified Pancreatin in FDA category C on a special scale of possible risks to the fetus and the expectant mother. This meant that studies conducted on animals revealed a negative effect of the active substance on the fetus. However, in recent years, after a number of new studies, the drug was moved to FDA group B. This means that no negative effects of the active ingredient on the fetus were identified, but proper studies were not conducted in pregnant women.

Modern experts do not see a threat in taking Pancreatin during pregnancy, as they believe that the drug does not have any negative effect on the development and growth of the baby. However, you should not take the drug to eliminate unpleasant symptoms and treat diseases of the digestive tract on your own. If expectant mothers do not have the proper knowledge about the existing problem, the use of enzyme preparations, at best, will not have any effect on the pathology, and at worst, it can significantly aggravate the situation. Therefore, Pancreatin should be prescribed exclusively by a doctor after collecting complaints and anamnesis, examination and, possibly, undergoing a number of diagnostic procedures.

You can take Pancreatin during pregnancy only as prescribed by a doctor.

An obstetrician-gynecologist, a local physician or a gastroenterologist can prescribe Pancreatin to an expectant mother.

In my obstetric practice, I often have to prescribe enzyme preparations to expectant mothers. Basically, I choose not Pancreatin, but drugs similar to it - both single-component (Mezim Forte, Creon) and multi-component (Wobenzym). This is due to the fact that they are considered more “clean”, the expected effect of treatment occurs faster than from Pancreatin, and pregnant women tolerate them better.

Recommendations for use

There are no specific recommendations for taking Pancreatin specifically for pregnant women. Like everyone else, the required dosage and duration of therapy for expectant mothers is selected exclusively by a specialist in each specific case.

Pancreatin is usually taken three or four times a day. It is necessary to wash down tablets, dragees or capsules with a small amount of clean drinking or mineral (for example, Borjomi) water. The drug should be taken during or after eating.

If a pregnant woman is simultaneously taking iron-containing medications, then it must be taken into account that Pancreatin reduces their absorption in the body.

How to take Pancreatin

If your primary doctor has carried out the necessary examinations and prescribed you pancreatin during pregnancy, you need to take it in the dosage that the doctor gave.

The instructions indicate a dosage of 1-3 tablets per dose, the number of doses per day may vary. The duration of treatment can be from several days to several weeks. The main condition is that the tablet cannot be divided or chewed.

Indications for prescribing Pancreatin

Regardless of the gestational age of the expectant mother, the doctor can prescribe Pancreatin only in the following cases:

• insufficient enzymatic activity of the pancreas;
• chronic pancreatitis;
• stool disorders (diarrhea) of non-infectious origin;
• flatulence, bloating and increased gas formation;
• nausea;
• disorders of the digestive system due to damage to the chewing function (for example, due to dental disease or lack thereof) to break down large particles of food;
• gastrointestinal motility disorders due to limited physical activity;
• digestive disorders due to dietary errors;
• gastritis with reduced secretory function;
• duodenitis;
• gastroenteritis;
• colitis

Indications for taking an enzyme preparation

Use by pregnant and breastfeeding women is indicated in the presence of the following somatic or functional changes:

1. A pathology characterized by a violation of the functional state of the pancreas, the exocrine part of which produces digestive enzymes (pancreatitis, cystic fibrosis).
2. Functional changes, against the background of which the digestion process is disrupted, which is accompanied by bloating (flatulence), unstable stools, and heaviness in the abdomen.
3. Infectious processes affecting various structures of the digestive system and leading to the development of diarrhea or constipation.
4. Chronic somatic pathology of the stomach, liver, structures of the hepatobiliary tract, leading to disruption of the digestive process.
5. Functional disorders of the digestive organs, provoked by a sedentary lifestyle.
6. Insufficient grinding of food in the oral cavity, due to which the load on the digestive organs significantly increases and digestion is disrupted.

The drug can be prescribed in preparation for an ultrasound examination of the abdominal organs.

Contraindications and side effects

Taking the drug will be contraindicated for a pregnant woman in case of high sensitivity to any component of the drug, as well as in acute pancreatitis, including exacerbation of its chronic form.

When taking Pancreatin, the occurrence of any side effects is minimized. But as you know, the body is completely unpredictable during pregnancy, so there are still risks of their occurrence. So, during treatment with this drug, the expectant mother may experience the following side effects:

• allergic reactions (most often skin rash and itching);
• feeling of discomfort in the epigastric region;
• abdominal pain;
• upset stool (mainly with dilution, but constipation may also occur);
• feeling of nausea;
• the appearance of uric acid in the urine, and if the drug is abused, in the blood.

Is it possible or not?

If you turn to the most famous medical sources on the Internet and study the available sea of ​​​​information, you can come to the conclusion that to the question whether pregnant women can take enzyme preparations, including the well-known “Pancreatin”, the answer will be clearly positive, but the expectant mother there should be no contraindications for use. Important! Any drug during the period of waiting for a baby can cause harm to both mother and child, so taking pills, even if seemingly harmless at first glance, is carried out only on the recommendation of a specialist managing the pregnancy.

How to replace Pancreatin during pregnancy

Options for replacing Pancreatin for digestive disorders in pregnant women:

1. Single-component preparations. They, like Pancreatin, contain enzymatically active pancreatin, including protease, amylase and lipase. Such drugs approved during pregnancy include Mezim Forte, Creon, Mikrasim, Penzital, Ermital and others.

   
   Mezim Forte is a complete analogue of Pancreatin and is often prescribed to pregnant women

2. Multicomponent drugs. In addition to pancreatin, they also contain other active components. Wobenzym is definitely one of these products that is allowed. The rest (Biofestal, Pankreoflat, Normoenzyme, Ferestal and others) should be used with great caution and under the strict supervision of a specialist.

   
   Wobenzym is a multicomponent drug and is considered completely safe for pregnant women

Some manufacturers play it safe, indicating in the annotations to the drugs that they can be used during pregnancy only in cases where the expected benefit is higher than the possible risks to the fetus. Nevertheless, most experts are of the opinion that pancreatin does not have a negative effect on the fetus, therefore, if indicated, doctors prescribe these medications to expectant mothers.

Table: one-component Pancreatin substitutes

Table: multicomponent Pancreatin substitutes

Reviews about pancreatin

Some expectant mothers take pancreatin at their own risk for any bloating or problems with digestion of food, without even consulting a doctor, as they consider it safe. Such amateur activities may in some cases simply not be beneficial, and in others they may harm the child’s health.

Here are some reviews from pregnant women about the drug.

Anna:

Girls, I was afraid of getting pregnant with my pancreatitis, since it is dangerous to take pills at this time, but I heard that many with pancreatitis are allowed to drink mezim or pancreatin. And often there is remission during pregnancy, so you may not need to drink it.

Maria Petrovna:

During pregnancy, I was prescribed pancreatin, although I had no problems with my pancreas. I believed the doctors and took the entire course. After that, the problems began, my stomach constantly hurts. Apparently the body has already gotten used to the fact that there is no need to produce enzymes and has switched off. It turns out that I am addicted to enzymes, and they are addictive.

Luda:

During pregnancy, gastritis and pancreatitis worsen, so very often you cannot do without pancreatin. I don’t know, but I think that this medicine should be safe for a child, these are just natural enzymes.

Pancreatin is included in many enzyme preparations; the only difference is in the name and manufacturer.

Is it worth using the medicine?

When you ask your doctor during pregnancy whether you can take pancreatin, check whether you really need it. The drug and its analogues are part of the pharmacological group of enzyme medications that are taken during meals to improve digestion. The drug is able to stimulate the secretion of the pancreas, stomach and other organs of the gastrointestinal tract.

Can be taken if the disease is pronounced

You can take the drug Pancreatin during pregnancy in any trimester. However, you should not abuse it.

Some girls believe that the remedy helps with heartburn, constipation and nausea, but it is powerless against these problems. One of the key properties of the medicine is to stimulate the secretion of gastric juice, so it cannot eliminate heartburn in any way.

Quite the contrary. More acidic contents will enter the esophagus, so the symptoms of heartburn will only intensify.

During pregnancy, be sure to consult your doctor, because only he should decide whether you can take pancreatin. There is no need to put your baby at risk. The medicine has not only advantages, but also disadvantages.

Breast-feeding

Breastfeeding (breastfeeding or lactation) is a special period during which the use of various medications is limited. This is due to the fact that the active components of medications can penetrate into milk and have a harmful effect on the body of the developing fetus. The digestive enzymes included in the composition are not absorbed into the blood, so Pancreatin can be prescribed during breastfeeding.

Pancreatin therapy during lactation

During the period of breastfeeding, the medicine is prescribed to improve the digestion process, which has been disrupted due to pathological processes or functional changes. The disorder is accompanied by nausea, periodic vomiting, flatulence, and unstable stools. This can affect the quality of a nursing mother's milk, so treatment with enzyme agents is required.

The average dose of the medication is 1-2 tablets 3-4 times a day. The course of treatment should be short (about 5 days). The need and possibility of further use of the medicine is determined by the attending physician.

Is it possible to use Pancreatin during pregnancy at different stages?

The use of the drug by pregnant women and nursing mothers is permitted according to the instructions. However, it is recommended to take it when the risks to the fetus are minimal, namely in the first, second and third trimesters. But the effect of the medicine on the child has not yet been fully studied, so before starting to use it, you should consult a doctor.

In this case, the exact dosage of the drug is also important. As a rule, the later the date, the less the dose of medication is required. However, each case is considered individually.

Features of the use of the drug at different stages of pregnancy

The entire period of pregnancy is usually divided into 3 trimesters. Each of them is characterized by its own characteristics, which affect the possibility of using medicines.

Important! The use of medications is carried out regardless of the trimester if a woman has a chronic disease or a condition or disease that is life-threatening. If we talk about Pancreatin, then you cannot refuse to take it in case of chronic pancreatitis and cystic fibrosis, since these diseases are much more dangerous than the possible negative consequences of taking the drug.

1st trimester

In early pregnancy, the fetus is especially vulnerable to the effects of drugs. At this time, there are 2 critical periods - the 2nd and 3-8th weeks after conception. It is during this period that the formation of the rudiments of all organs and systems occurs.

Uncontrolled use of drugs can provoke the development of defects in the fetus, and in some cases, miscarriage.

Therefore, it is better to stop taking any medications if this does not negatively affect the body of the mother and child. Taking Pancreatin is allowed only when prescribed by a doctor and if there are appropriate indications.

2nd trimester

In the second trimester (weeks 14-27), the fetus is actively developing and growing. The critical period lasts from 18 to 22 weeks, when the nervous and endocrine systems are actively developing.

The use of certain medications at this time is not recommended, but the ban does not apply to Pancreatin . If a pregnant woman suffers from indigestion, the remedy can be used after consultation with the doctor. In addition, it is recommended to adhere to a proper diet and avoid overeating.

3rd trimester

It is in the third trimester that a woman is most often troubled by problems with the digestive tract. The fetus is actively growing, which is why the uterus puts pressure on the internal organs. This complicates the work of the gastrointestinal tract, resulting in:

• feeling of fullness in the stomach;
• constipation;
• nausea.

Taking Pancreatin can significantly improve a woman’s condition without having a negative effect on the fetus. The main thing is not to exceed the recommended doses and not to violate the regimen of use.

Directions for use and doses

Dosage may depend on indications for use and stage of pregnancy. The main criterion is complete compensation of pancreatic enzyme deficiency. The usual dosage is one to four tablets per meal. The maximum dosage is twenty-one tablets per day.

The duration of treatment also depends on the type of disease and can range from one day to five to six months. For chronic diseases, taking the medicine can last for several years.

Use of Pancreatin in the 1st trimester

As in later stages, it is better to limit the use of the drug in the first trimester. Since it is during this period of fetal development that almost all body systems are formed.

At the same time, if you cannot do without pills, taking them is necessary. Pancreatic diseases can develop and progress, and this can seriously affect the health of the expectant mother in the future, and therefore the child. Treatment of such pathologies and complications will require more effort and medications.

Use of Pancreatin in the 2nd trimester

During this period of pregnancy, toxicosis and other unpleasant sensations significantly decrease and disappear, and the well-being of the expectant mother improves. But, despite this, with chronic pancreatitis and other persistent pathologies, exacerbation can be expected, so in order to avoid it, it is necessary to follow a diet and use enzyme therapy to improve digestion.

Taking Pancreatin in the second trimester is approved by a gastroenterologist and gynecologist. When taking it, it is important to strictly follow the doctor’s instructions and not exceed the recommended dosage.

Use of Pancreatin in the 3rd trimester

In the later stages of pregnancy, the fetus, which has significantly increased in size, begins to seriously put pressure on the internal organs and interfere with the digestive system to perform its functions. Therefore, the stomach, pancreas, liver, gallbladder and intestines begin to work to the limit of their capabilities and malfunction.

Will pancretin help get rid of heartburn, nausea or constipation?

Pancreatin cannot combat these symptoms during pregnancy. Pancreatin causes more gastric juice to be produced. This means that an additional portion of this liquid will in no way reduce heartburn (For information on how to cope with this ailment, read the article Heartburn during pregnancy>>>). This process, on the contrary, can lead to its strengthening.

The same condition occurs with constipation and nausea during pregnancy. These two symptoms are included in the list of side effects and can aggravate the general condition of the pregnant woman.

Advantages of using medication during pregnancy

• If pancreatin is prescribed by your treating physician and you follow the dosage, then there will be no pathology in intrauterine development;
• The drug must be taken during or after meals, which increases the amount of gastric juice. This allows you to improve digestion and then no heaviness in the stomach is scary;
• Has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the pancreas.

Disadvantages of using the drug during pregnancy

1. When consumed, the activity of enzymes increases, but your body already has enough of them during pregnancy;
2. Has side effects;
3. If your pancreatitis worsens, taking the drug may cause complications.

Indications for prescribing pancreatin during pregnancy

• chronic pancreatitis;
• gastritis with reduced production of gastric juice;
• serious malfunction of the pancreas.

These are the most common reasons why drug treatment may be prescribed. For each pregnant woman, the course of treatment and dosage are selected individually. The main thing is that you strictly follow it.

Pancreatin not only improves food digestion in pregnant women, but also supports the functioning of your gastric gland. This is a prevention against exacerbation of pancreatitis or the development of pancreatic diabetes. After all, drug treatment of these diseases is impossible for pregnant women.

Pancreatitis may be prescribed to you before an ultrasound of the pelvic organs.

Instructions for use of pancretin

Pancreatin is a natural, medicinal product. It is produced in the form of film-coated tablets. It mainly consists of a pancreatic enzyme that will improve the functioning of your stomach and pancreas.

Once inside the body, the drug completely separates fats, carbohydrates, and proteins into components, making it easier for the duodenum to absorb all nutrients.

This can be monitored by taking the drug. You will immediately notice that after eating there is no heaviness in the stomach area. Pancreatin makes the entire gastrointestinal tract work better. Thus, it alleviates your symptoms of discomfort associated with eating. Learn more about nutrition during pregnancy from our course: Secrets of proper nutrition for the expectant mother>>>

Folk remedies and methods of prevention

Any serious ailment during pregnancy is a reason to consult a doctor. Self-medicating is stupid and irresponsible, because you can harm the child. All traditional methods of treatment for problems with the gastrointestinal tract and pancreas are largely preventive and aimed at improving the functioning of internal organs.

The first thing a woman can do to help herself from the first days of pregnancy is to review her diet. The main recommendations are as follows:

• exclude fried, spicy, smoked foods;
• steam, boil or bake food;
• eat often, but in small portions;
• drink enough clean water.

For chronic pancreatitis, the following folk remedies help relieve symptoms::

1. Oatmeal jelly. Oats need to be soaked overnight, then dried and ground. Pour the resulting flour with water, boil, cook for a few minutes, then let sit for about 20 minutes. You need to drink freshly prepared jelly; you cannot store it.
2. Juice from raw potatoes. Take 2-3 potatoes, peel, wash, squeeze out the juice and drink 150-200 ml before meals. You can only drink freshly prepared potato juice.

Such simple folk remedies can also be used by pregnant women, but in no case do they replace full treatment. Taking pancreatin during pregnancy is sometimes really necessary and can prevent serious disorders in a woman’s body. But only a doctor can decide on the prescription of the drug.

If the expectant mother suffers from chronic gastritis or chronic pancreatitis, most likely she will have to take Pancreatin during pregnancy. It is necessary to take into account the fact that serious problems in the functioning of the pancreas can pose a threat to the health of a woman and her unborn baby.

Therefore, it is impossible to do without treatment. During pregnancy, you should definitely ask your doctor if you can take pancreatin, and not prescribe it yourself. The specialist will assess the severity of the disease, individually calculate the dosage of the drug or select its analogues.

The drug improves the digestibility of food, promotes the efficient functioning of the pancreas, which helps protect a woman from a sharp exacerbation of pancreatitis or the onset of pancreatic diabetes. These diseases require more powerful therapy, which is not always allowed for expectant mothers.

Sometimes during pregnancy, doctors prescribe pancreatin when an ultrasound examination of the pelvic organs is needed. In general, the drug is approved for pregnant women, but only after consulting a specialist and subject to the correct dosage. Use of Pinosol during pregnancy.

The active substance of the drug is pancreatin. Used as excipients.

1. Sodium chloride.
2. Silicon dioxide colloidal.
3. Microcrystalline cellulose.
4. Kollidon cl.
5. Magnesium stearate.
6. Polyacrylate 30%.
7. Propylene glycol.
8. Talc.
9. Titanium dioxide
10. Sodium carboxymethyl starch.
11. Starch.
12. Povidone.
13. Dyes.

Interaction with other drugs

When used together with drugs that replenish iron deficiency, Pancreatin reduces the absorption of the latter. The effect of the medicine itself is reduced when prescribing alcohol-containing medicines, antacids and tannin.

Currently, there is no data on drug interactions with other drugs. However, if it is necessary to take Pancreatin together with other drugs, it is recommended to consult a gastroenterologist and gynecologist.

Side effects of the drug:

1. Allergic reactions that appeared after long-term treatment;
2. The content of uric acid in the urine increased;
3. Constipation or diarrhea occurred for no apparent reason;
4. Periodic pain in the abdominal area in pregnant women.

The list is small, but you probably won’t want to experience these manifestations for yourself. Therefore, before taking Pancreatin, be sure to consult your doctor and strictly adhere to the prescribed dosage. Only if these conditions are met will your pregnancy be easy and pleasant.