According to the instructions, "Mezim forte" is a powerful digestive enzyme. Its main active ingredient is pancreatin. The dosage form of the drug is tablets or capsules. In this article we will describe the method of application, the benefits and harms of the drug. Before taking the drug, the patient must read the information contained in the instructions for use "Mezim forte".
What is pancreatitis?
According to statistics, a third of the world's population suffers from a deficiency of digestive enzymes. The lack of pancreatic enzymes in the human body is a malfunction in the activity of enzymes and their reproduction, which disrupts the process of digestion of food entering the human body. Enzyme deficiency has several varieties, each of which, in turn, has a special symptomatology.and the reason that led to its appearance. This is the basis for treatment and influences which medicines will be involved in the fight against digestive enzyme deficiency.
Among the factors of enzyme deficiency are:
- Failure in the integrity of the tissues of the internal organ.
- Lack of vitamins.
- Fall in protein levels in the patient's blood serum.
- Low hemoglobin.
- Wrong diet, addiction to spicy and fatty foods.
- Genetic predisposition.
Those or other causes become leading, depending on the type of shortage. Common signs include gastrointestinal disorders.
Deficiency is understood as the lack of juices, which, when properly available, guarantee the proper digestion of food. The disease is characterized by:
- Bloating.
- Patient's stool disorder (diarrhea).
- Feeling of heaviness in the abdomen.
- Nausea, vomiting.
- Inadequate food digestibility.
Enzyme deficiencies lead to tangible problems with the digestive system. To make a correct diagnosis, it is required to pass a series of tests, including blood for sugar. It is worth remembering that diabetes is one of the most common complications of digestive enzyme deficiency.
Therapy is based on the rejection of alcoholic beverages and foods that adversely affect the state of the pancreas. In particular, the diet is enriched with vitamins. Not the last role is played bydrugs designed to speed up the reproduction of enzymes.
Dose form
According to the instructions, tablets "Mezim forte" - pink, round, coated, soluble in the intestine, with biconvex surfaces, chamfers, brown blotches are possible at the break. The main component of the drug is pancreatin.
Pills are packed ten pieces in blister packs (blisters), and then one or two blisters, together with instructions for use, in a cardboard box.
Pharmacodynamics
According to the instructions, "Mezim forte" is an enzyme preparation that improves digestion. The active substance of the drug, pancreatin, is a powder from porcine pancreas. The tablet simultaneously with exocrine pancreatic enzymes (lipase, protease (trypsin and chymotrypsin), amylase) contains other substances. Pancreatic enzymes, contained according to the instructions in Mezim Forte, facilitate the breakdown of proteins, fats and carbohydrates. This leads to their faster absorption in the small intestine. Trypsin suppresses stimulated secretion of the pancreas, providing an analgesic effect. The maximum enzymatic activity of the drug is observed 45 minutes after ingestion.
Pharmacokinetics
According to the instructions for use, "Mezim forte 10000" are tablets coated with acid-resistanta shell that does not dissolve under the action of hydrochloric acid of the stomach and thereby protects the enzymes contained in the preparation from inactivation. The dissolution of the shell and the release of enzymes occurs at a pH value close to neutral or slightly alkaline.
Indications
In the instructions for use "Mezim forte" it is written that the medication:
- replenishes the lack of enzymes of its own pancreas, breaking down starch, fats, proteins in the small intestine, facilitating their rapid absorption;
- improves the functional state of the digestive system, normalizing it.
According to the instructions for use, "Mezim forte" has the following indications:
- Pancreatic dysfunction (chronic pancreatitis, cystic fibrosis).
- Chronic inflammatory diseases of the stomach, intestines, liver, gallbladder.
- Partial removal or irradiation of the digestive tract, accompanied by impaired digestion of food, flatulence, diarrhea.
- Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract of a functional nature in intestinal infectious diseases, irritable bowel syndrome.
- The need to improve food digestion in patients with normal gastrointestinal function in case of eating fatty, indigestible vegetable, unusual food, nutritional errors (large amounts of food), chewing disorders.
- Preparing for x-ray and ultrasound examinations of the abdominal cavity.
Contraindications
Contraindications to the use of "Mezim forte", according to the instructions, are the following conditions:
- acute pancreatitis;
- exacerbation of chronic pancreatitis;
- personal sensitivity to pancreatin or other ingredients of the drug;
- Children under three years of age.
Use during pregnancy and lactation
According to the instructions, "Mezim forte 10000" can be used during the period of bearing and feeding the baby only in cases where the expected benefit to the expectant mother exceeds the possible likelihood of negative consequences for the fetus or child. This is because there are no reliable clinical data on the intake of pancreatic enzymes during this important period in every woman's life.
Dosage and method of administration
Dosage, according to the instructions for "Mezim forte", is set personally depending on the severity of the disease and the composition of the food. Unless otherwise indicated, the average single dose for adults is two to four Mezim forte 10000 tablets per meal. Doctors recommend taking half or a third of a single dose at the beginning of a meal, and the rest during it. The medication is taken orally, without chewing and drinking a sufficient amount of liquid. It is possible to increase the dosage of "Mezim forte" only under the supervision of a physician, focusing on the reduction of severe symptoms. The maximum daily dose is 15000-20000 IU Ph. Eur. lipase/kg body weight.
For children, the dosage regimen is set by the doctor, depending on the severity of the disease and the composition of the food at the rate of 500-1000 IU Ph. Eur. lipases/kg of child's body weight at each meal.
The duration of treatment can vary from a few days (in case of indigestion, errors in diet) to several months or even years (if permanent replacement therapy is needed).
Side effect
What does the instructions for use say about the negative effects of the drug? Reviews about "Mezim Forte", as well as an annotation to the medication, state the possibility of developing side effects or complications even with prolonged and regular use of the drug in patients with pancreatic dysfunction. Sometimes after taking pancreatin, allergies may develop, extremely rarely - diarrhea or constipation, nausea, discomfort in the abdomen.
In rare cases, in patients with a genetic disease, prolonged use of high doses of the drug may increase the level of uric acid in the blood plasma and may form strictures in the ileocecal region and the ascending colon.
Overdose
There were no cases of drug overdose. This is confirmed by the instructions for "Mezim forte". According to doctors, in rare cases, hyperuricosuria, hyperuricemia are possible. However, these conditions are not irreversible.
Instructions for the use of "Mezima forte" for children warns parents about the possibility of constipation in young patients. The treatment is to stoptaking the drug and symptomatic therapy.
Interaction with other drugs
Let's briefly describe the possibility of taking "Mezim forte" with other medicines:
- Folic acid absorption may be reduced when taking medications containing pancreatin.
- The effect of hypoglycemic drugs may decrease when taken with pancreatin.
- With the simultaneous use of pancreatin with iron preparations, a decrease in the absorption of the latter is possible.
- Concomitant use of antacids containing calcium carbonate or magnesium hydroxide may reduce the effectiveness of the drug.
Special Instructions
In case of pancreatitis at the stage of reducing the exacerbation of the disease or during the period of restorative dietary nutrition, it is advisable to prescribe "Mezim forte" against the background of reduced pancreatic activity.
The drug, taking into account the solid indivisible form of the capsule, is contraindicated in children under three years old.
"Mezim forte" has no significant effect on the speed of psychomotor reactions and the patient's ability to perceive or assess the situation.
Storage and holiday conditions
According to the instructions for "Mezim Forte", the drug must be placed out of the reach of children and stored for three years. It is not recommended to take the drug after the expiration date. In pharmacies, "Mezim forte" is dispensed without a prescription.
Analogues
So, we have analyzed the instructions for use for "Mezim forte". Analogues of the drug are of interest to many. We list the main ones:
- "Pancreatin". This is a drug that is produced in our country. It is obtained from animal pancreatic enzymes. The drug is available in the form of tablets. The enzymes that make up Pancreatin help to speed up the digestion of all substances that enter the human body with food. The use of "Pancreatin" in the treatment of diseases of the digestive system helps to normalize the activity of the pancreas and restore digestion. The duration of the use of the drug must be determined by the attending physician. It depends on the diagnosis and can take up to several months. For patients requiring regular replacement therapy, treatment may last several years.
- "Panzinorm forte". This medicine reduces the deficiency of digestive enzymes, increases metabolism. The drug increases the absorption of all types of food, improves the patient's nutrition, prevents or reduces symptoms caused by a violation of the absorption of nutrients in the gastrointestinal tract. Pancreatin reduces the pain of pancreatitis.
- "Ermital". The medicinal product contains pancreatin obtained from the pancreas of a pig. "Ermital" makes up for the lack of necessary enzymes. They contribute to the breakdown of proteins, fats, starch, improve the functional state of the digestive system, and normalize its processes. The release form of the drug providescomplete release of microtablets from the capsule in the stomach, followed by their mixing with the contents of the small intestine and the rapid release of enzymes from the microtablets in the duodenum. Digestion products of digestive enzymes are absorbed in the intestine either directly or after digestion by intestinal enzymes.
- "Pangrol". Gelatin capsules of the drug quickly dissolve in the stomach, releasing enzymes that remain protected from absorption in the stomach environment. The release form of the drug ensures their mixing with the contents of the intestine and distribution in the gastrointestinal tract. Dissolution of the shell and activation of enzymes occurs in the small intestine. Pancreatin is not absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract, it is excreted with the patient's feces.
- "Mikrazim". An enzyme preparation from the pancreas of animals. Pancreatin ensures the mixing of enzymes with the contents of the intestine and their uniform distribution in it. The enzymatic activity of pancreatin is manifested maximum half an hour after ingestion. "Mikrazim" is not absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract and acts locally.
Patients should always carefully study the instructions for analogues "Mezim forte".
