Dosing enzyme by fat intake

[Aboveallislove]

For those of you who do or dose enzymes by fat intake and not your weight, what is the dosing? Gi is working with cf clinic to up dosing which they currently do on weight, but I'm curious how far off he might be based n his fat intake. Don't worry I won't change without doctor direction just want an idea.
thanks!

 

[Ratatosk]

We just started with a general dosage and increased gradually by a capsule for a several days based on output. Sorry not much help, but we've always been given leeway in terms of how many enzymes to give him.

 

[CyrilCrodius]

They collect a stool sample every time I go to the hospital to see if my dosage is right. I've had the same dosage ever since I was 6 (24 now) so it doesn't depend on weight. It depends on how much you eat and how much of a pancreatic function you have left.

Since my dosage never changed since I was 6 years old, I'm assuming that that I never had any pancreatic function to start with (maybe someone could chime in with their own dosage? My mealtime dosage is 4 x Cotazym E.C.S. 20 [20 000 lipase/55 000 amylase/55 000 protease])

I'm going out on a limb, but I don't think it would hurt much if you went on the safe side and took meal dosage when you're unsure of whether you're taking enough. I take 4 cotazym on meals no matter how much fat they contain (assuming I eat something that can be called a "meal"). I lower the dosage depending on the volume of food but I very seldom take only 2 pills. It's always at least 3. I don't have constipation issues so I'm thinking "better safe than sorry".

 

[Aboveallislove]

Ratatosk,
do you know if your child is dosed below the maximum per weight? Our CF center insists they don't dose by fat intake. We've been able to figure our way around by adding a meal and keep all fat to lower levels per meal, but just curious. Printer I think you had some research on this too. Any chance you have a link?

 

[Ratatosk]

I don't have a clue. Recently our office was looking at switching health insurance and I had to submit info on the drugs he was taking and based on what that company considered a one months supply, he was taking much much more than that. He hasn't had a fecal elastase test since he was a baby. I KNOW the doctor has written the prescription based on what we actually give him. He's been on Creon 12,000 for the past 3 years and I recently added an extra enzyme for snacks and meals as he's been eating better. The input output issue has driven me nuts from day one, but at least we haven't run short and had insurance refuse to allow our pharmacy to give us more enzymes as is the case with a friend of mine whose daughter is severely pancreatic insufficient. and frequently runs out before their 3 months is up.

 

[Kaethe108]

3000 units lipase with each gram fat.

 

[CyrilCrodius]

I learned during my last hospital stay that how often we need to do a #2 is a good indicator of whether or not we take enough enzymes. If you need to go to the bathroom every time you eat a meal, then you probably need more enzymes. They tried to up my intake to 5 but then I had a "poop is a little too big" issue. I don't drink a lot though so that might have been the reason. So I have to get used to drinking a lot more then try it again.