New Enzymes - Question!

[rotandroll]

I have been taking Pancreas MT16s for as long as I can remember, but after a lot of different recent bowel problems (ugh) I switched to Pancrecarb MS-8 at the begining of the week. I'm having weird mixed up problems with my stomach, I'm on IV medications and that always produces really watery stools, but at the same time I'm not having regular bowel movements-- i.e. I'm not going nearly as much as usual but when I do it's watery because of the antibiotics.

Okay, my question is, has anyone switched enzymes lately, and what was the change in their doses? I was taking 8 MT16, and my doc switched me to 8 of the new ones, and nobody seems to be sure how to adjust them.

I guess something good is that I haven't had any stomach aches since I started the new 'zymes, but I'm pretty frusterated with no regularity!

Help!

 

[JT]

<blockquote>Quote
<hr><i>Originally posted by: <b>rotandroll</b></i>
Okay, my question is, has anyone switched enzymes lately, and what was the change in their doses? I was taking 8 MT16, and my doc switched me to 8 of the new ones, and nobody seems to be sure how to adjust them.<hr></blockquote>

Maybe no one knows how to adjust the dose because it's trial and error as everyone's different? If that's the case, I wouldn't think doing the trial part would be good while on IV meds! AAANNyway . . . when I've switched brands they use the units of lipase as a comparison. I think MS 8 means it has 8,000 units of lipase and MT16 has 16,000 units. Good luck!

 

[SeasonsOfLove]

Hi, Colleen takes a combination of Pancrease and Pancreacarb - perhaps you could ask about that? Good luck,

 

[thefrogprincess]

Wait...are you saying you take 8 enzymes everytime you eat?? You need to adjust the amount of pills based on the amount of fat and protein you eat. If you eat a huge steak you might want 10, but if you eat an apple you don't need any. For example I take MT4s and for a chicken breast I take 3 (I'm lucky enough to have SOME pancreatic function so I don't need lots) but for an 8 oz glass of 2% milk I take 1.

 

[anonymous]

When my daughter switched from Ultrase to Pancrecarb, she required a MUCH smaller dose. Unfortunately, it took a little time to determine this; it really is trial and error. She is on a low fat diet and takes only an 8 or 2 with most meals--sometimes less. The guidelines are 1 stool/day and if she sees any oil in the bowl, up the dose. Good luck--Pancrecarb is a good drug.

 

[JohnnaMarie]

I was taking Creon 20's for lots of years!!!! They gradually blocked me up until I was on a ton of Miralax and laxatives. Then I saw a doc and she said that i did not need to take them or i may need less of them. So i stopped them for a year. Now I am starting on Utrase 14?? I am trying to take 2 at a meal and they are slowing me down so i am going to start taking one with fatty meals. I must have some pancrease working for me or i have some bad intestinal problems. Will find out soon...going to go see a GI doc and get an ultrasound ...my liver is kindda flippin out so i need to see what is wrong with it. Anyways changing enzymes is a pain.....the docs say trial and error that means our trial....their error.

 

[rotandroll]

Woah, Frogprincess-- nobody has ever told me to adjust dose depending on what I eat! Yikes... it's so funny to have been taking these my whole life and never thought of that. I adjust them with snacks but with meals (I eat pretty much the same thing day after day and I know I have no pancreatic function at this point) I have always just taken 8.

I asked my doc this morning and he said to take the dose down a little bit.

Thanks everyone for your advice. It is a huge relief to have this forum to ask questions and relate to people on. Every other forum I've found relating to CF has just basically been students trying to find people with CF to ask questions about for school projects!

Thanks again.

 

[rotandroll]

Johanna Marie,
Yeah I am always on high doses of Miralax and do GoLitely (GROSS) pretty frequently. I seem to get backed up no matter what dose of enzymes I am on and no matter what I eat. I have to keep my diet high in fat and protein and all of that (you know) but even when I eat drastically differently I get backed up. I have been told this might be because I am taking too many enzymes but I can be backed up and lower my 'zymes and have greasy stools directly after I lower the dose.

So frusterating...

I have noticed that since I started the Pancrecarb I have not had one stomach ache! That is amazing. I guess that built-in buffer really works. I am used to having stomach aches that pretty much stop my day atleast five or six times a week. Sometimes more.