Alternative medicine question

[Cris N]

I've studied Al's Drug Interaction list & don't see a problem with this combination of Pancreatic Enzymes: pancreatine, amylase, protease, lipase with esterase, peptidase, nuclease, elastase, collagenase, trypsin, and chymotrypsin.

A number of sources (seemingly reputable!) indicate that taken between meals this combination would greatly help to reduce inflammation (like sprains, or other soft tissue injuries). The only caution I encountered said it may interact with antacids containing calcium or magnesium (Tums, Maalox, Mylanta) and iron supplements, but I don't know what kind of interactions.

Does anyone have any other information? Al?

Thanks,

Cris

 

[hensylee]

brother has been on one of these (pancrease) for years because the drs discovered some enzyme missing in his pancreas. It doesn't seem to interact with any of his meds, tho he developed diahrrea but we don't know if it's this med or not that causes it. I am confident that one or more of his meds or a combination is causing it, but he needs everything he takes (he has Parkinson's, too). Glad to know it helps with some bruise healing because he has peripheral neuropathy up to his knees and gets a bang on his legs from time and the coumadin brings on internal bleeding in those areas. Scary. He takes a tum now and again but not enough to worry about.

 

[catwoman]

Cris:

We had a cat several years ago who was born with a pancreatic enzyme insuffiency. I read through my veterinary textbooks and told my vet I thought it was PEI, and she concurred. (We did run some high-dollar tests to confirm my layperson's hunch.) She Rxed Viokase, a human drug with lipase, protease & amylase, mixed in with a little bit of canned food twice a day. (Axcan Pharma Inc.'s website indicates it must be taken w/ food.) Viokase seems seems to be similar to what you mention.
Doesn't seem to be a problem w/ overdose, at least in tests on animals, according to the Viokase prescribing info.

I wonder how the combination you're referring to can help w/ inflammations -- maybe the elastase & collagenase would help -- but I can't figure out the inclusion of the pancreatic enzymes.

Look forward to seeing what Al says.

 

[Guest]

I've never heard of that use before.

Remember that as long as the manufacturer of a supplement says "May" and doesn't say cure then they do not have to prove it. They can say studies show...

 

[Cris N]

I've never heard of that use before.

Remember that as long as the manufacturer of a supplement says "May" and doesn't say cure then they do not have to prove it. They can say studies show...

Here is some sources:http://www.somersetmedicalcenter.com/113142.cfm


http://www.supplementwatch.com/supatoz/supplement.asp?supplementId=351

Actually, the manufacturers that I looked at DON'T make an anti-inflammatory claim.

Cris

 

[Blanche]

Cris:
I noted that both of the articles that you listed contained safety issues and concerns for people on warfarin and other anticoagulants. The following would cause concern for me because the type of "blood-thinning" effect is not stated. Is this something that acts on platelets, the effects of which are not seen on a p/t test?

" In addition, because proteolytic enzyme supplements also tend to produce a modest anti-coagulant (?blood-thinning?) effect, they should probably not be used in conjunction with warfarin or other blood thinning agents."

I guess the best that can be said is use caution.

Blanche

 

[Cris N]

Cris:
I noted that both of the articles that you listed contained safety issues and concerns for people on warfarin and other anticoagulants. The following would cause concern for me because the type of "blood-thinning" effect is not stated. Is this something that acts on platelets, the effects of which are not seen on a p/t test?

" In addition, because proteolytic enzyme supplements also tend to produce a modest anti-coagulant (?blood-thinning?) effect, they should probably not be used in conjunction with warfarin or other blood thinning agents."

I guess the best that can be said is use caution.

Blanche

Actually, the two that cause the problem are Bromelain & Papain which I would avoid - those two are specifically listed on Al's site - even the manufacturers caution against use with warfarin as they may increase the effects of warfarin (must have something to do with metabolizing it) - not a platelet thing.