Pancreatitis Treatments and Medications

Experiencing abdominal pain, nausea, fever, and weakness can be challenging to deal with. These are just some of the symptoms that characterize pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas). Understanding what pancreatitis is and how to treat it both at home and with medications is a great first step toward managing symptoms. This article gives an overview of what pancreatitis is and what can be done to treat it.    

What is pancreatitis?   

Pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas, a gland that’s behind the stomach in the upper part of the abdomen. Pancreatitis can be either acute or chronic. Symptoms of both types of pancreatitis include abdominal pain (that may spread to the back), nausea, fever, a rapid pulse, weight loss, a swollen abdomen, and diarrhea. Treatment will depend on the severity and type of pancreatitis, but often involves hospitalization. Acute pancreatitis may be treated within several days or weeks, but chronic pancreatitis often lasts a lifetime.        

How is pancreatitis diagnosed?  

Pancreatitis happens when the pancreas becomes inflamed as digestive enzymes begin to digest pancreatic tissue. This can cause severe pain in the abdomen, nausea, and fever. Risk factors for getting pancreatitis include having a family history of the condition, drinking excessive amounts of alcohol, smoking, having high levels of triglycerides, trauma to the abdomen, and gallstones.  

If you have symptoms of pancreatitis and go to the healthcare provider, they will likely perform a series of tests to diagnose pancreatitis and determine what’s causing it. A blood test will show whether or not there are excessive amounts of the digestive enzymes amylase and lipase, which may indicate pancreatitis.   

An endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) can show if any bile ducts are obstructed. Imaging tests like CT scans can show gallstones and show inflammation in the pancreas. Even ultrasounds can help diagnose pancreatitis. The type of test a healthcare provider runs may vary depending on the person and their individual symptoms.   

During a hospital stay or trip to your healthcare provider, you might be asked some of the following questions to help determine whether or not you have pancreatitis:    

• When did your symptoms first start?

• Do you have a family history of pancreatic disease? 

• Do you drink alcohol? How often and how much?

• Do you smoke? How long have you smoked? 

Pancreatitis treatment options 

Acute and chronic pancreatitis will likely require different treatment methods. “Acute pancreatitis is treated with supportive care, the most important of which are controlling pain using a variety of different medications...and intravenous (IV) fluids to correct dehydration and blood work/electrolyte abnormalities,” said Dr. Taylor Graber, an anesthesiologist with ASAP IVs and the University of California, San Diego. 

People with acute pancreatitis are encouraged to start feeding as early as tolerated. Dr. Graber goes on to say, “The patient is encouraged to eat and drink normally, as a quicker return to normal eating can hasten recovery. Most patients with mild acute pancreatitis recover within three to seven days without further treatment or therapy. A smaller portion of patients (~20%) will develop moderate to severe pancreatitis, rarely progressing to transient and persistent organ failure, and may need further admission to an intensive care unit for monitoring and treatment.”  

For people who develop chronic pancreatitis, treatment may involve daily doses of pain medications, vitamins, pancreatic enzymes that help digest food, and potentially insulin to help with blood sugar levels.         

Types of pancreatitis medication   

Pain medications are the most popular medications that healthcare providers prescribe for people with pancreatitis. If an infection is involved, antibiotics may also be required. The type of medication prescribed will depend on the individual, their symptoms, medical history, and response to treatment.     

Antibiotics

For severe pancreatitis, antibiotics may be required to get rid of an infection in the pancreas, which is present in some cases. Patients without an infectious etiology of pancreatitis should not be given preventive antibiotics. 

Pain medications 

Pancreatitis can be very painful, and most people will take some form of pain medication to help with their symptoms. Some pain medications are available over-the-counter (see below), and others require a prescription. People with severe symptoms often require a prescription-strength pain medicine, which may be given intravenously or orally, depending on the situation.  

Over-the-counter pancreatitis medicine

Some people with mild symptoms can manage pain with over-the-counter pain medicine such as Tylenol (acetaminophen) or Motrin (ibuprofen). If symptoms are severe or these medicines are not strong enough, prescription medication may be required. Check with a healthcare provider before using OTC pain medicine for pancreatitis. 

There is no one universal pancreatitis medication that’s best for everyone. Individual symptoms and responses to treatment vary. A healthcare provider can determine the best medication for pancreatitis based on an individual’s symptoms, medical history, and response to treatments.

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