Pertzye Capsule: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Pertzye (pancrelipase) is a prescription digestive enzyme medicine used by adults and children who cannot digest food normally because their pancreas does not make enough enzymes, due to cystic fibrosis or other conditions. The capsules contain lipases, proteases, and amylases from pig pancreas that help break down fats, proteins, and carbohydrates. It is taken with meals and snacks exactly as prescribed, and doses are adjusted based on weight and diet.

What is Pertzye Capsule

Pertzye is a prescription medicine used to treat people who cannot digest food normally because their pancreas does not make enough enzymes due to cystic fibrosis or other conditions. Pertzye capsules contain a mixture of digestive enzymes including lipases, proteases and amylases from pig pancreas.

Pertzye Capsule uses

• Treats exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) in adults and children whose pancreas cannot make enough digestive enzymes due to cystic fibrosis, chronic pancreatitis, or other conditions.
• Supplies digestive enzymes (lipases for fats, proteases for proteins, and amylases for carbohydrates) to help the body break down and absorb food.
• Helps reduce symptoms like fatty stools, gas, bloating, and malnutrition caused by poor digestion.

Benefits of Pertzye Capsule

• Helps your body absorb nutrients better
• Can reduce stomach problems like bloating and fatty stools
• Safe and effective in adults and children when taken as prescribed
• Replaces essential pancreatic digestive enzymes
• Helps improve digestion of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates
• Supports better nutrient absorption

How Pertzye Capsule works

Pertzye works by giving your body the digestive enzymes it can't make enough of on its own. It replaces three pancreatic enzymes (lipase, amylase, and protease), which help break down fats, proteins, and carbohydrates in food. By improving digestion, it helps the body absorb nutrients better and can reduce problems like bloating and fatty stools.

Pertzye Capsule dosage

Take Pertzye capsules exactly as your doctor tells you, with a meal or snack and plenty of fluid. Do not switch to a different pancreatic enzyme product without talking to your doctor first.

Swallow capsules whole with enough liquid to swallow them right away; do not crush, chew, or hold the capsule or its contents in your mouth, since this can cause mouth irritation or change how the medicine works.

If you have trouble swallowing capsules, open them and mix the contents with a small amount of acidic soft food such as applesauce, then swallow right away and drink plenty of water or juice; do not store the mixed dose.

Do not divide capsule contents into smaller portions to create smaller doses.

Babies can have capsule contents sprinkled directly into the mouth followed by breast milk or formula, but the contents should not be mixed directly into formula or breast milk.

If you forget a dose, wait until your next meal or snack and take your usual amount; do not double up on doses.

Your doctor may adjust your dose based on how much fatty food you eat or your weight.

Available forms and strengths

• Capsule (delayed-release)

Side effects of Pertzye Capsule

Common

• Diarrhea
• Upset stomach / indigestion
• Cough
• Blurred vision
• Constipation
• Nausea
• Hives
• Itching
• Muscle pain
• Muscle spasm
• Rash

Serious

• Fibrosing colonopathy (scarring or narrowing of the colon)
• Mouth irritation (if capsules or contents are crushed, chewed, or held in the mouth)
• High uric acid levels (hyperuricemia), which can worsen gout
• Severe allergic reactions (trouble breathing, rash, swollen lips, itching)
• Possible risk of viral infection since the medicine is made from pig pancreas tissue

Warnings and precautions

• Pertzye may increase the chance of a rare bowel disorder called fibrosing colonopathy, which is serious and may require surgery. Following your doctor's dosing instructions may reduce this risk.
• Crushing, chewing, or holding the capsules or their contents in the mouth may cause mouth irritation or change how the medicine works in the body.
• Pertzye is made from pig pancreas tissue, which may carry viruses; although never reported, it may theoretically be possible to get a viral infection from the medicine.
• Tell your doctor if you are allergic to pork products, since Pertzye is derived from pigs and could cause an allergic reaction.
• It is not known if Pertzye will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
• It is not known if Pertzye passes into breast milk. You and your doctor should decide if you will take Pertzye or breastfeed.
• Tell your doctor if you have kidney disease, since this may increase the risk of problems from raised uric acid levels.
• No standard hepatic dose adjustment is established. Patients with significant liver disease require individualized medical assessment.
• No major direct interaction with alcohol is established, but alcohol may worsen underlying pancreatic conditions, particularly chronic pancreatitis.
• Pertzye is not generally associated with significant direct cardiovascular effects.

Storage

• Store Pertzye at room temperature 68°F to 77°F (20°C to 25°C).
• Keep Pertzye in a dry place and in the original container.
• After opening the bottle, keep it tightly closed between uses to keep your medicine dry (protect it from moisture).
• The Pertzye bottle contains a desiccant packet to help keep your medicine dry (protect it from moisture). Do not eat or throw away the packet (desiccant) in your medicine bottle.
• Keep Pertzye and all medicines out of the reach of children.

When to see a doctor

• Call your doctor right away if you have any unusual or severe stomach area (abdominal) pain, bloating, trouble passing stool, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
• Call your doctor right away if you have mouth irritation, increased uric acid levels causing worsening gout symptoms, or signs of an allergic reaction such as trouble breathing, skin rash, itching, or swollen lips.
• For severe allergic reaction symptoms, such as swelling or trouble breathing, get emergency medical care right away, since these symptoms can become life threatening.

Alternatives

• Zenpep
• Viokace
• Pancreaze
• Creon