Pancrelipase Shortage?

Updated

I went to pick up my husband's pancrelipase and the pharmacy said it was discontinued by the manufacturer. Is this true? I know it is a generic for pancrease but it's more expensive and he is a pancreatic cancer survivor and has to take these for life. Can you please tell me if this is true?

7 Replies

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1

From the information I am finding, yes, this product has been discontinued, but no reason has been given for why this was done.

The only thing I can suggest is talking to the pharmacist or contacting his doctor for an alternative.

I have no idea what they prices are, but there are a few other brands on the market that contain the same ingredient, such as:

Cotazym, Creon, Lipram, Ultrase, Zymase and several others.

Please post back and let us know if you find something.

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2

Most of these products never went through the FDA approval process, and now the FDA is pulling them from the market until such time as they do. There are currently three approved products: Creon, Pancreaze, and Zenpep.
See: http:/­/­www.fda.gov/­Drugs/­DrugSafety/­PostmarketDrugSafetyInformationforPatientsandProviders/­ucm204745.htm for more details

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3

I just spoke with the Walmart Pharmacist. My husband is supposed to be taking a medication with Lipase. I was told the two precriptions that have been called in so far are not available. The pharmacist told me that for some reason any medication with Lipase is hard to get.

One of the prescriptions was an FDA approved drug, Pancreaze. Ultrase was the 2nd one prescribed and I was able to get half of his prescription filled. They told me they would not be able to get any more. I wonder what we are supposed to do now? He just got over a severe bought with his pancreatitis. I'm really worried for him.

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4

Canada here. I have been advised today of another Cotazym shortage. I see the Vancouver Island health Authority has issued a bulletin (on the web) as of 3 Aug 2011. Bulletin suggests the supply might resume in Oct 2011 and suggests VIOKASE for patients, with physician approvel.

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5

I was using Cotazyme after pancreatic cancer. Now no longer available so I have been prescribed Viokase16. It is not as easy to take and I have not found as effective as the Coazyme.

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6

Cotazym is available in Canada, but it's in short supply for some reason. Merck won't say why. Try this site for updates on the matter:
canadapharma.org/shortage/index.asp

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7

I was told Pancrelipase was no longer being made. Instead I was given Zenpep. Pancrelipase cost me 12.00 dollars. Zenpep cost 160.99 dollars. What is this all about?

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