ZENPEP (lipase/protease/amylase)

Drug overview for ZENPEP (lipase/protease/amylase):

Generic name: lipase/protease/amylase (PAN-kree-LYE-pase)
Drug class: Digestive Enzymes
Therapeutic class: Gastrointestinal Therapy Agents

Pancrelipase, a substance containing enzymes (principally lipase, with amylase and protease), is a digestant.

Pancrelipase is used as replacement therapy in the symptomatic treatment of malabsorption syndrome caused by established pancreatic insufficiency of organic origin, as in cystic fibrosis of the pancreas, chronic pancreatitis, pancreatectomy, GI bypass surgery (e.g., Billroth II gastroenterostomy), cancer of the pancreas, or other conditions in which pancreatic insufficiency impairs fat digestion. Pancreatic exocrine replacement therapy should not delay or supplant treatment of the primary disorder. Although pancrelipase has been used in treating steatorrhea of postgastrectomy syndrome and bowel resection, pancreatic extracts are less likely to be effective in this condition and in cases of malabsorption associated with ileitis, tuberculosis, or lymphomas.

Pancrelipase is not effective in the treatment of functional digestive disorders unrelated to pancreatic insufficiency. Pancrelipase may be used as a presumptive test for pancreatic funtion (e.g., pancreatic insufficiency associated with chronic pancreatitis).