GI troubles-new enzymes

[Liza]

Why the switch from Pancrease MT16?
<br />
<br />My girls tried other enzymes back in 98 when we were stationed in Germany and we couldn't get Pancrease MT16. One tolerated the switch the other absolutely did not. We ended up having my mom pick up the Pancrease at the pharmacy and mailing it to us. Before we went to that last step we tried the mail order pharmacy but on the second refill they substituted generic and we had such a hard time getting that straightened out that we gave up.
<br />
<br />My girls have been on the same enzymes forever, just like you. Creon worked for one but not the other. For us it was easier to keep them on the same one when we got back to the states. She switched back just fine.
<br />
<br />So why the switch?

 

[Ratatosk]

As per the FDA, all enzymes need to go thru reapproval to make sure they meet their quality control standards. Pancrease MTs were relabled Pancreaze and approved by the FDA on April 13th; however, they aren't available from the manufacturer yet. Supposedly they will be on July 31st according to McNeil.

Pancreacarb has yet to be approved by the FDA.

 

[Ratatosk]

As per the FDA, all enzymes need to go thru reapproval to make sure they meet their quality control standards. Pancrease MTs were relabled Pancreaze and approved by the FDA on April 13th; however, they aren't available from the manufacturer yet. Supposedly they will be on July 31st according to McNeil.

Pancreacarb has yet to be approved by the FDA.

 

[Ratatosk]

As per the FDA, all enzymes need to go thru reapproval to make sure they meet their quality control standards. Pancrease MTs were relabled Pancreaze and approved by the FDA on April 13th; however, they aren't available from the manufacturer yet. Supposedly they will be on July 31st according to McNeil.
<br />
<br />Pancreacarb has yet to be approved by the FDA.

 

[hmw]

I hope you are able to get right back on the Pancreaze asap... they are absolutely identical to the Pancrease you have been taking for all those years and it's a real shame that there has been such an incredible hold-up when all they had to change was their packaging!!! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-frown.gif" border="0">

This enzyme situation is ridiculous. They are not a one size fits all product and the full variety needs to be available. The fda *really* dropped the ball on this one (as, sadly, did the enzyme manufacturers by leaving it to the 11th hour in getting the last of the stuff filed that they needed to. Creon finished their approval process so much sooner and had their new product on the shelves, available to the public, nearly a year ahead of the deadline. Why couldn't the others have been a bit more timely and thus had more of a cushion to work out last minute glitches in the process to getting the new ones out to those who need them?)

 

[hmw]

I hope you are able to get right back on the Pancreaze asap... they are absolutely identical to the Pancrease you have been taking for all those years and it's a real shame that there has been such an incredible hold-up when all they had to change was their packaging!!! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-frown.gif" border="0">

This enzyme situation is ridiculous. They are not a one size fits all product and the full variety needs to be available. The fda *really* dropped the ball on this one (as, sadly, did the enzyme manufacturers by leaving it to the 11th hour in getting the last of the stuff filed that they needed to. Creon finished their approval process so much sooner and had their new product on the shelves, available to the public, nearly a year ahead of the deadline. Why couldn't the others have been a bit more timely and thus had more of a cushion to work out last minute glitches in the process to getting the new ones out to those who need them?)

 

[hmw]

I hope you are able to get right back on the Pancreaze asap... they are absolutely identical to the Pancrease you have been taking for all those years and it's a real shame that there has been such an incredible hold-up when all they had to change was their packaging!!! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-frown.gif" border="0">
<br />
<br />This enzyme situation is ridiculous. They are not a one size fits all product and the full variety needs to be available. The fda *really* dropped the ball on this one (as, sadly, did the enzyme manufacturers by leaving it to the 11th hour in getting the last of the stuff filed that they needed to. Creon finished their approval process so much sooner and had their new product on the shelves, available to the public, nearly a year ahead of the deadline. Why couldn't the others have been a bit more timely and thus had more of a cushion to work out last minute glitches in the process to getting the new ones out to those who need them?)

 

[Liza]

This is why I asked. They are available. I got them filled a week ago. They are now Pancreaze and come in a brown glass bottle in a box instead of the white plastic one with a red top. My girls take MT16 but the MT part is now removed from the label. They are now referring to just the Lipase amount which for the old MT16 is now precise with 16,800 of Lipase instead of the old lable saying it contains 16,000 of Lipase. The label specifies to dose by lipase units.

We were lucky in that the new enzymes were due out when we were ready to refill and were only down to 7 bottles for both girls.

What sucks is that they are now in a glass bottle in a box, more packaging to toss and of course with a child proof cap. They prefer not to open the boxes so you have to pry off the child proff top to get to the plastic top. We have always requested non-childproof tops for their enzymes.

So, if availability was the reason for switching your pharmacy should be able to get them. If not, go to Target pharmacy, that is where we go.

It is not the FDA it is the pharmaceutical company that had to do the work. Yes, Creon was on top of things by getting their approval done early. As for shortages, it must be dependent on the area because our hospital is still dispensing MT16's at least inpatient.

 

[Liza]

This is why I asked. They are available. I got them filled a week ago. They are now Pancreaze and come in a brown glass bottle in a box instead of the white plastic one with a red top. My girls take MT16 but the MT part is now removed from the label. They are now referring to just the Lipase amount which for the old MT16 is now precise with 16,800 of Lipase instead of the old lable saying it contains 16,000 of Lipase. The label specifies to dose by lipase units.

We were lucky in that the new enzymes were due out when we were ready to refill and were only down to 7 bottles for both girls.

What sucks is that they are now in a glass bottle in a box, more packaging to toss and of course with a child proof cap. They prefer not to open the boxes so you have to pry off the child proff top to get to the plastic top. We have always requested non-childproof tops for their enzymes.

So, if availability was the reason for switching your pharmacy should be able to get them. If not, go to Target pharmacy, that is where we go.

It is not the FDA it is the pharmaceutical company that had to do the work. Yes, Creon was on top of things by getting their approval done early. As for shortages, it must be dependent on the area because our hospital is still dispensing MT16's at least inpatient.

 

[Liza]

This is why I asked. They are available. I got them filled a week ago. They are now Pancreaze and come in a brown glass bottle in a box instead of the white plastic one with a red top. My girls take MT16 but the MT part is now removed from the label. They are now referring to just the Lipase amount which for the old MT16 is now precise with 16,800 of Lipase instead of the old lable saying it contains 16,000 of Lipase. The label specifies to dose by lipase units.
<br />
<br />We were lucky in that the new enzymes were due out when we were ready to refill and were only down to 7 bottles for both girls.
<br />
<br />What sucks is that they are now in a glass bottle in a box, more packaging to toss and of course with a child proof cap. They prefer not to open the boxes so you have to pry off the child proff top to get to the plastic top. We have always requested non-childproof tops for their enzymes.
<br />
<br />So, if availability was the reason for switching your pharmacy should be able to get them. If not, go to Target pharmacy, that is where we go.
<br />
<br />It is not the FDA it is the pharmaceutical company that had to do the work. Yes, Creon was on top of things by getting their approval done early. As for shortages, it must be dependent on the area because our hospital is still dispensing MT16's at least inpatient.

 

[hmw]

So glad to hear this Liza!

But glass...? I wonder whatever possessed them to do that. I am sure you can still ask for a generic bottle and label at the pharm w/ a non-childproof cap, though, for each of the girls to transfer some of their enzymes to as they use them and leave the more cumbersome one put away for the most part.

 

[hmw]

So glad to hear this Liza!

But glass...? I wonder whatever possessed them to do that. I am sure you can still ask for a generic bottle and label at the pharm w/ a non-childproof cap, though, for each of the girls to transfer some of their enzymes to as they use them and leave the more cumbersome one put away for the most part.

 

[hmw]

So glad to hear this Liza!
<br />
<br />But glass...? I wonder whatever possessed them to do that. I am sure you can still ask for a generic bottle and label at the pharm w/ a non-childproof cap, though, for each of the girls to transfer some of their enzymes to as they use them and leave the more cumbersome one put away for the most part.

 

[Liza]

Yea, I have no idea what made them decide on glass bottles. At least it is the brown glass though. Hard to break. It looks like the same glass they used back in the "old days" when your albuterol solution came with the little dropper and you had to mix it with saline for nebulizing. Those are hard little bottles. I've dropped them on wood flooring without them breaking. Crazy though. Glass and in a box, as if we don't have enough packing to toss out as it is.

The girls saved the last of their old pancrease mt16 bottles to just fill up. They don't really transport them anyway, they have the smalles script bottle they carry in their purses and just refill them when they run out. I think the smallest one holds like 20 or so caps.

Hope anyone who needs the new Pancreaze can get them. Our pharmacist was on top of it when she placed her order for the old Pancrease and got the message that we needed a new script for the new Pancreaze but they wouldn't be available for about 6 more days. She kept checking on it and we were able to pick it up on the 13th. We love our Target phramacist. I will drive 20 miles to go specifically to them even though any target pharmacy will do, we've not had a bad target pharmacist yet. This one knows our family and actually has a small town pharmacy feel, recognizing us and asking how the girls are doing. The girls' Target pharmacy at school is the same way. Veering off the subject, sorry.

 

[Liza]

Yea, I have no idea what made them decide on glass bottles. At least it is the brown glass though. Hard to break. It looks like the same glass they used back in the "old days" when your albuterol solution came with the little dropper and you had to mix it with saline for nebulizing. Those are hard little bottles. I've dropped them on wood flooring without them breaking. Crazy though. Glass and in a box, as if we don't have enough packing to toss out as it is.

The girls saved the last of their old pancrease mt16 bottles to just fill up. They don't really transport them anyway, they have the smalles script bottle they carry in their purses and just refill them when they run out. I think the smallest one holds like 20 or so caps.

Hope anyone who needs the new Pancreaze can get them. Our pharmacist was on top of it when she placed her order for the old Pancrease and got the message that we needed a new script for the new Pancreaze but they wouldn't be available for about 6 more days. She kept checking on it and we were able to pick it up on the 13th. We love our Target phramacist. I will drive 20 miles to go specifically to them even though any target pharmacy will do, we've not had a bad target pharmacist yet. This one knows our family and actually has a small town pharmacy feel, recognizing us and asking how the girls are doing. The girls' Target pharmacy at school is the same way. Veering off the subject, sorry.

 

[Liza]

Yea, I have no idea what made them decide on glass bottles. At least it is the brown glass though. Hard to break. It looks like the same glass they used back in the "old days" when your albuterol solution came with the little dropper and you had to mix it with saline for nebulizing. Those are hard little bottles. I've dropped them on wood flooring without them breaking. Crazy though. Glass and in a box, as if we don't have enough packing to toss out as it is.
<br />
<br />The girls saved the last of their old pancrease mt16 bottles to just fill up. They don't really transport them anyway, they have the smalles script bottle they carry in their purses and just refill them when they run out. I think the smallest one holds like 20 or so caps.
<br />
<br />Hope anyone who needs the new Pancreaze can get them. Our pharmacist was on top of it when she placed her order for the old Pancrease and got the message that we needed a new script for the new Pancreaze but they wouldn't be available for about 6 more days. She kept checking on it and we were able to pick it up on the 13th. We love our Target phramacist. I will drive 20 miles to go specifically to them even though any target pharmacy will do, we've not had a bad target pharmacist yet. This one knows our family and actually has a small town pharmacy feel, recognizing us and asking how the girls are doing. The girls' Target pharmacy at school is the same way. Veering off the subject, sorry.

 

[mamaScarlett]

the reason I started creon is bc the clinic prescribed that since pancrease stopped. i'm sure they were aware <b>pancreaze</b> was coming, but they decided to start up creon instead-(this was a month ago).
i spoke to the nurse yesterday and she said a short period of transition is normal, and i may actually be taking too much creon since the 24s have so much more lipase than the pancrease mt 16's. I was taking 4 creon with each meal, and before I would do 4-5 pancrease with a meal.
Thats a difference of 64 mg of lipase vs 96 per meal-big difference.
So I'm going to try lowering the dose to 2-3 creon. That might not be enough-but we'll see how this goes for a week or so.
I don't understand why they just won't put me on pancreaze, but I have an appt in a week so we can address it then.
(sometimes I feel they can be stubborn about these things for absolutely no "real" reason)

 

[mamaScarlett]

the reason I started creon is bc the clinic prescribed that since pancrease stopped. i'm sure they were aware <b>pancreaze</b> was coming, but they decided to start up creon instead-(this was a month ago).
i spoke to the nurse yesterday and she said a short period of transition is normal, and i may actually be taking too much creon since the 24s have so much more lipase than the pancrease mt 16's. I was taking 4 creon with each meal, and before I would do 4-5 pancrease with a meal.
Thats a difference of 64 mg of lipase vs 96 per meal-big difference.
So I'm going to try lowering the dose to 2-3 creon. That might not be enough-but we'll see how this goes for a week or so.
I don't understand why they just won't put me on pancreaze, but I have an appt in a week so we can address it then.
(sometimes I feel they can be stubborn about these things for absolutely no "real" reason)

 

[mamaScarlett]

the reason I started creon is bc the clinic prescribed that since pancrease stopped. i'm sure they were aware <b>pancreaze</b> was coming, but they decided to start up creon instead-(this was a month ago).
<br />i spoke to the nurse yesterday and she said a short period of transition is normal, and i may actually be taking too much creon since the 24s have so much more lipase than the pancrease mt 16's. I was taking 4 creon with each meal, and before I would do 4-5 pancrease with a meal.
<br />Thats a difference of 64 mg of lipase vs 96 per meal-big difference.
<br />So I'm going to try lowering the dose to 2-3 creon. That might not be enough-but we'll see how this goes for a week or so.
<br />I don't understand why they just won't put me on pancreaze, but I have an appt in a week so we can address it then.
<br />(sometimes I feel they can be stubborn about these things for absolutely no "real" reason)

 

[Ratatosk]

Oooh, a glass bottle! Absolutely PERFECT to send to 1st Grade with DS this fall. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> I suspect our pharmacist will repackage it for us or at least provide some plastic bottles for travel or school.

BTW, we still use the albuterol in the brown bottle.