What enzyme preparations can be used during pregnancy. Can Mezim be taken during pregnancy? Features of use at different stages of pregnancy

During pregnancy, a woman's body undergoes physiological processes, affecting, among other things, the digestive system: the acidity and position of the stomach change due to squeezing by the uterus, intestinal motility slows down, the liver enlarges, and the gallbladder is disturbed. In addition, toxicosis, changes taste preferences and increased appetite. As a result, digestion can fail, causing not only discomfort and pain, but also a violation of the absorption of nutrients.

In order to normalize the state gastrointestinal tract For pregnant women, domestic gastroenterologists often prescribe Mezim Forte, an over-the-counter drug manufactured by the German pharmaceutical company Berlin-Chemie. When using drugs by a future mother, the safety criterion is of decisive importance. So is it possible to take Mezim during pregnancy and will it harm the mother and fetus?

The drug contains the active substance pancreatin, which consists of proteases, lipase and amylase - the same digestive enzymes that the pancreas synthesizes. Proteases are responsible for the breakdown of proteins, lipase for the breakdown of fats, and amylase for carbohydrates.

The drug is prescribed for the treatment of digestive disorders caused by insufficiency or low activity of digestive enzymes of the pancreas or intestines (maldigestion syndrome).

Reasons for this phenomenon:

• chronic inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis) and other malfunctions in its work;
• characteristic functional disorders of the pancreas (cystic fibrosis);
• problems caused by a tumor or stones in gallbladder;
• dysfunction of the gallbladder and liver;
• accelerated flow of food through the intestines surgical operation on the stomach or intestines;
• Difficulty digesting certain foods, leading to nutrient absorption problems and digestive dysfunction causing loss of appetite, belching, nausea, and diarrhea
• intolerance to gluten - a protein found in grains of rye, wheat, barley;
• inflammatory bowel disease (particularly Crohn's disease);
• diabetes;
• acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

Symptoms of enzyme deficiency digestive system are:

• feeling of heaviness in the stomach;
• heartburn;
• bloating;
• diarrhea, regular or intermittent;
• loss of appetite;
• fatigue;
• abdominal pain that is difficult to localize.

As a rule, discomfort appears after eating fried, fatty, spicy foods. To establish the need for Mezim, it is not enough just to complain about digestive problems, you need laboratory analysis for enzymes.

Can Mezim be taken during pregnancy?

Mezim is not prophylactic, a medical preparation, taken strictly according to indications - when normal food processing is impossible due to enzyme deficiency.

According to the instructions for use, there are no contraindications to the use of Mezim Forte during pregnancy. According to the manufacturers, the drug is not absorbed into the blood, the active substances correspond to natural pancreatic enzymes, and the auxiliary ingredients (microcrystalline cellulose, sodium salt, magnesium stearate, lactose, silicon dioxide) are harmless.

However, it is impossible to say with full certainty about any medicine that it is safe during pregnancy. Funds even with the safest, at first glance, the composition remains the risk of short-term or long-term consequences for the fetus or mother.

The manufacturer leaves the question of whether Mezim can be drunk during pregnancy to the discretion of doctors and patients, warning in the instructions about the need to assess the possible risks and condition of the woman. Simply put, no one can say with accuracy whether this medicine is harmless, but with serious problems with digestion and inefficiency non-pharmacological means a woman can use it at her own peril and risk.

For this reason, some doctors are apprehensive about Mezim, preferring to first normalize the diet (excluding spicy, fatty, fried), daily routine (walks and light physical exercise) and try safe alternative methods improve digestion and enzymatic function.

Contraindications

Mezim is not for everyone. It should not be taken in the following cases:

• allergy (hypersensitivity) to pancreatin or any of the ingredients of the medicine;
• during acute inflammation or exacerbation of chronic inflammation of the pancreas in the advanced stage of the disease.

Pancreatin interacts with other drugs, this should also be taken into account when prescribing it. It reduces absorption folic acid, iron, hypoglycemic drugs. Calcium carbonate and magnesium hydroxide (antacid drugs) reduce the effectiveness of the drug.

Instruction

The drug is available as a gastro-resistant tablet composed of proteases, amylase and lipase. They are obtained from the pancreas of pigs, combined with excipients and covered with a special protective shell that allows the enzymes to be carried directly to the stomach.

The tablet must dissolve in the stomach, so you can not chew it, and also take the medicine lying down, since the breakdown of the shell can begin already in the esophagus and the enzymes simply will not reach their destination. Some gastroenterologists recommend taking Mezim with jelly to prevent premature dissolution.

There are 3 forms of drug release, depending on the enzymatic activity of enzymes: Mezim Forte, Mezim Forte 10000 and 20000.

Mezim Forte:

• lipase activity 3500 IU;
• amylase - 4200 IU;
• protease - 250 units.

Mezim Forte 10000:

• lipases 10000 IU;
• protease - 375 units;
• amylase - 7500 IU.

Mezim Forte 20000:

• lipases 20000 IU;
• amylase 12000 IU;
• protease 900 U.

The first drug compensates for the lack of enzyme activity, the second and third are prescribed for severe deficiency of lipase, amylase and protease.

Mezim must be taken exactly according to the instructions of the gastroenterologist, who will prescribe the dose in accordance with the needs. The usual single dose for an adult is 1-2 tablets 4 times a day before meals, if necessary, the dose is increased to 4 tablets. Limiting daily dose is prescribed at the rate of 15,000-20,000 IU of lipase per kilogram of weight with an absolute insufficiency of its own enzymes.

Mezim works best when stored in the body in a constant volume. For these purposes, it is recommended to carefully consider the doses and time of administration.

Side effects

Like all medicines, Mezim can cause side effects, including:

• narrowing of the lower intestine in patients with cystic fibrosis;
• diarrhea
• stomach discomfort and nausea;
• increased excretion uric acid in urine (hyperuricosuria) and blood (hyperuricemia);
• allergic reaction: skin rash, lacrimation and shortness of breath.

No contraindications indicating risks to the fetus have been identified.

Analogues

There are analogues of the drug:

1. Pancreatin. There are a little less active ingredients in it; it is produced by pharmaceutical companies in the CIS countries. The enzymatic activity of enzymes in preparations under the Pancreatin brand varies: lipases from 3000 to 4300 IU, amylases from 1700 to 3500 IU, proteases from 130 to 200 IU.
2. Creon 10000 is produced by the German company Abbott. These are gelatin capsules containing spheres soluble in gastric juice with natural porcine pancreatin (lipases 10,000 IU, amylases 8,000 IU, proteases 600 IU).
3. Ermital from the German company Nordmark Artsneimittel, capsules with pancreatin containing 10,000, 25,000 or 36,000 units of lipase.
4. Festal is a well-known Indian drug. In addition to pancreatin (lipase activity 6000 IU, amylase 4500 IU, protease 300 IU), bovine bile extract is included - it stimulates its own production of lipase and bile.
5. Enzistal is very similar to Festal, it is also developed by Indian pharmacists and contains ox bile. Enzymatic activity of protease - 300 IU, lipase - 6000 IU, amylase - 4500 IU.
6. Micrasim is similar to Mezim and is made Russian company Pharmstandard. Activity and composition are similar to the German drug.
7. Panzinorm is produced by the German company KRKA. In addition to pancreatin, they contain extracts of the mucous membrane of the stomach and bile of cows. The enzymatic activity of drugs depends on the form of release: lipase 10,000-20,000 IU, amylase 7200-12000 IU and protease 400-900 IU.

Mezim Forte is a drug prescribed for insufficiency or reduced activity of pancreatic enzymes. During pregnancy, this can occur both due to diseases, including congenital, and physiological changes or dietary disturbances.

Many people believe that enzyme medications are harmless. In fact, Mezim has some contraindications and side effects, and during pregnancy, the long-term consequences of taking it are unpredictable, since adequate studies of the effect of the drug on the body of expectant mothers and their children have not been conducted. It is not taken for prevention - it is a full-fledged medicine that requires a diagnosis by a gastroenterologist and strict adherence to the rules of administration and dosage before prescribing.

Olga Rogozhkina

midwife

Mezim is an enzymatic compensator that improves performance digestive tract. Its main task is to help the body digest food. Mezim is considered conditionally safe drug, his appointment is 100% justified in the absence or lack of a woman's own food enzymes, which can be dangerous for the unborn child. In other cases, it is better not to expose the body future mother additional load, replacing Mezim with non-drug ways to deal with digestive problems. This is the rejection of "heavy" and "harmful" foods (fried, salty, smoked, fatty, spicy), sufficient consumption of dairy products and vegetables, and the exclusion of late dinners. If a woman is healthy, then these recommendations will help to improve the functioning of the digestive organs without taking Mezim.

Useful video about nutrition during pregnancy

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Expecting a baby is not only responsible, but also enough a long period in your life. It is not always possible to control your diet and refuse harmful delicacies.

Mezim during pregnancy should be kept in the first-aid kit and always carried with you. From overeating or eating fatty foods may appear discomfort- bloating, feeling of heaviness. Will Mezim help and what contraindications does this drug have?

How safe is Mezim during pregnancy?

During the period of bearing a child, your body becomes more vulnerable. Unfortunately, it is the digestive system that most often goes out of order. It is influenced by nutrition, ecology, stressful situations and even the rhythm of life and the duration of sleep.

Modern pharmacology offers great amount medicines to normalize digestion and prevent disorders, heartburn and bloating (more about bloating during pregnancy >>>). Not everyone medicines safe and allowed for expectant mothers. One of the most popular drugs is Mezim.

This is a drug that helps the body produce an enzyme necessary for the full assimilation and digestion of food. This medicine It comes in tablets and is taken with food.

Can Mezim be used during pregnancy? You should know that in addition to enzymes, the tablet contains the following components:

• lactose;
• cellulose;
• sodium carboxy starch;
• silicon dioxide;
• magnesium stearate.

In pharmacies, the drug is dispensed without a prescription. Therefore, often people drink it at will, when they find it necessary. However, during pregnancy, to use medicines must be treated very responsibly.

Some doctors observing pregnant women claim that Mezim is completely safe and easily prescribes it to their patients if necessary. There is an opinion that the components of the tablet are not absorbed into the blood at all, therefore they do not have any effect on the fetus.

Know! On the other hand, serious scientific research on the topic of the influence of Mezim on pregnancy and the fetus has not been conducted. Doctors who adhere to this position do not prescribe the drug to their patients and are advised to simply carefully monitor their diet and not overeat.

In any case, no matter what the doctor says, you have to make an independent decision about the benefits and necessity of using the drug. You should weigh all the pros and cons, take into account the state of your health.

Can Mezim be taken in the first trimester?

During the period of expectation of the baby, your daily routine and nutrition will most likely change. You may experience bouts of nausea (how to deal with this unpleasant phenomenon read the article: Nausea during pregnancy >>>) or spontaneous hunger, you can quickly get tired and experience unreasonable anxiety.

At the same time it may appear irresistible desire eat something unusual or harmful. One way or another, almost everyone feels changes in their body. Together, these factors lead to indigestion. To normalize it and save the woman from unpleasant consequences, the doctor may prescribe Mezim during early pregnancy.

The dosage of the medicinal product is prescribed by the observing doctor. When taking pills, the following negative effects may occur:

1. Nausea;
2. Dizziness;
3. Disorder;
4. Discomfort in the abdomen.

On the early dates these side effects resemble signs of toxicosis, so women do not always pay attention to them. To protect yourself from overdose and negative consequences, you should take the drug strictly under the supervision of a doctor.

Mezim in late pregnancy

How longer term pregnancy, the more difficult it is. The weight own body and the fetus increases, the load on all organs increases.

In case of malnutrition or digestive disorders, it is especially important to support your body. The use of enzyme preparations should be under the supervision of a doctor.

Attention! Instructions for using Mezim during pregnancy says that tablets can be taken in situations "when the expected benefit to the mother outweighs the potential risk to the fetus."

Indications, instructions and dosage during pregnancy

Expectant mothers should be especially careful about how to take Mezim during pregnancy.

The doctor may prescribe medicine in such cases:

• cystic fibrosis;
• violation of the function of digestion;
• liver disease;
• insufficient fermentation of the pancreas;
• pathology of the gastrointestinal tract;
• diarrhea (article

disorders in the pancreas, liver, or gallbladder modern man Not unusual. Our health is getting weaker, there are more and more provoking factors, and many, if not everyone, can “boast” of such problems from time to time.

The period of pregnancy in this sense differs only in that it makes the woman even more vulnerable, so that the digestive system of the expectant mother often "fails". Many doctors in such cases prescribe enzyme preparations to their wards, for example, Mezim. And if a pregnant woman simply ate too much in excitement, then she may well make such an appointment for herself. But do not rush to put Mezim's tablet in your mouth. Perhaps heaviness in the stomach can be eliminated in a safer way?

Why appoint Mezim?

Mezim is an enzyme preparation. That is, it contains enzymes, the same ones that our pancreas produces. Ask, why then take it, if the body itself can produce enzymes? Treatment with Mezim may be necessary if the production of enzymes is impaired for some reason (for example, in chronic pancreatitis, cystic fibrosis, disorders of the liver and gallbladder) or their amount for normal digestion of food in this case not enough (for example, when overeating or eating "heavy" food for the stomach).

Instructions for use:

- how to take Mezim?

Mezim is available in the form of tablets, which should be taken with food, without chewing and drinking plenty of liquid. It can be warm water, but doctors often advise drinking Mezim with jelly.

The dosage depends on the severity of the patient's condition. In any case, the therapeutic dose should be prescribed by the attending physician. Usually it is 1-2 tablets 3-4 times a day, but in individual cases maybe more.

Important note: Mezim should be taken while sitting or standing and should not lie down for a few minutes after taking it, otherwise the tablet may dissolve in the esophagus before it enters the stomach.

- Can pregnant women take Mezim?

In addition to enzymes (amylase, lipase and protease), Mezim contains excipients. In principle, quite safe: lactose, cellulose, sodium carboxystarch, silicon dioxide and magnesium stearate.

However, the drug itself can be called safe only relatively. Mezim is dispensed in a pharmacy without a prescription, many drink it when they see fit, without consulting doctors, and it should be said that the latter are not particularly worried about this. But when it comes to pregnancy, here medicine is divided into several camps.

It is not uncommon for therapists and gynecologists to advise pregnant women to take Mezim (of course, not unnecessarily), believing and assuring that this drug is absolutely safe for a person, including a woman who is expecting a child. There is an opinion (however, not scientifically proven) that Mezim is not absorbed into the blood and does not have any effect on the fetus. In fairness, we note that some pharmacists obviously think so, since the following statement can be found in the annotation to the drug: “as a rule, the use of Mezim is not prohibited during pregnancy and lactation.”

But there is another side of the coin. There have never been any adequate studies on the effect of Mezim on the course of pregnancy and the condition of the fetus, so the safety of the drug can be considered very, very relative. For this reason, many doctors do not recommend that women drink Mezim during pregnancy and, of course, do not prescribe it. Pharmacists who adhere to this position indicate in the instructions for the drug that its use is possible in cases "when the expected benefit to the mother outweighs the potential risk to the fetus."

In general, whether to take Mezim or not is up to you. But know that when a doctor prescribes Mezim to a pregnant woman, he takes responsibility for her and the unborn child's health. Therefore, it is quite logical that it should be a doctor you trust. We recommend, if possible, to try alternative methods that are safer during the gestation period.

Alternative to Mezim during pregnancy

The surest advice would be not to overeat and in general. This applies to the mode, quantity, and quality of food consumed. Control your desires and objectively evaluate the usefulness of your diet. Don't eat at night. Try not to eat spicy, salty, fried, smoked, and so on, according to at least, do not lean and do not abuse such food. But vegetables, especially stewed and steamed, or kefir will be very appropriate.

Try to move enough, walk a lot on fresh air. Heaviness in the stomach is well relieved by a cup of tea or a leisurely walk.

Always look for alternative ways out of a temporary uncomfortable situation. But if you are regularly worried about stomach problems, a consultation with your doctor will be necessary.

Specially for- Elena Kichak

From Guest

During pregnancy, women show special eating habits, which often leads to overeating or eating indigestible and unusual dishes. As a result, the pancreas can’t cope a little, and in conditions of enzyme deficiency, bloating, a feeling of heaviness and other disturbances in the functioning of the digestive tract occur. As a rule, when contacting a doctor, women are prescribed various enzyme preparations, for example, Mezim. How effective is this remedy? And is Mezim possible during pregnancy? Let's discuss all the nuances of treatment with this drug in the gestational period.

Mezim belongs to the group of polyenzymatic preparations made on the basis of a dry powder with a dosed content of porcine pancreatic enzymes. The drug acts directly in the small intestine and is not absorbed into the general circulation. Under the influence of herbal juices and microflora, denaturation (splitting) of the enzyme powder occurs, which is completely excreted from the body.

The active substance is pancreatin, which contains three active ingredients that determine its effectiveness:

• Lipase, which affects the rate of absorption of fats.
• A protease that breaks down proteins into amino acids.
• Amylase responsible for the breakdown of carbohydrates.

Normally, these substances are synthesized in the pancreas, then "transported" to the intestines and help food to be converted into a set useful substances, and unnecessary residues to be digested and exit the intestines.

Hormonal changes, additional load on internal organs and wrong mode nutrition during the period of bearing a baby provokes digestive disorders. Women complain of flatulence, severe discomfort in the epigastric zone and a more pronounced manifestation of toxicosis. Taking the drug Mezim during pregnancy helps to fill the enzyme deficiency and improve the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.

Depending on the quantitative ratio of enzymes, Mezim is available in three pharmaceutical forms. The dosage depends on the concentration of lipase, since the lack of this particular substance causes problems with the pancreas. The amount of protease and amylase is calculated to create the maximum comfortable conditions for digestion.

Advice! You can drink Mezim alone during pregnancy only in isolated cases and only at a dosage of no more than 3,500 IU. Other forms of the drug can only be prescribed by a doctor.

1. Mezim Forte. One tablet contains 3,500 units of active lipase. This dosage is effective for one-time errors in nutrition, when there is no chronic insufficiency pancreas. Mezim Forte during pregnancy is the safest form of the drug.
2. Mezim Forte 10,000 IU. The drug shows more active action to the process of digestion. The therapeutic effect comes much faster, so the remedy is often indicated before a routine examination with an ultrasound if a woman has bloating or a strong bowel filling.
3. Mezim 20 000 IU. At this dosage, the drug helps with intestinal infections, pancreatitis, colitis and others pathological conditions which are undesirable during pregnancy.

Mezim during pregnancy: is it possible or not?

Mezim belongs to the group of conditionally safe drugs that are prescribed for both adults and infants. The enzymes in the composition of the drug are of animal origin and have a similar effect on the body, as well as their natural counterparts. As pharmacists assure, active substances are not absorbed into the blood, and the shell is insoluble, and in original form excreted from the body.

According to the instructions, the Mezim preparation, in addition to enzymes, includes a number of chemical, such as titanium dioxide, azorubine varnish, macrogol, cellulose, etc. There is no reliable data on their effect on fetal development, since in-depth studies have not been conducted in this regard. Therefore, the annotation to the drug indicates that taking the drug Mezim during pregnancy is permissible only if the benefit of the treatment is higher than the risk to the baby.

At the same time, Mezim has a number of advantages compared to other enzyme preparations:

• is a safe drug that is manufactured in accordance with international requirements;
• does not contain prohibited dyes, flavors and plasticizers;
• the composition of the shell does not disrupt the normal functioning of the intestine;
• does not contain bile or allergic components, which can provoke irritation of the intestinal mucosa;
• the drug has been successfully used to treat disorders of the digestive tract for more than 20 years.

In the field of obstetrics and gynecology, the issue of prescribing enzyme agents is controversial. Most doctors prescribe Mezim during early pregnancy, assuring that it does not have a teratogenic effect and the treatment will not affect the development of the fetus. But there are also opponents of such appointments, since there is no information about the effect of animal enzymes on the laying of organs and the development of the digestive system in a baby. Therefore, the risk after taking the drug always remains. As a result, the decision whether to take Mezim or look for other ways to fix the problem remains with the pregnant woman.

When is Mezim forte indicated during pregnancy

Often taking Mezim comes down to a single pill after eating fatty or spicy foods. But sometimes there is a question about the full treatment with this remedy.

Who needs to take Mezim:

• Women with cystic fibrosis.
• Patients with inflammatory-dystrophic pathologies chronic nature(diseases of the gallbladder, intestines or liver).
• Patients with severe enzyme deficiency (non-acute pancreatitis).
• In the case of a planned ultrasound.
• People with diseases internal organs(gastritis, enteritis, flatulence, dyspepsia, diarrhea).
• With irregular nutrition, overeating, abuse of fried foods.
• In case of functional disorders (irritable bowel syndrome, intoxication, diarrhea).

Mezim: instructions for pregnancy

Mezim, along with therapeutic properties, has a number of disadvantages in the form side effects and contraindications. In addition, despite its carelessness, this drug requires strict adherence to the dosage and duration of treatment. Therefore, before starting therapy, it is worth studying the contents of the instructions.

Dosage and duration of treatment

• The average dosage of the drug is 1-2 tablets before a meal. If improvement does not occur, you can take two additional tablets. Maximum amount drunk tablets at one meal should not exceed 4 pieces.
• The duration of treatment is prescribed by the doctor on an individual basis, based on the subsidence of symptoms and the results of the capprogram (examination of feces for the activity of the enzyme system).
• Tablets should only be taken in an intact shell due to the risk of ulceration in the mouth. If it is impossible to take a whole tablet, it should be gently ground to a powder consistency and mixed with honey. In this form, the risk of damage to the mucosa is minimal.
• It is recommended to drink Mezim only with plenty of water. Juices, tea or coffee may reduce therapeutic effect medicines.
• After taking the pills, you need to be in vertical position for 2-5 minutes. This ensures that they enter the stomach. Otherwise, enzymes can be released from the membrane in the esophagus and damage its mucous walls.

Important! Enzymatic substances in contact with mucous membranes oral cavity can cause ulcerative formations, so the tablets should be swallowed whole, without chewing.

Taking antacids (Renia, Maalox) helps to reduce the acidity of gastric juice, which significantly impairs the activity of the enzyme composition of the drug Mezim. Therefore, the dosage of the enzyme preparation should be increased.

In turn, Mezim complicates the absorption of other medicines, so they should be taken no earlier than 30-45 minutes later.

Contraindications and negative effects on the female body

The list of contraindications for this drug is quite modest. It cannot be applied when allergic reactions on pork, individual intolerance to one of the components, reactive or exacerbated chronic pancreatitis, as well as intestinal obstruction.

Important! Long-term use enzyme preparations reduces the concentration of iron in the blood and can cause anemia.

Among adverse reactions most common:

• Diarrhea.
• Nausea and gag reflex.
• Weakness.
• Tachycardia.
• Feeling hot.
• Bloating or constipation.
• Abdominal pain.
• Allergic reaction to azorubine varnish.
• Hypersensitivity (bronchospasm, rash, sneezing, urticaria, flushing of the skin).
• Anaphylactic shock.
• Signs of intestinal obstruction.

To avoid possible negative consequences after taking the drug, you need to strictly adhere to the doses and rules for taking it.

On a note! Although the instructions do not indicate that Mezim is contraindicated during pregnancy in the 1st trimester, it is better to limit its intake in this period.

What are the analogues of this drug and is it possible to do without Mezim during pregnancy?

There are many alternative enzyme preparations on the pharmaceutical market that show the same therapeutic effect and differ only in price and packaging.

Among the official analogues of Mezim are the following drugs:

• Festal.
• Pancreatin.
• Degital.
• Enzistal.
• Kreazim.
• Creon.
• Pangrol etc.

If intestinal discomfort and digestive problems are caused by malnutrition without any pathologies from the side of the internal organs, it is quite possible to do without taking medication. After all, pregnancy is not the most best time for pharmaceutical treatment.

To eliminate bloating, heartburn and abdominal pain, you should adjust your diet and food intake culture:

• Sharply limit the intake of heavy and junk food. Enter the taboo on fried, spicy, smoked.
• Eat regularly and at least 4 times a day, if possible more often.
• Eat a small portion of food at one time.
• Drink a glass of warm non-carbonated water half an hour before a meal.
• Include fruits and vegetables in your menu dairy products and porridge.
• Do not eat before bed and while lying down.
• Move more outdoors.

The implementation of such simple tips will favorably affect your digestion and taking pills will become unnecessary.

No matter how harmless Mezim may seem, it is highly undesirable to take it on your own during pregnancy. With persistent signs of a violation of the enzyme system, be sure to consult a doctor. Only he will be able to establish the cause of discomfort in the abdomen and prescribe treatment.

Video "Mezim - instructions for use"