Apart from a healthy diet, the main treatment for EPI is pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT). You take prescription pills that replace the enzymes your pancreas isn't making.
These enzymes break down your food so you can more easily digest and absorb it. You have to take them during your meals. If you take them before you eat, the replacement enzymes may move through your stomach before your food gets there. If you take the pills after you eat, you have the opposite problem.
You may also need to take an antacid to keep your stomach from breaking down pancreatic enzymes before they can start to work.
There are six FDA-approved pancreatic enzyme products that are only available by prescription:
Creon
Pancreaze
Pertzye
Ultresa
Viokace
Zenpep
You may also need medicine to treat pain. Usually you start with pain medicines such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin). If those don't bring you relief, your doctor may prescribe stronger pain drugs, such as hydrocodone and oxycodone. Keep in mind that ibuprofen may lead to stomach distress and that drugs such as hydrocodone and oxycodone should be used with caution because of addiction potential.
