Pancreatitis is a whole group of syndromes and diseases characterized by inflammation of the pancreas. In this condition, the secreted enzymes are not released into the duodenum. They are activated in the gland and act on it in a destructive way.
Pancreatitis is characterized by symptoms such as intense pain in the epigastric region, which is sudden, strong and permanent. Most often, discomfort with such inflammation occurs in the left half of the body. In this case, the patient may experience indomitable vomiting mixed with bile.
To alleviate their condition and eliminate the symptoms of the disease, doctors recommend the use of antispasmodics. With pancreatitis, such drugs are extremely important. They allow you to remove strong pain syndromes that are caused by spasms (that is, involuntary contractions) of the muscle fibers of the pancreatic tissue.
What are the most effective antispasmodics for pancreatitis? How do they work? What is included in their composition? The answers to these and other questions are presented below.
general information
Antispasmodics for pancreatitis and cholecystitis are prescribed first. What is the reason for this? The fact is that the effect of such drugs is aimed at relaxing the muscle fibers of the internal organs, which allows not only to stop the pain syndrome, but also to stimulate the blood supply. It should also be noted that the use of the above funds does not complicate the process of making the correct diagnosis.
Which antispasmodic is better for pancreatitis?
The degree of therapeutic effect of an antispasmodic is largely determined by the course of the disease (chronic or acute type), the severity of symptoms, the form of release of the drug (tablets, injection, etc.), the age of the patient, as well as other diseases that complicate inflammation of the pancreas.
Consider a list of antispasmodics (drugs).
With pancreatitis, the following drugs are most often used:
- Drotaverinum or No-Shpa;
- "Papaverine";
- "Spazmalgon";
- "Atropine";
- Duspatalin
- "Platifillin."
Drotaverin or No-Shpa
This is a myotropic antispasmodic, the active substance of which is drotaverine hydrochloride. With pancreatitis, such a medicine is prescribed most often.
“Drotaverin” or “No-Shpa” have a prolonged as well as pronounced relaxing effect on the smooth muscles of blood vessels and internal organs. The effect of the drug in tablets is observed only 30-40 minutes after administration, in this regard, it is used only in the absence of vomiting and severe pain in the patient. Otherwise, an intramuscular injection is prescribed, the therapeutic result of which is noticeable already 7 minutes after administration.
The use of the above antispasmodics for pancreatitis is prohibited in the following cases:
- under reduced pressure;
- with serious cardiac pathologies, including cardiogenic shock;
- with severe kidney and liver dysfunction;
- with individual intolerance;
- in the period up to 7 years.
During pregnancy and lactation, such medications should be taken with extreme caution.
For adults with pancreatitis, the antispasmodics "Drotaverin" or "No-Shpu" are prescribed 40-80 mg, up to three times a day. The maximum dose per day is 240 mg.
"Papaverine"
Such a drug has several dosage forms. All of them contain the same active substance - papaverine hydrochloride.
The use of such an antispasmodic for pancreatitis allows you to eliminate pain by reducing the pressure in the pancreas, which was caused by a spasm of the glandular ducts. Also, the drug helps to restore the outflow of pancreatic juice and bile.
According to experts, such a medicine works best with intravenous drip and subcutaneous administration.
The main advantage of this tool is the possibility of its use in pediatric practice. "Papaverine" in the form of suppositories and tablets is prescribed from 6 months of age, and in the form of an injection solution - from one year.
The dosage of the drug mentioned is selected only by the pediatrician in accordance with the age of the child and the severity of the symptoms of the disease.
Contraindications to the use of “Papaverine” are similar to the contraindications of “No-shpa” and “Drotaverina”. Also, it is not prescribed for people with hypothyroidism and glaucoma.
Spazmalgon
The top three antispasmodics for pancreatitis also include such a medication as Spazmalgon. The composition of this medicine includes an analgesic (non-narcotic) - metamizole sodium, m-anticholinergic substance - fenpiverinia bromide, as well as myotropic antispasmodic - pitophenone.
Metamizole is a pyrazolone derivative. This substance is anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic. Fenpiverinium (due to its m-anticholinergic effect) has a relaxing effect on smooth muscles. As for pitophenone, it acts similarly to papaverine.
The combination of these three components leads to the elimination of pain, relaxation of smooth muscles and lower body temperature.
For adults and children from 15 years of age, such a medication is prescribed orally, after eating, 1-2 tablets, up to three times a day. The daily dosage of Spazmalgon should not exceed six tablets.
The duration of treatment with this drug is 5 days (no more!). An increase in the daily dosage of the drug or the duration of therapy is possible only after consulting a doctor.
For children, such a drug is prescribed only by a specialist.
"Atropine"
The composition of the drug in question includes such an active substance as atropine sulfate. As for the additional components, they depend on the dosage form of the drug.
The medication in question is an alkaloid. It has anticholinergic activity (that is, it is able to block M-cholinergic receptors).
The use of this medication helps to increase intraocular pressure, amidriasis, tachycardia, accommodation paralysis, xerostomia. In addition, such a drug depresses the secretion of sweat, bronchial and other glands.
Atropine sulfate relaxes the smooth muscles of the bronchi, as well as the urinary and biliary organs and the digestive system. In other words, the substance mentioned has an antispasmodic effect and acts as an antagonist.
Atropine can be taken orally, administered subcutaneously, into a vein or muscle. The dosage of this medicine is set individually.
Duspatalin
The active substance of the drug is mebeverine hydrochloride. This is a myotropic antispasmodic, which is available in the form of capsules and tablets. With exacerbation of pancreatitis "Duspatalin":
- affects the tone of the sphincter of Oddi;
- reduces spasms of pancreatic ducts;
- improves pancreatic function;
- prevents stagnation of pancreatic juice;
- shows a minimum of side effects.
For emergency care during the acute course of the disease, accompanied by severe pain, such a medicine is not used. However, in the chronic process, prolonged treatment (up to six months) allows you to achieve a persistent alleviation of symptoms of pancreatitis.
The drug "Duspatalin" is taken orally at a dosage of 100 mg, four times a day (or 135 mg, three times a day).
When the clinical effect is achieved, the indicated amount of the drug is gradually reduced.
"Platifillin"
The main active ingredient of this agent is platifillin hydrotartrate. Compared with the Atropine drug, the medication in question affects the peripheral m-cholinergic receptors and n-cholinergic receptors less pronounced (about 5-10 times weaker).
In addition to the antispasmodic effect, Platifillin also has a mild sedative effect.
The drug is used orally, parenterally, subcutaneously, intravenously, rectally, and also topically (in ophthalmic practice). The dosage of the drug depends on the route of administration, indications and age of the patient.
A 0.2% solution of "Platifillin" is designated for subcutaneous injection as an emergency tool to relieve acute pain attacks.
Such a medicine has an extended list of serious side effects, in connection with which it is used only under the supervision of a specialist.
Other medicines for pancreatitis
What drugs, in addition to the above, are used for pancreatic pathologies? To eliminate spasms of smooth muscle cells, the use of the following means is permissible:
- Sparex, Niaspam. These are effective medicines, the main substance of which is mebeverin. However, unlike Duspatalin, they are less expensive.
- "Dicetel" with the active ingredient - pinaverine bromide.
- "Riabal" (the main substance is praffinium bromide). This antispasmodic is also available in the form of syrup. Most often it is used in pediatric practice in babies from 3 months of age.
- Tablets and Halidor solution.
- The medicine "Buscopan." This is an effective tool that is often used to eliminate spastic pain in chronic pancreatitis.
- Preparations "Took", "Maxigan", "Revalgin", "Spazgan", "Spazmalin."
The safest medicines
Any antispasmodics with pancreatitis exhibit a pronounced therapeutic effect. However, one should not forget that such drugs have a rather impressive list of various contraindications. In addition, their uncontrolled intake often causes serious side effects. Therefore, before using any antispasmodics, you should definitely consult a specialist.
According to most doctors, the least pronounced side effects in patients are noted with the use of drugs such as Drotaverin, Spazgan, No-shpa, Duspatalin, and Dycetel. It should be remembered that the prolonged use of antispasmodics in any dosage form can also lead to unpleasant phenomena.