Medicines for Acute pancreatitis

What it is

Acute pancreatitis is a condition in which the pancreas — a gland behind the stomach that helps with digestion and controls blood sugar — becomes suddenly inflamed over a short period. It is a serious condition that usually needs urgent hospital care. The two most common causes are gallstones (which can block the duct from the pancreas) and drinking too much alcohol; less common causes include certain medicines, high levels of fats (triglycerides) or calcium in the blood, infections, injury, and, sometimes, no identifiable cause. The main symptom is severe pain in the upper part of the tummy, which often comes on suddenly, may spread through to the back, and can be worse after eating or when lying down and eased by leaning forward; other symptoms include feeling or being sick, a raised temperature, a swollen or tender tummy, and generally feeling very unwell. Most cases of acute pancreatitis are mild and improve within about a week with supportive treatment, and most people make a full recovery. However, a minority of cases are severe, and acute pancreatitis can occasionally lead to serious complications (such as the pancreas becoming badly damaged or infected, or affecting other organs), which is why hospital assessment and monitoring are important. Because the pain is severe and the condition can be serious, sudden, severe upper tummy pain — particularly with vomiting and feeling very unwell — needs urgent medical assessment. Treatment is supportive (allowing the pancreas to recover), along with treating the underlying cause (for example removing gallstones or addressing alcohol use) to aid recovery and prevent it happening again.

How it is treated

Acute pancreatitis is managed in hospital, with treatment focused on supporting the body while the inflammation settles, relieving symptoms, monitoring for complications, and treating the underlying cause. There is no specific medicine to cure the inflammation, so care is largely supportive and includes: fluids given into a vein (a drip) to prevent dehydration and support the circulation; pain relief for the severe pain; anti-sickness treatment; and nutritional support, with eating resumed as able (often sooner than was traditionally thought). The person is monitored closely — most cases are mild and settle within about a week, but a minority become severe, so watching for and managing complications (which may require intensive care in severe cases) is important. Identifying and treating the underlying cause is a key part of care and helps prevent recurrence: if gallstones are the cause, treatment to deal with them (such as removing the gallbladder, often after recovery, or a procedure to remove a stone blocking the duct) is arranged; if alcohol is the cause, support to stop drinking is important; and other causes (such as certain medicines or high blood fats) are addressed. Recovery from a mild attack is usually complete, though it takes time to feel fully well. Preventing future attacks focuses on the cause — for example not drinking alcohol (especially if alcohol was the cause), and dealing with gallstones. The reassuring message is that most cases of acute pancreatitis are mild and recover fully with supportive hospital treatment, while the condition can be serious, so sudden, severe upper tummy pain with vomiting and feeling very unwell needs urgent assessment; and that treating the underlying cause helps recovery and prevents it happening again.