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Pancreatitis Treatment

Treating Pancreatitis Through Diet and Lifestyle Changes

As part of their treatment plan, people with chronic pancreatitis must:
 
  • Stop drinking alcohol
  • Stick to their prescribed diet
  • Take the proper medications as directed by their healthcare provider.
     
A diet for pancreatitis is one that is high in carbohydrates and low in fat. This diet should also include smaller, more frequent meals. A doctor may prescribe pancreatic enzymes to take with meals if the pancreas does not secrete enough of its own. The enzymes should be taken with every meal to help the body digest food and regain some weight.
 

Course of Pancreatitis Treatment

If no kidney or lung complications occur (see Acute Pancreatitis Complications), acute pancreatitis usually improves on its own. Unless the pancreatic duct or bile duct is blocked by gallstones, an acute attack usually lasts only a few days.
 
In severe cases, a person may require IV feeding for three to six weeks while the pancreas slowly heals. This process is called total parenteral nutrition (TPN). However, for mild cases of acute pancreatitis, total parenteral nutrition offers no benefit.
 
For chronic pancreatitis, the treatment course will depend on a number of factors, such as the cause of the disorder.
 
 

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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
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