How to Treat Pancreatitis

Co-authored by Roy Nattiv, MD

Last Updated: December 20, 2022 References Approved

The pancreas, which produces enzymes to help with digestion and insulin to help regulate glucose, is located in your middle abdomen. Pancreatitis occurs when the pancreas is inflamed, which results in malabsorption of nutrients. It can come on suddenly or become chronic, which may cause long-term damage to the pancreas. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, fever, sweating, rapid breathing and abdominal pain. Pancreatitis can be mild to severe and treatment usually requires hospitalization.

Part 1

Part 1 of 4:

Diagnosing and Evaluating

1
Recognize the symptoms. It's important to recognize the symptoms of pancreatitis, so that you can seek help sooner. The sooner the problem is dealt with, the easier it will be to solve. If you have any of the following symptoms that persist for several days or that cause you serious discomfort, call your doctor:
- Pain in your upper abdomen, which can radiate toward your back. This pain will usually be worse after eating. Your abdomen may also be tender to the touch.^{[1]
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  Mayo Clinic
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- Nausea and vomiting.
- Oily, greasy-looking stools that are light colored.
- Recent weight loss without apparent cause.
2
Be aware of other possible problems. These same symptoms may be from other sources. You may not have pancreatitis, but instead have some other problem. However, these problems can still be very serious, so it's important to still seek treatment. Other possible sources of the problem include:
- Ulcers - black or bloody stool is one of the major symptomatic differences between ulcers and pancreatitis
- Gallstones - fever and skin discoloration are some indicators of gallstones over pancreatitis but many of the symptoms are exactly the same
- Liver disease - skin or eyes yellowing or discoloration is a common indicator of liver problems instead of pancreatitis
- Heart attacks - tingling in the arms is one clear indicator that you may be having heart problems and not pancreatitis
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3
Acknowledge the causes. Alcoholism, cystic fibrosis, hyperparathyroidism, infection, and cancer are some of the precursors of pancreatitis.^{[2]
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Mayo Clinic
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Go to source} These are serious conditions that have lots of other negative impacts on your health and well-being, so it's important to be sure that they are being treated.
- Alcoholics have more occurrences of pancreatitis. Even though you may not think you have a problem, it's a good idea to consider it.

Part 2

Part 2 of 4:

Seeking Medical Help

1
Contact your doctor or go to an emergency room if you have a flare-up. Because the causes of pancreatitis are often very serious and because the treatment you'll need is more than what you can do at home, you're most likely going to need to be treated at a hospital.^{[3]
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Expert Source

Roy Nattiv, MD
Board Certified Gastroenterologist
Expert Interview. 14 October 2020.} Either immediately see your own doctor, who will probably have you admitted to the hospital, or go to the emergency room if you don't have a general doctor to make sure that pancreatitis is really your problem.
2
Find medical assistance if you don't have health insurance. If you live in places like the US, it is possible that you do not have access to health insurance. This should not keep you from seeking treatment, however. There are programs in place to help you and treatment centers across the country that you can go to. See the official listings to find out the closest location to you.
3
Acknowledge the consequences. Ignoring pancreatitis may lead to severe weight loss, diabetes, debilitating pain, lung failure, or even death.^{[4]
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Trustworthy Source
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Health information from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, a division of the U.S. National Institutes of Health
Go to source} Seek immediate help if you suspect that you have pancreatitis and don't assume that the problem will just go away. Many cases of pancreatitis may not require medicine, but they do require healthcare procedures that you can't do at home!
- Pancreatitis affects your pancreas' ability to process fat. Not only will this cause you to have stomach pain and possibly diarrhea when you eat fatty foods, but your body also won't be able to absorb vitamins that are fat-soluble, like A, E, D, and K.^{[5]
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  Expert Source
  
  Roy Nattiv, MD
  Board Certified Gastroenterologist
  Expert Interview. 14 October 2020.}
- You can also develop diabetes because your body won't be able to produce insulin.^{[6]
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  Expert Source
  
  Roy Nattiv, MD
  Board Certified Gastroenterologist
  Expert Interview. 14 October 2020.}

Part 3

Part 3 of 4:

Receiving Treatment

1
Be prepared for some tests. You may need to undergo some tests to find out if you have pancreatitis. Blood tests, stool tests, CT scans, and ultrasounds are the most common tests to find out the source of your health problems when pancreatitis is suspected.^{[7]
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Mayo Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source}
2
Receive basic treatment. For 75% of patients, basic hospital care will be all that is needed to recover. However, this is still complex enough care that it will need to be done at a hospital and home remedies are not usually a safe option. Your doctor should be able to explain your situation.^{[8]
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Mayo Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source}
- Expect to fast. Eating no food for up to several days, and instead being switched to liquid diets, feeding tubes, and other alternatives are generally the main basic treatment for pancreatitis. This is because eating makes the irritation worse and makes you unable to heal.
- Get IV fluids. Severe dehydration is a major part of pancreas problems, so expect to be given a large number of fluids to combat this. This will most likely come in the form of IV fluids, but you may also be asked to drink more water.
- You will probably be given some medication. Pancreatitis causes significant and constant pain and your doctor should give you painkillers to help alleviate the pain. Meperidine or Demerol are the most commonly prescribed painkillers for patients with pancreatitis. Take antibiotics should your doctor prescribe them. They may be given to prevent possible infection or to treat an existing one.
3
Treat the underlying cause. For basic or mild cases, the underlying cause may be very easy to treat (such as a change in medications). However, more severe cases or chronic cases may require more serious treatment.^{[9]
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Mayo Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source}
- Surgery is the most likely option if you have a severe problem. The kind of surgery will depend on the underlying cause. Some options include gall bladder removal, surgery to repair or remove parts of the pancreas, or surgery to unblock bile duct obstructions.
- You might also need to have surgery to drain cysts that can form around your pancreas.^{[10]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Roy Nattiv, MD
  Board Certified Gastroenterologist
  Expert Interview. 14 October 2020.}
- Treatment for alcohol dependency will be recommended if it is determined that this is the source of the problem. For your own happiness and well being, it is recommended that you comply with your doctor's wishes in this area, even if you don't think you have a problem.
- There are enzyme supplements which you may be asked to take if your body is no longer making the pancreatic enzymes you need to digest fat.^{[11]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Roy Nattiv, MD
  Board Certified Gastroenterologist
  Expert Interview. 14 October 2020.} These supplements are in the form of a simple tablet and aid with digestion, keeping the pressure off of your pancreas.

Part 4

Part 4 of 4:

Preventing Future Problems

1
Eat healthy and exercise. If you have only a mild case of pancreatitis, you may want to take some precautions so that you don't get pancreatitis again in the future. One of the best things that you can do is to eat healthy and exercise. Pancreatitis can develop due to high triglycerides or diabetes. Keeping yourself healthy may help relieve pancreatitis symptoms. This means eating a diet low in sugar and rich in vegetables and protein.
- Eat fewer carbs (like pasta and chips) and cut foods with lots of sugar out of your diet. Eat more vegetables than fruits (which contain lots of sugar) and bid goodbye to soda! Lean proteins are also great, so eat lots of fish and chicken. Avoid eating animal fats as much as you can.
- You can also get some help with exercise, if you need it. You'd be surprised how easy it is to fit exercise into your day.
2
Reduce your alcohol consumption. Drinking alcoholic beverages on a regular basis is a factor that could lead to pancreatitis. If you have been diagnosed with pancreatitis or seem to be prone to pancreas problems, stop drinking alcoholic beverages.^{[12]
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National Health Service (UK)
Public healthcare system of the UK
Go to source}
- If you want to still fit in and socialize with your friends, quietly order an apple juice or a water in a martini or whiskey glass. Both of these look like booze but aren't actually alcoholic.
3
Stop smoking. Smoking also causes pancreas problems and may cause or make your pancreatitis worse. Smoking also has lots of other negative health effects, so you're better off trying to quit. There are lots of great methods these days for helping you quit, so don't sweat it and just give it a try.^{[13]
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FamilyDoctor.org
Family-focused medical advice site run by the American Academy of Family Doctors
Go to source}
4
Consider a change in medications. Talk to your doctor about medications. Some medications may lead to pancreatitis. Your doctor should recognize this on their own, but you may want to bring it up if you feel it may not have been considered. This is especially important if you are with a new doctor who may not know your medical history.

Expert Q&A
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Question

Will using anti-depressants make symptoms of pancreatitis worse?

Jurdy Dugdale, RN
Medical Review Board
Jurdy Dugdale is a Registered Nurse in Florida. She received her Nursing License from the Florida Board of Nursing in 1989.

Jurdy Dugdale, RN

Medical Review Board

Expert Answer

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It's possible, but not necessarily. Consult with your doctor to see if your anti-depressants may lead to symptoms.
Question

Can diet pills cause pancreatitis?

Jurdy Dugdale, RN
Medical Review Board
Jurdy Dugdale is a Registered Nurse in Florida. She received her Nursing License from the Florida Board of Nursing in 1989.

Jurdy Dugdale, RN

Medical Review Board

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It's possible that they could, but they may not. Talk with your doctor to see if they may lead to symptoms.
Question

How can you treat chronic pancreatitis?

Roy Nattiv, MD
Board Certified Gastroenterologist
Dr. Roy Nattiv is a Board-Certified Pediatric Gastroenterologist in Los Angeles, California. With over 20 years of experience he specializes in a broad range of pediatric gastrointestinal and nutritional illnesses such as constipation, diarrhea, reflux, food allergies, poor weight gain, SIBO, IBD, and IBS. He completed his pediatric residency at the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore, Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, and his fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). While at UCSF, he was a California Institute of Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) fellowship trainee and was awarded the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition (NASPGHAN) Fellow to Faculty Award in Pediatric IBD Research. Dr. Nattiv received his undergrad degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and his medical degree (MD) from the Sackler School of Medicine in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Roy Nattiv, MD

Board Certified Gastroenterologist

Expert Answer

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If you have chronic pancreatitis, immediate treatments might include hospitalization and aggressive hydration. If you have complications, like an infection, you might need antibiotics. You may also need surgery to drain cysts that can form around your pancreas, and you might have to take pancreatic enzymes by mouth if you're not making the enzymes you need to digest fat.

Warnings

Stop smoking or do not start as smoking puts stress on your pancreas.

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If pancreatitis is not treated, it may be fatal.

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Acupuncture may help alleviate the pain associated with pancreatitis but scientific evidence is lacking.

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