Possible during pregnancy
Possible while breastfeeding
Not suitable for children
Can be taken by older people
Has limitations for liver problems
Has limitations for kidney problems
Festal belongs to the pharmacological group of multienzyme drugs that improve digestion. Manufactured in India by Sanofi India Ltd. In pharmacies you can also find a large number of analogues of Festal, much cheaper than it.
The active ingredients are pancreatin, hemicellulose and bovine bile in powder form. One tablet contains 6000 units. lipase, 4500 units. alpha lipase, 300 units. proteases. Auxiliary components are cellulose acetyl phthalate, gelatin, ricin oil, acacia, gum arabic, titanium dioxide, etc. The release form is pills. The package contains 20-100 pieces.
Description of the drug
Indications for use of Festal are as follows:
- replacement therapy for impaired secretory function of the pancreas in chronic pancreatitis;
- nonspecific ulcerative colitis;
- irritable bowel syndrome;
- dyspeptic disorders of non-infectious etiology;
- normalization of the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract in case of dietary disturbances;
- preparation for additional examination methods (ultrasound, x-ray).
Contraindicated in case of allergy to the components of the drug, acute hepatitis, obstructive intestinal obstruction, acute pancreatitis or its exacerbation.
The medication can be used in pregnant and lactating women (exclusively after consultation with related specialists). Not used in pediatric practice.
Pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics
This enzyme agent can compensate for the insufficiency of the secretory function of the pancreas, as well as the biliary activity of the liver.
The enzymes contained in pancreatin - protease, amylase and lipase - help facilitate the digestion of proteins and carbohydrates, improving the absorption of these components in the small intestine.
It is known that the enzyme hemicellulase improves the breakdown of plant fiber and digestive processes, reducing the formation of gases.
Bovine bile extract is also characterized by a choleretic effect, improved emulsification of fats, normalization of absorption of fats or fat-soluble vitamins , and increased lipase activity.
The cheapest analogues of Festal in Russia
For various reasons, sometimes you have to resort to searching for cheap analogues of the drug. Russian pharmacies offer a large list of Festal substitutes. Let's look at the characteristics of the most used ones.
Enzistal
Enzistal is a generic version of Festal. It completely replicates its chemical structure. The production of this medicine is carried out by the company Torrent Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (India). The drug is produced in the form of round, biconvex, film-coated tablets.
The mechanism of action is similar to that of Festal. The active components of the medication promote better digestion of consumed foods and affect their absorption.
The action of Enzistal occurs in the intestinal lumen - it is not absorbed by the gastric mucosa.
Used in gastroenterological practice for:
- chronic pancreatitis;
- functional digestive disorders;
- postoperative condition after resection of part of the stomach.
As an adjuvant, the medication can be prescribed in parallel with fat-soluble vitamins and sulfonamides for better absorption of the latter.
The acute phase of gastrointestinal diseases is a contraindication to the use of Enzistal. It should be used with caution simultaneously with M-anticholinergic blockers, since the anticholinergic effect may be enhanced.
Directions for use: 1 tablet with each meal. The duration of therapy is determined individually. Do not chew the medication, since it contains active enzymes that have the property of damaging the mucous membrane.
Pancreatin
Produced in Ukraine by the Tekhnolog company. The main constituent substance is pancreatin. Unlike Festal, it does not contain dry extract of bovine bile and hemicellulose. Pharmacological form - gastro-resistant tablets that have a pink color and a specific odor.
While taking the medication, the lack of pancreatic function, especially the exocrine gland, is compensated. As a result, the mechanism for assimilation of molecules of proteins, fats and carbohydrates improves. The feeling of heaviness in the stomach disappears.
Action of Pancreatin
Indicated for use in all conditions associated with disruption of the stomach and intestines (cystic fibrosis, chronic pancreatitis), as well as during the intake of difficult-to-digest foods (fatty, fried).
It is prohibited to prescribe Pancreatin in the presence of a clinical picture of intestinal obstruction, the presence of adhesions in the abdominal cavity and allergies to the constituent components. The medication does not affect the ability to drive a vehicle. It is not prescribed for pediatric patients.
The method of administration is similar to that of the drugs discussed above: one tablet during meals. The duration of treatment is determined by the doctor based on the examination.
Penzital
Penzital is a complex drug consisting of pancreatic enzymes. Belongs to the group of multienzyme agents. Manufacturer: Shreya Life Sciences, India.
The main effect of the drug is the normalization of the digestive process. Compensating for insufficient pancreatic function, it has proteolytic, amylo- and lipolytic properties. Maximum activity of Penzital occurs 45 minutes after administration.
Indications for use:
- cystic fibrosis with intestinal clinic;
- dyspeptic disorders;
- operated stomach or intestinal syndrome;
- chronic stage of pancreatitis;
- improper diet and dietary irregularities.
Drink 1 tablet orally 3 times, along with a non-alkaline liquid (water, freshly squeezed fruit juices).
If the maximum permissible dose is exceeded, an overdose may occur, manifested by hyperuricosuria, hyperuricemia. In this case, it is necessary to immediately discontinue Penzital and begin symptomatic therapy.
Panzinorm 10000
Manufacturer: KRKA dd Novo Mesto. The composition of the drug is as follows: 10 thousand units of lipase, 7.2 thousand units of amylase and 400 units of protease. Unlike Festal, Panzinorm 10000 contains methacrylic acid and ethacrylate copolymer. Available in tablets that dissolve in the intestine.
The purpose of the medication is to ensure adequate functioning of the pancreas when it is disrupted. All enzymes are released in the lumen of the small intestine, which is the point of application. While taking Panzinorm, the nutrition process is normalized and the occurrence of steatorrhea is prevented. It has an analgesic effect, reducing pain in chronic pancreatitis.
May be prescribed for the following conditions:
- cystic fibrosis:
- pancreatitis;
- recovery after removal of part of the stomach;
- Shwachman-Diamond syndrome;
- gastroenterostomy according to Billroth-2;
- violation of diet;
- pancreatectomy.
The daily dosage must be selected individually, based on the severity of the pathology. On average, 1 tablet is prescribed with each meal.
During the treatment period, it is worth ensuring sufficient water balance by drinking up to 2 liters of water daily. This prevents the development of constipation.
Side effects may occur in the form of:
- headache;
- nausea;
- vomiting;
- epigastric pain;
- constipation;
- flatulence;
- bitterness in the mouth, etc.
Pregnant women are prescribed with extreme caution, since the drug has not been tested on this population group.
See also:
List of inexpensive substitutes for Mezim®: TOP 6 analogues
Indications for use of Festal
The main indications for the use of Festal are insufficiency of the pancreas, accompanied by chronic pancreatitis , as well as biliary insufficiency with impaired digestion of food, flatulence, constipation , and so on in the treatment of:
- diffuse liver diseases, for example, liver cirrhosis , alcoholic and toxic liver damage;
- large losses of bile acids, for example, after cholecystectomy ;
- disruptions in the circulation of bile acids, as a result of biliary dyskinesia, dysbacteriosis and malabsorption;
- deviations in the digestion of food in people with normal gastrointestinal tract function due to changes in nutrition, problems with chewing function, a sedentary lifestyle, and so on;
- violations of the neurohumoral regulation of various processes of bile formation or bile secretion, accompanied by chronic gastrointestinal diseases, for example, chronic forms of gastritis, duodenitis or cholecystitis;
- as well as in preparation for an abdominal ultrasound or x-ray.
Festal substitutes of the same price category
There is also a certain group of medications that are similar in effect and price to Festal. They are also interchangeable.
Hermital
Ermital is a German medicine. It is manufactured by the company “Nordmark Arzneimittel GmbH und Co.KG”. The active substance in the medication is pancreatin in amounts from 87.28 mg to 316.68 mg (depending on the dosage). Additionally, the composition includes simethicone, triethyl citrate, gelatin, iron oxide, glycolic wax.
Available in the form of a micronized tablet enclosed in a gelatin capsule.
The mechanism of action of Ermital is based on its ability to replenish enzyme deficiency. The activity is manifested in proteolytic, lipolytic and amylolytic effects. The medication helps the body break down food into components that are easily digestible by the stomach and intestines. As a result, the digestion process is normalized and the development of steatorrhea is prevented.
It can be used when:
- errors in diet;
- Diamond syndrome;
- total or conservative pancreatectomy;
- nonspecific ulcerative colitis;
- Crohn's disease;
- liver cirrhosis;
- cholecystectomy;
- cholelithiasis, etc.
The frequency of meals depends on the number of meals, since Ermital is taken with meals. The average daily dose should not exceed 40 thousand units. The maximum permissible excess is 20 thousand units. It is not recommended to bite into the capsule. Contraindicated in pregnancy, acute inflammatory process of the gastrointestinal tract, allergic reaction to the components of the drug.
Mezim forte 10000
The composition of this drug is very unique. It consists of a powder made from pig pancreas. In European Pharmacopoeia units, the maximum activity of Mezim forte is 10,000 units. Release form: pink enteric tablets with beveled edges.
The active substance is not absorbed into the body and acts directly in the lumen of the organ. However, a certain small part of the product is subject to destruction and denaturation by digestive juices. The mechanism of action is no different from that of Festal. During treatment with Mezim Forte, defecation is normalized and body weight is maintained at the proper level.
Mezim dosage
Used for exocrine pancreatic dysfunction. Prohibited for use in case of high sensitivity to the active ingredients of the drug, acute inflammation of the pancreas, mechanical intestinal obstruction.
The recommended dose is 2 tablets with meals. It is unacceptable to exceed the daily dose by 15,000-20,000 IU of lipase/kg of weight. The duration of treatment is determined individually. Can be used in pediatric practice from 3 years of age.
Festal Neo
Manufacturer: Sanofi. This is an enzyme medication that is used in the treatment of patients with digestive disorders. The international nonproprietary name is multienzyme.
The main component is pancreatic enzyme (pancreatin). Thanks to its properties, the breakdown of all molecules occurs without any special costs for the body, and their absorption does not take a long time.
Indicated in patients with the following gastroenterological pathologies:
- pancreaticonecrosis;
- condition after surgery on the gastrointestinal tract;
- heaviness in the abdomen caused by a diet disorder;
- dyspeptic disorders;
- preparation for ultrasound and x-ray examination.
The amount of the recommended dose of the drug depends on the degree of deficiency of enzyme activity in the lumen of the duodenum. On average, this is 2 tablets three times a day. The duration of treatment depends on the severity of the disease. Can be prescribed to children over 3 years of age.
See also:
Cheap analogues of Helinorm - TOP 8 best drugs
Contraindications for use
Main contraindications to the use of Festal:
- high sensitivity to its components;
- hepatitis;
- acute pancreatitis or exacerbation of its chronic form;
- liver failure , coma or precoma;
- hyperbilirubinemia;
- intestinal obstruction, empyema of the gallbladder, tendency to diarrhea ;
- patient age under 3 years;
- obstructive jaundice and various gallstone diseases.
Festal during pregnancy
It should be noted that Festal is prescribed with extreme caution pregnancy As a rule, you should check with your doctor to find out whether pregnant women can take this or other medications. According to the instructions, the use of this drug during breastfeeding and pregnancy is allowed if the benefit for treating a woman significantly outweighs the risk of developing undesirable effects for the baby.
Instructions for use of Festal (Method and dosage)
This medicine is intended to be taken orally as a whole, together with or immediately after eating, with water.
The average daily dosage is 1-2 tablets for 3 times a day. Increasing the dose is possible only as prescribed by a doctor. Before an x-ray or ultrasound, the drug is taken 2-3 days before the examination, 2 pieces 2-3 times a day.
At the same time, the instructions for using Festal for children indicate that when prescribing the drug to a small patient, the dose is determined by the attending physician.
The duration of therapy depends on the complexity of the disorder and can range from several days to years.
How to give Festal to children?
Children often have various problems in the gastrointestinal tract and therefore they may be prescribed enzyme preparations.
Festal often helps eliminate bloating, pain and discomfort in the abdomen, and problems with bowel movements. This drug can be used for children only from 3 years of age. In this case, the dosage for children is determined by the attending physician.
The medicine should be given immediately with food or a short time after. If the tablets are difficult for a child to swallow, they can be pre-dissolved in liquid.
What does Festal help with?
The main indications for taking an enzyme preparation is a decrease in the activity of the pancreas and hepatolienal system, which is accompanied by symptoms of dyspepsia, increased gas formation, and impaired digestion of food.
Festal is prescribed for:
- Toxic, medicinal and alcoholic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis.
- Chronic pancreatitis.
- Malabsorption syndrome.
- Dysbacteriosis.
- Gastritis, duodenitis, enteritis, colitis.
- Other pathological conditions of the gastrointestinal tract, accompanied by impaired digestion and absorption of food.
Interaction
The combination of the drug with sulfonamides, antibiotics and iron supplements can have different effects on their absorption.
Antacids containing magnesium hydroxide or calcium carbonate can reduce the effectiveness of Festal.
Simultaneous use with Cimetidine may enhance its effect.
Festal's analogs
Level 4 ATC code matches:
Digestin
Creon
Pancitrate
Mezim
Pankreoflat
Pancreazim
Enterosan
Panzinorm Forte
Panzinorm
Micrasim
Enzistal P
Pancreatin
Penzital
Pangrol
Hermital
Abomin
The main analogues of Festal: Digestal, Pancreatin, Creon, Mezim Forte and Pangrol.
Festal or Creon - which is better?
Before you think about which of these drugs to take, you need to find out what Festal helps with, what it is needed for, and what disorders does Creon ? To do this, you need to compare the symptoms of the disease and the indications for which these drugs are prescribed. Of course, for this it is better to consult a doctor.
As for the effectiveness of these two drugs, according to experts, Creon is higher, and it has more advantages. Creon is offered in a more convenient form of release - capsules, and has an improved principle of action - granules dissolve well in the small intestine.
In addition, Creon has more indications for use and fewer contraindications. This remedy can also be taken by children from 1 year of age.
Enzyme preparations: what are considered analogues?
There are many drugs to improve digestion, but choosing the best one is not so easy. This group of medicines is also called enzyme preparations, since they contain digestive enzymes for better digestion of food. A lack of your own enzymes can occur when you overeat, have irregular meals, or eat too fatty and fried foods. Typically, the active ingredient of such drugs is pancreatin.
Many can remember how their grandmothers and parents took enzymes in the form of pink tablets. It seems that we have been taking these pills for so many years that they are probably suitable for everyone. Moreover, their quality seems to be tested by time and the experience of loved ones.
When it comes to simple things in our everyday life, indeed, many old things seem stronger and more reliable. However, when we consider such an important area as health and medicine, technological solutions and scientific discoveries are important here. Any help to the body becomes more and more accurate and targeted. If progress does not stand still, why use outdated technologies? Today, none of us uses black and white televisions.
How to make an informed choice of an enzyme preparation based on facts, discarding misconceptions?
Our advice:
- 1) Look at the lipase content in the preparation.
- 2) Understand the differences and purpose of enzyme preparations.
For heaviness after eating, you need at least 10,000 units of lipase from the outside. That is why special attention should be paid to its quantity in the preparation.
Lipase is a type of digestive enzyme that digests fats. You can often see a number on the packaging of enzyme preparations (for example, 10,000 or 25,000); it indicates the number of lipase units. However, not all drugs have the same amount of lipase, even though the active ingredient is the same.
It will be interesting to see that even among pancreatin tablets the amount of lipase may differ. Most existing drugs contain from 25 to 4500 units of an important enzyme. For an optimal dosage of 10,000 units, not 1 or 2 tablets may be required, which is why the instructions for some drugs indicate that 2-4 tablets may be required per dose1.
However, lipase content is not the only criterion of difference.
In the case of enzyme preparations, the key difference is the release form. Over the course of many years of history, science has come to the conclusion that the tablet form is not ideal for the task of an enzyme preparation: it cannot follow the physiological path of food to replicate natural digestion as closely as possible.
The task of the enzyme preparation is to replicate natural human digestion as accurately as possible.
As a result of scientific research, it turned out that the size of the particles in the form of which the drug enters the digestive system matters. The smaller the particle size of the enzyme preparation, the more effective it is2. Compared to a tablet, it is evenly mixed with food in the stomach and therefore participates more fully in the digestion process. This makes it easier for it to pass from the stomach to the intestines with each serving of food to participate in the key stage of digestion. If this does not happen, and the drug remains in the stomach, it simply will not be able to help digestion.
Attention! Enzyme preparations work in the intestines, and not in the stomach, as is commonly believed.
To protect the small particles from the destructive environment of the stomach, they were placed in a Creon® capsule. Today Creon® is the only drug on the Russian market containing small particles of pancreatin - minimicrospheres3.
Thanks to the optimal lipase content and mini-microspheres, in case of heaviness and discomfort after eating, 1 capsule of Creon® 10 0002 is usually sufficient.
Advantages of Creon®:
- Creon® capsule dissolves quickly in the stomach4.
- Small particles help in digesting maximum volume of food5.
- Delivers enzymes from the outside in the same way as if the body produced them itself.
- When taking Creon®, the body does not stop digesting food itself6.
To learn more
The action of Creon® fundamentally distinguishes it from other drugs in tablets, so calling it an analogue is not entirely correct.
Unlike pancreatin tablets, Creon® is approved for use in children from birth4, and the capsule with minimicrospheres is especially convenient to use. Small particles can be poured out of the capsule or mixed with baby food or juice4 to make them easier for the baby to swallow. You can't do this with a large solid tablet.
See the differences between Creon® and pancreatin tablets.
Reviews about Festal
As numerous reviews of Festal show, it is extremely popular among patients of various groups. According to many patients, this is an excellent, highly effective remedy that helps improve digestion and eliminate many unwanted symptoms. There are also many people who have to take Festal N for many years, for example, with constant functional deficiency in the digestive system. Due to the natural origin and high degree of purification of this drug, it is often used as a substitute for its own enzymes.
In addition, there are many messages on the Internet from users who take such drugs for any digestive disorder. At the same time, they are trying to choose the best medicine for themselves and are interested in the forums about Festal tablets, why they help, how to take them before or after meals, and so on.
It is possible that some people are using this remedy for other purposes, since they do not know exactly what it helps with. It should be noted that they will not immediately feel the development of undesirable effects if used incorrectly, but over time this will certainly appear. If a person regularly has digestive problems, then you need to contact a gastroenterologist, who will conduct a full examination and write a prescription in Latin prescribing the necessary treatment.
Festal price, where to buy
The price of Festal in Moscow is 120-590 rubles.
In Ukraine, the medicine can be bought in Kyiv, as well as in cities such as Kharkov, Dnepropetrovsk, etc., the cost of the drug varies between 53-75 UAH.
- Online pharmacies in RussiaRussia
- Online pharmacies in UkraineUkraine
- Online pharmacies in KazakhstanKazakhstan
ZdravCity
- Festal other intestinal digestions.
20 pcsAventis Pharma/Sanofi India RUB 173 order - Festal tablets ksh/sol. 40pcsAventis Pharma/Sanofi India
RUB 302 order
- Festal other intestinal digestions. 100pcsAventis Pharma/Sanofi India
RUR 777 order
- Festal other intestinal digestions. 10 pcs. Sanofi India Limited
92 rub. order
Pharmacy Dialogue
- Festal three-component enzyme tablet No. 20Sanofi Aventis
RUB 153 order
- Festal three-component enzyme tablet No. 100Sanofi Aventis
RUB 837 order
- Festal three-component enzyme tablet No. 100Aventis Pharma
RUR 799 order
- Festal three-component enzyme dragee No. 40Sanofi Aventis
RUB 282 order
- Festal three-component enzyme tablet No. 10Sanofi Aventis
87 RUR order
show more
Pharmacy24
- Festal Neo 10000 N20 tablets LLC "Pharmex Group", m. Boryspil, Ukraine
60 UAH. order
PaniPharmacy
- Festal neo tablets Festal Neo 10000 tablets. No. 20 Ukraine, Pharmex Group LLC
69 UAH order
show more
Cost of the drug and its cheap analogues
In pharmacies of the Russian Federation you can find analogues of Festal both in chemical composition and in therapeutic effect. All of them are interchangeable with each other. If you are intolerant to one drug, it can be replaced with another only after consulting a doctor.
The most used inexpensive analogues of Festal are:
- Enzistal;
- Pancreatin;
- Penzital;
- Panzinorm 10000;
- Hermital;
- Mezim 10000;
- Festal Neo.
All of them are available in solid form. The price for them depends on the country of origin, dosage, and quantity in the package. The table shows a comparative description of prices for Festal analog products among Russian pharmacies.
Drug name | Release form | Quantity per package, dosage | Average price in Russian pharmacies, in rubles |
Festal | Dragee, p/o | 200 mg No. 20 | 196 |
200 mg No. 40 | 290 | ||
200 mg No. 100 | 789 | ||
Enzistal | Film-coated tablets | 80 | 290 |
Pancreatin | Tablets, p/o | 0.24 g No. 50 | 70 |
0.0346 g No. 20 | 73 | ||
250 mg No. 60 | 94 | ||
Panzinorm 10000 | Capsules | 21 | 310 |
84 | 920 | ||
Penzital | Tablets, p/o | 80 | 150 |
20 | 62 | ||
Hermital | Capsules | 36000 units No. 50 | 949 |
25000 units No. 50 | 594 | ||
10000 units No. 20 | 171 | ||
Mezim 10000 | Enteric tablets | 10 | 120 |
20 | 210 | ||
Festal Neo | Pills | 10000 units No. 20 | 169 |
See also:
List of inexpensive substitutes for Creon®: TOP 6 analogues