"Festal" is one of the most popular enzyme preparations prescribed for digestive problems. This tool is able to replenish the enzyme compounds that the pancreas normally produces. The need to take "Festal" can arise in any person, including during pregnancy. However, the use of this drug while waiting for a baby without a doctor's prescription is not recommended.
Features of the drug
Festal is one of the products of the popular pharmaceutical company Sanofi. It is made in the form of a dragee. The drug shell dissolves in the intestines, it is white and glossy. The shape of the dragee is round, the smell is vanilla, the taste is sweetish. The product is sold without a prescription in boxes of 20 to 100 pieces, inside there are aluminum strips of 10 pills.
The action of the drug is due to several active substances. First of all, it is pancreatin, presented in each dragee at a dosage of 192 mg. It includes digestive enzymes - lipase (its activity is 6000 U) and amylase (its activity is 4500 U), as well as proteases with an activity of 300 U. Other active ingredients in dragees are bile and hemicellulase components.
Operating principle
Pancreatin in Festal has the same properties as the enzymes secreted by the pancreas. For this reason, the drug is able to compensate to some extent the function of this organ if it is impaired for some reason. Reception of "Festal" facilitates the process of digestion of all food components - proteins, fats and carbohydrates.
The bile acids present in the drug additionally affect the absorption of fats, as well as some vitamins. They replenish the function of the gallbladder and liver. As for hemicellulase, this enzyme helps to break down fiber in plant food, therefore the inclusion of such a substance in the "Festal" helps to improve digestion and reduce bloating due to the consumption of excess dietary fiber.
Is it allowed during pregnancy?
In the instructions attached to the pills, it is noted that the use of "Festal" while carrying a child is not recommended. This limitation is due to the lack of research on the effect of the drug on the fetus and is intended to prevent self-use during pregnancy. However, the drug can be prescribed by a doctor if there are good reasons for this.
Doctors classify "Festal" as a relatively harmless remedy for expectant mothers, helping out with various digestive disorders and diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. But you should not use it without a preliminary examination by a doctor, especially in the early stages.
They try not to prescribe the drug in the 1st trimester., because at this time the development of the fetus can be disrupted by any external factors. If there are no serious reasons for taking Festal in the first months of gestation, there is no need to risk it. But in 2 or 3 trimesters, the drug is prescribed to pregnant women quite often, but reception at a later date is also recommended only for indications.
When is it prescribed for expectant mothers?
Digestive disorders are common during pregnancy. The body of a woman in position is experiencing a serious load, which extends to the gastrointestinal tract. This manifests itself as discomfort, cramps, heaviness and other unpleasant symptoms, which Festal can cope with. The remedy is prescribed to eliminate feelings of overcrowding, constipation, heartburn, and bloating. The doctor will recommend the expectant mother to drink Festal in such situations:
- if a woman has a disrupted pancreas, which led to a lack of digestive enzymes;
- if a chronic inflammatory process is found in the gallbladder of the expectant mother, which affects the digestion of food and well-being;
- when toxicosis that arose at an early or late period became the cause of digestive disorders;
- if the woman had nutritional errors, for example, overeating.
Contraindications
There are certain restrictions for the use of "Festal", which is a reason not to prescribe such an enzyme preparation on your own. The reason for refusing this medication may be:
- hypersensitivity to any of its components;
- inflammation of the pancreas in acute form;
- chronic pancreatitis, if at the moment it has worsened;
- obstructive jaundice;
- stones in the gallbladder;
- frequent diarrhea;
- intestinal obstruction;
- high levels of bilirubin in a blood test;
- inflammation of the liver;
- liver failure;
- purulent inflammation of the gallbladder;
- cystic fibrosis;
- renal failure.
Since the components of "Festal" can affect the absorption of iron, such a remedy requires caution if the expectant mother has iron deficiency anemia.
Side effects
Sometimes after taking Festal, women begin to complain of nausea, abdominal pain, allergy symptoms or other signs of intolerance. In this case, a second visit to a doctor is necessary, who will decide the issue of canceling the medication and choosing another treatment.
Instructions for use
As already mentioned, Festal taken after a medical examination, since the dosage and frequency of taking pills must be determined individually. The medicine is usually swallowed without damaging the membrane during meals or immediately after a meal with water. Do not chew or bite the drug, because this will damage the membrane and then the enzymes, which should begin to "work" only in the intestine, will be destroyed in the stomach or have a negative effect on the upper parts of the digestive tract.
The most common treatment regimen - one tablet three times a day, but it adapts to a specific woman in position. The doctor will recommend to some expectant mothers to drink "Festal" only occasionally, others may be prescribed for a long period. It all depends on the indications, well-being and other factors, but, as a rule, the remedy is not used on an ongoing basis.
Reviews
On the use of "Festal" during pregnancy, there are mostly positive reviews. Women who took the drug in 2-3 trimesters call it effective, convenient to use, effective for digestive problems such as bloating, stool disturbances, heaviness in the stomach, belching. Among its shortcomings, only the high cost is usually mentioned, and side effects, according to expectant mothers, rarely provoke such a remedy.
Analogs
Instead of "Festal" the doctor can prescribe other enzyme preparations containing pancreatin for the expectant mother. These include "Creon", "Mezim", "Panzinorm", "Penzital", "Micrasim" and similar funds. They are available in capsules, pills and tablets, differ in the dosage of digestive enzymes and should be used during pregnancy only as directed by a doctor.
In addition, if “Festal” for some reason does not help or does not fit, a woman should try to cope with uncomfortable symptoms without medication:
- reduce portions, eat food a little more often so that the stomach and intestines have time to process it;
- monitor the amount of fluid consumed during the day;
- Limit bloating foods, as well as spicy, fried and fatty foods;
- refuse to eat shortly before bedtime;
- make the basis of your diet lean meat, fish, cereals, whole grain bread;
- choose the right clothes so that they do not squeeze the stomach and do not interfere with normal digestion.
If these measures do not help, then already you should consult a doctor again and with him choose a medicinal analogue of "Festal", which will relieve negative symptoms and improve digestion. In addition, remember that the use of any medicinal herbs also requires a doctor's consultation.
The following video provides instructions for using Fistal Neo.
