Bentiromide

Bentiromide is a drug used to determine if the pancreas is working properly. The test is done by giving the drug to the patient, after which the pancreas starts to break down the drug the same way it breaks down food. After this process is done, the drug appears in the urine. A sample of the urine is taken to the doctor so that the doctor could determine if the pancreas is working in the right way by measuring the amount of the drug present in the urine.

Whether the test needs to be done, is a decision that depends of your doctor. This would require a consult. It is important the beneficial effects to outweigh the potential risks in the decision making process. There are many factors that need to be considered before the decision this test to be done is made:

• Allergies – Inform your doctor about any allergic reactions to any drugs in the past, prescribed or no prescribed. Also, inform the healthcare professional about any allergic reactions to any specific food, dye, fabric and etc.
• Pediatric – There are studies that confirm the beneficial effects of the drug when used in children of 6 years old and older, but there are no studies that confirm if there are any risks if this medicine is used in younger children.
• Geriatric – There are no studies that confirm if there are any age-connected risks when this medicine is used within older people. But it is known that there is an increased sensitivity within older people, as well an increased risk and presence of other medical problems that need to be considered.
• Pregnancy – Inform your doctor if you are pregnant or have any plans about pregnancy in the near future. There are no studies which confirm that this medicine is safe to be used during pregnancy.
• Breastfeeding – Inform your doctor if you are breastfeeding. There are no studies which confirm if this medicine is extracted in the milk, because of that safety is not guaranteed. May be used within nursing mothers only if the potential beneficial effects outweigh the potential risks.
• Drug interactions – Inform your doctor about any other medicines that you are currently taking, prescribed or no prescribed, even vitamins or herbal tea. This is important because certain medication should not be used in a combination with others, but others are recommended to be used in a combination with other medication because of the beneficial effects on the condition.
• Other interactions – Certain medications should not be used in a combination with any specific food, tobacco and alcohol. Because of this, consult your doctor if you need to follow any specific diet during the treatment with this drug, or discontinue your usage of tobacco or alcohol.
• Other medical problems – It is very important to inform the doctor about your medical history, any medical problems and conditions in the past or at the moment. Especially, inform the doctor if any of the following conditions have been present in the past or are present at the moment: disease of the stomach or intestines, liver disease or kidney disease.

This drug is in the form of a solution. Consult your doctor any directions that need to be followed during the treatment. The dosage is determined by the doctor based on your condition and the prognosis. The amount of the medicine depends on the strength of the medicine. The dosage is individual for every patient.

It is important to visit your doctor at your scheduled appointments so that the doctor could track your condition and make any necessary changes regarding the dosage or even discontinue the treatment if any serious side effects appear. Inform your doctor about any allergic reactions that you have had in the past to any medications. This is important because this product may contain an inactive substance which may cause interactions to occur. Inform your doctor if you are pregnant. In this case the doctor may decide that the treatment with this medicine is not the best decision, because of the studies that could not confirm if this medicine is safe for the mother and the infant as well. If you have any plans about pregnancy in the near future, the doctor would advise you to use a proven form of birth control during the treatment and four months after the treatment has ended. 

Along with its beneficial effects, there are potential side effects that need to be considered. The side effects do not occur within all people, also they may be mild or serious. Either way, it is important to get acknowledged with the possible side effects, so that you would be able to notice its presence and inform your doctor as soon as possible. After which the doctor may decide that the treatment should be discontinued, or there is a need for other medications to be prescribed as well in order the side effects to be treated.

• Common side effects – diarrhea, headache
• Less common side effects – gas, nausea and vomiting, weakness
• Rare side effects – problems with breathing

Other side effects may be present as well.