Modern people live in an age of gastronomic excesses, fatty foods and fast food. Sometimes it is difficult for a person to resist and not try a dish thickly seasoned with mouth-watering sauces and mayonnaise. Delicious desserts with whipped cream, huge pork chops and fried potatoes beckon him. And well-fed holidays turn into a dangerous attraction, because at this time there is a great danger of overeating and getting a whole bunch of unpleasant sensations in the stomach and intestines.

Enzymatic preparations help your body cope with a large amount of food. The most popular among them are Mezim and Festal. Is there a difference in the indications for the use of these drugs? What effect do they have on the human body? Which drug has more contraindications for use? Is there a price difference between Festal and Mezim?

Festal belongs to the clinical and pharmacological group of enzyme preparations. Release form - dragee. There are ten of them in one strip. On sale there are packages of 20, 40, 60 and 100 tablets. The country of origin is India. The price of the drug ranges from 160 rubles. for a pack of 20 pieces up to 661 rubles. for a pack of 100 pieces.

The composition of Festal includes the main components: pancreatin and bull bile components; additional - table salt, sucrose, castor oil, macrogol and other components.

The medicine has the following indications for the appointment:

• reduced enzymatic ability of the gland;
• gallbladder dysfunction;
• violations of the processes of decomposition of food components;
• constipation and increased gas formation.

The tool is also effective for the treatment of alcoholic and toxic liver damage and cirrhosis of the liver. Festal is indicated in preparing the patient for an ultrasound or x-ray of the abdominal organs.

The use of this drug is excluded if the body is highly sensitive to its constituent components. Also, you can not take Festal with exacerbation of chronic forms of pancreatitis, liver failure, intestinal obstruction, a high tendency to diarrhea, cholelithiasis and obstructive jaundice. The drug is not indicated for children under three years of age.

Mezim: a short description

The enzyme preparation Mezim is available in the form of dragees or enteric-coated tablets. In pharmacies, the drug is sold in packs of 20 or 50 pieces. The medicine is produced by the largest pharmacological German company Berlin-Chemie. The country of origin is Germany. The price of one Mezim blister is 66-78 rubles, which is significantly lower than the cost of a similar pack of Festal tablets.

The basis of this drug is the biologically active substance pancreatin and powder from the porcine pancreas. Mezim also contains cellulose, polysorbate, sodium hydroxide and magnesium stearate.

Mezim is prescribed for replacement therapy for violations of the exocrine pancreatic activity, chronic pancreatitis, muclviscidosis, chronic inflammatory and dystrophic diseases of the stomach, intestines, gallbladder and liver.

Also, the drug is indicated for patients who have undergone surgery or radiation therapy of the digestive system. At the preparatory stage for ultrasound and fluoroscopic studies. Occasionally, Mezim's reception is used for overeating.

The reason for refusing drug therapy of this enzyme agent can be:

• hypersensitivity of the body to the digestive enzymes lipase, amylase, protease, trypsin and auxiliary components of the drug;
• attacks of acute and chronic pancreatitis;
• intestinal obstruction.

Mezim can provoke the occurrence of allergic reactions, such as sneezing, skin rashes and itching, lacrimation and spasms of the lower respiratory tract. Disorders in the digestive system are also possible: abdominal pain, nausea, a change in the nature of the stool.

The drug can provoke the formation of stones in the bladder. Therefore, patients who are at risk and taking Mezim, it is necessary to strictly control the urine test. If you suspect the possibility of the formation of uric acid stones, taking the tablets should be stopped.

Is there a difference between drugs

Analysis of the chemical composition of the components, features of pharmacological effects, indications for use and contraindications of medicinal enzyme preparations Mezim and Festal showed that these medicines are analogues. That is, their action is based on the same substance - pancreatin, which is able to establish digestive processes in the stomach and in different parts of the small intestine in a short time.

Although these drugs have similar therapeutic effects, each may cause specific side effects. Therefore, when prescribing the drug, the doctor must carefully examine the patient's tests. And to determine the possible risks of violations of the activity of various organs, when taking one or another enzymatic agent. So, patients predisposed to urolithiasis are contraindicated in Mezim. And at high risks of developing cholelithiasis, Festal should not be used.

It is worth refusing to take Mezim for people who have been diagnosed with impaired functions of the small intestine in relation to the absorption of monosaccharides - glucose-galactose malabsorption. This disease leads to disruption of energy metabolism in the cells of the body, as a result, the processes of nervous regulation, as well as growth and development, are disrupted.

It is worth noting that both drugs can be bought at the pharmacy without a prescription. But self-medication is still not worth it, because uncontrolled intake of drugs can harm the body.

Differences of these enzymes can be noted and, if possible, their appointment to small patients. So, young children should not take Festal. When taking Mezim is not contraindicated for them. It can be used for eating disorders in children under the age of one year.

However, parents should remember that the dose of the drug is calculated taking into account the age and weight of the child. Therefore, when deciding to use the drug for the treatment of children, you need to carefully study the instructions. Pediatric dosage is calculated as follows:

• under the age of 12, per 1 kg of body weight, the dose should be 1-1.5 thousand units;
• after the age of 12, per 1 kg of body weight, the dose should be 1.5-2 thousand U, where U is the unit of measurement of the dose of a substance, depending on its biological activity. It is used to calculate the dosage of vitamins, enzymes, hormones, vaccines, blood components, etc. The IU value of the components of the Mezim enzyme group is indicated in the instructions for use of the drug.

Analysis of the instructions for this drug showed that the minimum activity of lipase, which is part of it, is 3.5 thousand U, protease - 0.25 thousand U, and amylase - 4.2 thousand U. Thus, the daily intake for children under 1.5 years old is 1-2 tablets, over 1.5 years old - 2-4 tablets.

Mezim must be taken with meals, without chewing. Otherwise, when chewing, the protective shell of the tablet is destroyed and the enzymes do not enter the intestine, which means that the expected effect will not occur. In order for the medicine to pass freely through the esophagus and stomach, it is necessary to take Mezim standing or sitting.

With enzyme preparations, as well as with other drugs, one should be extremely careful, especially if they are prescribed to children. Without consulting a doctor, their use is strictly prohibited. Only a medical specialist can choose the right treatment regimen, calculate the desired dosage. This is the only way to prevent the possible negative impact of medicinal components on the developing organism. In case of painful or allergic reactions, the use of Mezim should be stopped immediately.

In addition, it is necessary to remember the rules and terms of storage of medicines. Enzymes should be stored in a dry and dark place at a temperature not exceeding 22-23°C. Shelf life - 3 years from the date of issue. Information about the release date is on the packaging.