Viokace (Pancrealipase)

Do’s

• Read the Medication Guide and, if available, the Patient Information Leaflet provided by your pharmacist before starting Viokace and each time you get a refill. If you have any questions, ask your healthcare provider for guidance.
• The dosage of Viokace is based on your medical condition, diet, weight, and response to treatment. 
• Viokace should be taken by mouth, usually with every meal and snack as directed by your healthcare provider. Swallow the medication whole.
• Drink plenty of fluids while taking Viokace unless your healthcare provider advises otherwise.
• Your healthcare provider may also prescribe another medicine, such as a proton pump inhibitor, to decrease stomach acid. This helps Viokace work better by preventing it from breaking down in your stomach. 
• Use this medication regularly and follow any diet recommendations from your healthcare provider to get the most benefit.
• If your condition lasts or gets worse while taking Viokace, inform your healthcare provider.

Don’ts

• Do not take more tablets in a day than prescribed by your healthcare provider, as doing so will not improve your condition any faster and may increase the risk of side effects.
• Do not crush or chew the tablets, as this can irritate the mouth/throat and change the way the medication works. 

• A rare bowel disorder called fibrosing colonopathy
• Irritation inside the mouth
• Increased levels of uric acid in the blood 
• Allergic reactions such as trouble breathing, skin rashes, and swollen lips

This is not an exhaustive list of side effects, and other side effects may occur. If you experience any unusual symptoms while taking Viokace, consult your healthcare provider for guidance.

The dosage of Viokace should be individualized based on clinical symptoms, the degree of steatorrhea present, and the fat content of the diet. It should be initiated at the lowest recommended dose and gradually increased based on the patient's specific condition.

Viokace, as a non-enteric-coated pancreatic enzyme replacement product, may have decreased bioavailability and therefore may be less efficacious than enteric-coated formulations. This is particularly important to consider in pediatric patients, as the use of Viokace may increase the risk of inadequate treatment of pancreatic insufficiency and result in suboptimal weight gain, malnutrition, and/or the need for larger doses of pancreatic enzyme replacement.

Viokace should be taken exactly as prescribed by a healthcare provider, and it is not interchangeable with any other pancrelipase product. Additionally, Viokace may increase the chance of having a rare bowel disorder called fibrosing colonopathy, and the risk of this condition may be reduced by following the dosing instructions provided by the doctor.

Always consult the Medication Guide provided by your pharmacist and talk with your healthcare provider if you have any questions or concerns about the warnings and precautions associated with Viokace.

Product Insert {https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2020/022542s005lbl.pdf}