8 Pancreatitis Treatments to Help You Recover Faster

Treatments for acute pancreatitis

Acute pancreatitis is a sudden inflammation of the pancreas. It can be mild or severe with life-threatening complications in the short term. Treatments for acute pancreatitis vary based on severity and can include: 

• Hospitalization

• IV fluids and nutrition

• Pain management

• Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)

• Antibiotics

Treatments for chronic pancreatitis

Chronic pancreatitis is a long-lasting inflammation of the pancreas that can cause scarring, damage, and a loss of its normal functioning. Treatments for chronic pancreatitis can include:

• Dietary changes

• Pancreatic enzyme supplements

• Lifestyle changes

• Pain management

• Insulin

1. Hydration

One of the most important pancreatitis treatments is fluid hydration. This is important because pancreatitis causes fever, vomiting, and decreased appetite — symptoms that can all lead to dehydration. If you have a mild case, you may be able to drink lots of fluids by mouth to stay hydrated. 

If symptoms are moderate or you have a more serious case, you’ll need hospital admission with fluids given through an IV infusion.

2. Bowel rest

For mild cases, you may need to reduce how much you eat — especially fatty or solid foods. For moderate or severe pancreatitis, your healthcare team will sometimes recommend complete bowel rest until you begin to feel better and are able to tolerate food again. Sometimes, you may need a temporary feeding tube in your nose to maintain your nutrition needs. 

3. Lifestyle changes

Making certain lifestyle changes is an effective treatment for some cases of acute and chronic pancreatitis. If alcohol is a trigger for you, your healthcare team will recommend stopping alcohol use. 

If your symptoms are very mild, other home remedies for pancreatitis may include:

• Following a low-fat diet

• Eating small meals at a time

• Quitting smoking, if you smoke

• Drinking plenty of water

4. Medications and supplements 

There are a variety of medications or supplements that you may need for pancreatitis treatment. Since pancreatitis is often quite painful, you may need pain medication. Other medications and supplements your healthcare team may suggest include: 

• Digestive enzymes like pancrelipase (to help digest fat) 

• Cholesterol medications like niacin or fenofibrate (to help reduce your triglyceride levels)

• Antibiotics (to treat infection)

• Insulin (to treat diabetes)

5. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is a procedure that uses a thin, flexible scope passed through your mouth to reach the opening of your bile duct. If your pancreatitis is caused by a gallstone blocking your bile duct, ERCP can be used to remove the stone and clear the passageway. 

ERCP isn't needed for every case. Your healthcare team will recommend it if you also have signs of a bile duct infection (cholangitis) or if imaging shows that a stone is stuck. According to guidelines from the American College of Gastroenterology, performing an ERCP within 24 hours has been shown to reduce serious complications and death from acute pancreatitis.

6. Cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal)

If gallstones caused your pancreatitis, your healthcare team may recommend a cholecystectomy (surgery to remove the gallbladder). This helps prevent future flare-ups and the risk of recurrence. 

The procedure is typically done laparoscopically through small incisions, which allows for a faster recovery. If you were diagnosed with a mild case of acute pancreatitis, the surgery is usually done before you leave the hospital. For more severe cases, your healthcare team will likely wait until your pancreas has had time to heal before performing surgery.

7. Pseudocyst drainage

Sometimes, pancreatitis causes fluid to collect near the pancreas, forming a pseudocyst. Small pseudocysts often go away on their own. But larger ones that are causing pain or showing signs of infection usually need to be drained. 

The most common approach is endoscopic drainage. This is a procedure using a flexible scope to place a small stent through the stomach wall and into the cyst. In some cases, a needle guided by imaging (like ultrasound or CT scan) can drain it from outside the body instead. Open surgery is rarely needed to drain a pseudocyst from acute pancreatitis.

8. Pancreatic surgery

In the most severe cases of pancreatitis, surgery may be needed to remove damaged tissue. This is needed when parts of the pancreas have died off, a condition called necrotizing pancreatitis. 

However, healthcare professionals try to avoid performing this type of surgery when possible, opting for less invasive approaches first. One study found that this approach reduced the rate of major complications and death nearly by half. 

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