Infants (up to 12 months)

Infants may be given 4,000 lipase units (one capsule) per 120 mL of formula or breast-feeding. Do not mix PERTZYE capsule contents directly into formula or breast milk prior to administration [see Dosage and Administration (2.2)].

Children Older than 12 Months and Younger than 4 Years

Enzyme dosing should begin with 1,000 lipase units/kg of body weight per meal for children less than age 4 years to a maximum of 2,500 lipase units/kg of body weight per meal (or less than or equal to 10,000 lipase units/kg of body weight per day), or less than 4,000 lipase units/g fat ingested per day.

Children 4 Years and Older and Adults

Enzyme dosing should begin with 500 lipase units/kg of body weight per meal for those older than age 4 years to a maximum of 2,500 lipase units/kg of body weight per meal (or less than or equal to 10,000 lipase units/kg of body weight per day), or less than 4,000 lipase units/g fat ingested per day.

Usually, half of the prescribed PERTZYE dose for an individualized full meal should be given with each snack. The total daily dose should reflect approximately three meals plus two or three snacks per day.

Enzyme doses expressed as lipase units/kg of body weight per meal should be decreased in older patients because they weigh more but tend to ingest less fat per kilogram of body weight.

Limitations on Dosing

Dosing should not exceed the recommended maximum dosage set forth by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Consensus Conferences Guidelines.1,2,3

If symptoms and signs of steatorrhea persist, the dosage may be increased by a healthcare professional. Patients should be instructed not to increase the dosage on their own. There is great inter-individual variation in response to enzymes; thus, a range of doses is recommended. Changes in dosage may require an adjustment period of several days. If doses are to exceed 2,500 lipase units/kg of body weight per meal, further investigation is warranted.

Doses greater than 2,500 lipase units/kg of body weight per meal (or greater than 10,000 lipase units/kg of body weight per day) should be used with caution and only if they are documented to be effective by 3-day fecal fat measures that indicate a significantly improved coefficient of fat absorption. Doses greater than 6,000 lipase units/kg of body weight per meal have been associated with colonic strictures, indicative of fibrosing colonopathy, in children with cystic fibrosis less than 12 years of age [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)]. Patients currently receiving higher doses than 6,000 lipase units/kg of body weight per meal should be examined and the dosage either immediately decreased or titrated downward to a lower range.

Infants (up to 12 months)

PERTZYE should be administered to infants immediately prior to each feeding, using a dosage of 4,000 lipase units (one capsule) per 120 mL of formula or per breast-feeding. Contents of the capsule may be mixed with approximately 10 mL of soft acidic food with a pH of 4.5 or less (e.g., applesauce). Contents of the capsule may also be administered directly to the mouth. Administration should be followed by breast milk or formula. Do not mix contents of the capsule directly into formula or breast milk as this may diminish efficacy. Care should be taken to ensure that the PERTZYE capsule contents (microspheres) are not crushed or chewed or retained in the mouth, to avoid irritation of the oral mucosa [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2)].

Children and Adults

• Administer PERTZYE during meals or snacks, with sufficient fluid.
• Swallow PERTZYE capsules whole.
• If a dose is missed, take the next dose with the next meal or snack as directed. Do not take two doses at one time.
• Do not crush or chew the capsules or the capsule contents (microspheres).
• For patients who are unable to swallow intact capsules, follow the instructions below for oral administration with soft foods with a pH of 4.5 or less (e.g., applesauce):
  1. Place a small amount (approximately 10 mL) of applesauce into a clean container.
  2. Carefully open the capsule(s).
  3. Sprinkle the entire contents (microspheres) on the applesauce.
  4. Mix the capsule contents (microspheres) with the applesauce being careful not to crush the microspheres when mixing.
  5. Consume the entire mixture immediately. Do not chew the capsule contents (microspheres). Do not save the mixture for later use.
  6. Follow with water or juice to ensure complete ingestion and to ensure nothing is retained in the mouth to avoid mucosal irritation [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2)].

Alternatively, the contents of one or two 4,000 USP lipase unit capsules can be administered with soft foods with a pH of 4.0 or less (e.g., applesauce) via a gastrostomy tube with a diameter of 14 French or larger.