Chymotrypsin
OTHER NAME(S): A-Chymotrypsin, A-Chymotrypsine, Alpha-Chymotrypsine, AlphaChymar, Catarase, Chymotrypsin A, Chymotrypsin B, Chymotrypsin C, Chymotrypsine B, Chymotrypsine A, L-Chymotrypsin, L-Chymotrypsine, Chymotrypsinum, Zolyse, Alpha-chymotrypsin, Chymotrypsine, Quimotripsina
Overview
Chymotrypsin is an enzyme. An enzyme is a substance that speeds up certain chemical reactions in the body. People use chymotrypsin to make medicine.
People use chymotrypsin for redness and swelling associated with pockets of infection (abscesses), ulcers, surgery, or critical illness (trauma), as well as many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
Chymotrypsin breaks down proteins.
Chymotrypsin breaks down proteins.
Uses
Effective for
- Cataract surgery, when used by a healthcare professional.
Insufficient Evidence for
- Burns. There is some evidence that taking a mixture of chymotrypsin and trypsin by mouth might decrease tissue destruction in burn patients.
- Chronic pain and swelling (inflammation) of salivary glands (chronic obstructive parotitis). There is some evidence that injecting chymotrypsin into the channels (ducts) in salivary (parotid) glands might decrease pain and swelling in people with chronic obstructive parotitis.
- Fractures. There is some evidence that taking a mixture of chymotrypsin and trypsin by mouth might reduce swelling in hand fractures.
- Asthma.
- Swelling (inflammation) of the main airways in the lung (bronchitis).
- Cough.
- Critical illness (trauma).
- Sinus infections.
- Skin conditions such as abscesses and ulcers.
- Wound healing.
- Other conditions.
More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of chymotrypsin for these uses.
Side Effects
When used in the eye: Chymotrypsin is LIKELY SAFE when used as a prescription medicine in the eye by a healthcare professional. Chymotrypsin can cause side effects when used in the eye, including an increase in pressure in the eye and other eye conditions.
When taken by mouth: Chymotrypsin is POSSIBLY SAFE for most people when mixed with trypsin and used short-term. Doses up to 800,000 units per day of this combination have been used safely for up to 10 days. Rarely, chymotrypsin might cause an allergic reaction when taken by mouth. Symptoms include itching, shortness of breath, swelling of the lips or throat, shock, loss of consciousness, and death.
Precautions
When used in the eye: Chymotrypsin is LIKELY SAFE when used as a prescription medicine in the eye by a healthcare professional. Chymotrypsin can cause side effects when used in the eye, including an increase in pressure in the eye and other eye conditions.
When taken by mouth: Chymotrypsin is POSSIBLY SAFE for most people when mixed with trypsin and used short-term. Doses up to 800,000 units per day of this combination have been used safely for up to 10 days. Rarely, chymotrypsin might cause an allergic reaction when taken by mouth. Symptoms include itching, shortness of breath, swelling of the lips or throat, shock, loss of consciousness, and death.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if chymotrypsin is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
Interactions
We currently have no information for Chymotrypsin overview.
Dosing
The appropriate dose of chymotrypsin depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for chymotrypsin. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.
References
- Martindale W. Martindale the Extra Pharmacopoeia. Pharmaceutical Press, 1999.
- Dukes, MNG. Meyler's Side Effects of Drugs. 13th ed. Elsevier: Amsterdam, 1997.
- Latha B, Ramakrishnan M, Jayaraman V, Babu M. The efficacy of trypsin: chymotrypsin preparation in the reduction of oxidative damage during burn injury. Burns 1998;24:532-8.
- Latha B, Ramakrishnan M, Jayaraman V, Babu M. Serum enzymatic changes modulated using trypsin: chymotrypsin preparation during burn wounds in humans. Burns 1997;23:560-4.
- Shaw PC. The use of a trypsin-chymotrypsin formulation in fractures of the hand. Br J Clin Pract 1969;23:25-6.
- McCue FC, Webster TM, Gieck J. Clinical effects of proteolytic enzymes after reconstructive hand surgery. Int Surg 1972;57:479-82.
- Sun HJ, Xiao JQ, Qiao QH, et al. Chymotrypsin with sialendoscopy-assisted surgery for the treatment of chronic obstructive parotitis. Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg 2017;46(7):877-82. doi: 10.1016/j.ijom.2017.02.1267.
- Drugs@FDA: FDA Approved Drug Products. Alpha Chymar (Chymotrypsin ). Available at: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/daf/index.cfm?event=overview.process&ApplNo=011837. (Accessed July 23, 2019).
- EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes and Processing Aids (CEP), Silano V, et al. Safety evaluation of a food enzyme containing trypsin and chymotrypsin from porcine pancreas. EFSA J 2021;19(1):e06369.
- EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes and Processing Aids (CEP), Silano V, et al. Safety evaluation of a food enzyme containing trypsin, chymotrypsin, elastase and carboxypeptidase from porcine pancreas. EFSA J 2021;19(1):e06368.
- EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes and Processing Aids (CEP), Lambré C, et al. Safety evaluation of a food enzyme containing trypsin and chymotrypsin from porcine pancreas. EFSA J 2021;19(6):e06640.