Drugs and the Risk of Acute Pancreatitis

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is an acute inflammation of the pancreas associated with morbidity and even the risk of mortality. The incidence of AP is increasing around the world with significant costs incurred in managing these patients. While gallstones and alcohol are the more common etiological factors causing AP, allopathic medications have also been noted to play a causative role. Although, traditionally, drugs such as antivirals (including antiretrovirals) and immune suppressants were considered to be more likely to lead to AP, the last couple of decades have witnessed an increasing number of case reports implicating routine prescription drugs to the development of AP.