How can I reduce enzyme use?

[Barbed]

I am taking prescription digestive enzymes for chronic diarrhea.  Fecal fat test found inappropriate fat levels, so I guess I have at least some fat malabsorption (I never drank alcohol).  

These enzymes are really dog-goned expensive, so I try to use as little as possible. I am avoiding fats and oils but still get diarrhea if I don't take the enzymes.  Does anyone have any tips or tricks so I can reduce the number of capsules taken?

I was on Ultrase 20, which my pharmacy doesn't carry regularly and has to special order, so I'm on Ultrasw 12 right now and just take more capsules if necessary.

Thanks.

[Nanny]

It's difficult to understand why you would want to decrease medication that is helping to correct your chronic diarrhea.  This condition can and does lead to malabsorption, which can become an even more complex condition to treat.

I have to take pancreatic enzyme supplements to help reduce the diarrhea and malabsorption problems caused by chronic pancreatitis.  Without the enzymes, I would not be able to eat most foods.  I was prescribed Ultrase 20's, and found them to be extremely expensive, too.  Several hundred dollars each month, as I have to take 10-12 capsules daily.  My GI switched me to a generic variety, called Lipram UL 20's, which are about $150 for a month's supply, which is a third of what the Ultrase cost.  These have been just as effective.  

There are digestive enzymes found in health food stores that are less expensive, and can help with digestive upsets, but I have found that they do not carry a high enough content of enzymes to aid with the malabsorption and diarrhea.

[Barbed]

Thanks for the information on Lipram!  I'll ask my doctor about it.  The reason I want to reduce my reliance on these meds is simply the exhorbitant cost.