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See results of a survey of people who tube feed conducted by Alcresta and the Oley Foundation #

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Frequently Asked Questions

RELiZORB is indicated for use in pediatric (including neonates and infants) and adult patients to hydrolyze fats during enteral feeding.

What is RELiZORB?

RELiZORB is a digestive enzyme cartridge that contains the enzyme lipase. RELiZORB is used with tube feeding to help break down the fats in enteral nutrition, including pasteurized human milk and infant and enteral formulas. Lipase is an enyzme that is normally made in the body to break down (digest) fats (triglycerides) into absorbable forms (fatty acids and monoglycerides). The lipase enzyme used in RELiZORB is attached to small white beads (iLipase®), which are visible through the side of the cartridge.

 

What does RELiZORB do?

Properly breaking down (digesting) and absorbing fats is important for normal growth and development. RELiZORB contains a digestive enzyme called lipase that breaks down fats in enteral nutrition into an absorbable form as the enteral nutrition passes through the RELiZORB cartridge.

 

How can RELiZORB help with tube feedings?

Some people may have trouble digesting the fats in enteral nutrition. In clinical studies, RELiZORB was shown to increase the amount of fat the body absorbs from enteral nutrition, including pasteurized human milk and infant and enteral formulas, particularly omega-3 fatty acids.

 

Why doesn’t enteral formula contain absorbable fats?

Fats that are broken down into their absorbable form are not stable and spoil quickly. Therefore, infant and enteral formulas are made with fat in triglyceride form, which does not spoil as quickly but also is not absorbable by the body. RELiZORB breaks down the fats into absorbable forms (fatty acids and monoglycerides) during tube feeding.

 

How does RELiZORB connect to a tube-feeding setup?

RELiZORB is easy to use. It quickly connects in-line directly to your feeding tube. RELiZORB attaches after the tube-feeding pump connector and before the connection to the port. See Instructions for Use for full information on product setup and use.

Learn more in the RELiZORB Patient Guide.

 

What pumps can be used with RELiZORB?

RELiZORB must be used with enteral tube-feeding pumps that have low-flow/no-flow alarms or with an enteral push syringe or gravity syringe. A list of pumps tested with RELiZORB can be found here.

 

Can RELiZORB be used with human milk? 

Yes. RELiZORB has been evaluated for use with pasteurized human milk and has been shown to efficiently hydrolyze (digest) fats into absorbable fatty acids and monoglycerides.

 

What enteral nutrition can be used with RELiZORB?

RELiZORB has been evaluated for use with several infant and enteral formulas and pasteurized human milk. A list of enteral nutrition types that are compatible with RELiZORB can be found here.

 

How much enteral nutrition can each RELiZORB cartridge be used with?

The volume of enteral nutrition that can be used with RELiZORB is dependent on your feeding setup. See the different feeding setups and corresponding feeding volumes here, or read the full Instructions for Use for RELiZORB.

 

Can medicines be added to tube feeding?

If medications need to be added to a tube-feeding line, they must be added to the line after RELiZORB. Medicines or saline flushes may be added to the side port of a Y-connector extension set located between RELiZORB and the patient.

Do not place medicines in the enteral tube-feeding bag or anywhere else before the RELiZORB cartridge. Passing medicines through RELiZORB may change how the medicine works or how RELiZORB breaks down fats. If you accidentally add medicines or flush solutions before RELiZORB, then the RELiZORB cartridge and all tubing and enteral nutrition must be thrown away. You may restart the feeding using a new RELiZORB cartridge and feeding set.

 

Can RELiZORB be used more than once?

No. Do not reuse RELiZORB. Each RELiZORB cartridge should only be used once. At the end of the feeding, throw away the RELiZORB cartridge. RELiZORB may not break down fats properly if it is reused.

 

How many RELiZORB cartridges can be used in a day?

Infant, pediatric, and adult patients over 6 months of age can use up to six (6) cartridges in a 24-hour period. Neonates and infants 6 months of age and younger can use 2 cartridges within the same time frame. Those over 6 months old can use 2 RELiZORB cartridges in a tandem configuration or space out the timing of their use.

Learn more in the RELiZORB Patient Guide.

Is RELiZORB covered by health insurance? 

A RELiZORB Support Services case manager will work with your insurance provider to help determine whether RELiZORB is covered by your health insurance. 

 

What if my insurance provider does not cover RELiZORB? 

If your insurance plan has denied coverage for RELiZORB, reach out to a RELiZORB Support Services case manager at 1-844-632-9271 or email [email protected].


How will I get RELiZORB? 

RELiZORB is available by prescription only. Your prescription for RELiZORB can only be filled through a specialty pharmacy. Your doctor will submit your prescription to RELiZORB Support Services (RSS). A case manager will contact you to schedule a welcome call, at which time they will verify your information and provide an overview of RSS, which includes insurance approval coordination, review of anticipated out-of-pocket costs, and setup of RELiZORB delivery.

 

How do I refill my RELiZORB prescription? 

To refill a RELiZORB prescription, please call a RELiZORB Support Services case manager at 1-844-632-9271 or email [email protected], and they will provide the contact information for the specialty pharmacy that can dispense the product. You can also contact the specialty pharmacy directly for your refill. 

 

What if I can’t afford the co-pay for RELiZORB? 

For eligible patients with commercial health insurance, the RELiZORB Out-of-Pocket Assistance Program assists with out-of-pocket expenses, which can include co-pays, coinsurance, or deductibles. 

Enrollment in the program is subject to confirmation of eligibility. RELiZORB Support Services will review your commercial health insurance benefits, and if you are eligible, you will be enrolled in the program. 

 

How do I reach a RELiZORB Support Services case manager? 

Call RELiZORB Support Services at 1-844-632-9271 or email support​​​​​​​@relizorbsupport.com. 

 

What if I have questions about RELiZORB? 

RELiZORB Support Services can help with information and resources that can help address questions you may have. Call 1-844-632-9271 or email [email protected]. 

RELiZORB is indicated for use in pediatric (including neonates and infants) and adult patients to hydrolyze fats during enteral feeding.

Warnings
  • RELiZORB is for use with enteral tube feeding only.
See more
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RELiZORB is indicated for use in pediatric (including neonates and infants) and adult patients to hydrolyze fats during enteral feeding.

Warnings
  • RELiZORB is for use with enteral tube feeding only.
  • RELiZORB should not be connected to any intravenous (IV) line, setup, or system.
  • Medications should not be administered through the RELiZORB cartridge. Do not add medications to the enteral nutrition or tubing before RELiZORB. The passage of medications through RELiZORB may adversely affect the medications or the ability of RELiZORB to hydrolyze fats.
  • Fibrosing Colonopathy - Fibrosing colonopathy is a rare, serious adverse reaction associated with high-dose use of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy in the treatment of patients with cystic fibrosis. The underlying mechanism of fibrosing colonopathy remains unknown. Patients with fibrosing colonopathy should be closely monitored because some patients may be at risk of progressing to stricture formation. RELiZORB contains lipase enzyme that is not from a porcine source. The lipase is bound to the beads, and this lipase-bead complex (iLipase) is retained within the RELiZORB cartridge. Continue to follow your physician’s guidance and porcine pancreatic enzyme labeling regarding porcine pancreatic enzyme use when used in conjunction with RELiZORB.
Cautions and Precautions
  • Do not re-use RELiZORB. RELiZORB is a single-use product. Re-use may result in contamination of the product. If re-used, RELiZORB may not effectively hydrolyze fats.
  • Do not break, alter, or place excess pressure on any part of RELiZORB. Any compromise of the structural integrity of RELiZORB may lead to improper connection to enteral feeding supplies, leakage or risk of contamination.
  • Do not use RELiZORB after the date marked on the pouch.
  • Enteral nutrition administered through RELiZORB is for immediate consumption through an enteral feeding tube. RELiZORB should not be used to process enteral nutrition for later use. This has not been tested and may result in safety issues.
  • RELiZORB is designed for use with enteral feeding pump systems with low flow/no flow alarms and enteral syringes for manual bolus by syringe (push or gravity). A detailed listing of enteral nutrition, pumps, and enteral feeding supplies compatible with RELiZORB can be found at www.relizorb.com/compatibility.
  • Patients less than 1 year old may be particularly vulnerable to unplanned interruptions of feeding.
  • Do not use blenderized formulas with RELiZORB. A detailed listing of enteral nutrition compatible with RELiZORB can be found at www.relizorb.com/compatibility.
  • Powdered formulas should be mixed periodically during feedings.
  • Do not use excessive force on the plunger when using RELiZORB with bolus syringe feeding method.
  • Do not rush bolus feeds. Follow guidance from your healthcare professional on how long it should take you to complete your tube feeding. Ensure all inlet and outlet connectors on RELiZORB and enteral feeding supplies are clean and dry prior to making connections.
  • In order to ensure product performance, store RELiZORB in its pouch either refrigerated or at room temperature (2°C to 27°C; 36°F to 80°F).
  • RELiZORB is indicated for use with enteral feeding only; patients should follow physician’s guidance for pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT) use for meals and snacks. Patients and patient caregivers should follow physician’s guidance regarding the need for pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT) during enteral feeding.

Review full product information for RELiZORB in the Instructions for Use.