QUESTION: I have a patient with chronic pancreatitis who I’ve been administering regular Myers IVs to, which has worked wonders. I have considered the idea of doing IV curcumin to reduce inflammation and prevent cancer. However, the best form based on your monograph is to use a dextrose solution with the liposomal form of curcumin. My concern is using dextrose in a patient with chronic pancreatitis. What are your thoughts on this? Is it safe or best to avoid and use the water-soluble form instead?
ANSWER:
The “best” form listed is the “true solution” which is an emulsion and can go in NS or D5.
Nobody makes a liposomal curcumin (currently) that I would ever use. I repeat, although theoretically it is a great idea there are no well-made Liposomal IV Curcumin in North America and I do not recommend them. (Maybe you have a very old monograph? – we have the most current on the website)
In the US you can get a solution (emulsion) which is the only one I use.
In Canada the analog is the “water soluble” solution which isn’t an emulsion but as close as we can get.
For inflammation doses only need to be 300-500 mg per so that makes it much easier.
Safety first so yes avoid D5 in Pancreatitis unless you know it is tolerated, but the monograph also states to verify the carrier with the pharmacy as the “final word” on which carrier to use.