Secretin Drug Interactions, Uses, Effectiveness, Safety & More
What is this page for?
First and foremost: how Secretin interacts with medications. The heart of this page is the interaction list — every drug Secretin is known to interact with, and how serious each one is.
But these pages have grown well beyond that into a full monograph — what Secretin is, what people use it for and how strong the evidence is, its safety and side effects, and answers to the questions we’re asked most — written and reviewed by the clinical staff at HelloPharmacist. It’s educational information from our licensed clinical databases, not medical advice, and we don’t sell or endorse products. Our editorial policy
Check Secretin against your medication
Add one medicationDrugs that interact with Secretin
0 medications have a known interaction with Secretin, graded by severity. Select any drug for the full evidence-based detail.
We don’t currently list any known drug interactions for Secretin. This doesn’t guarantee none exist — always confirm with your pharmacist before combining supplements with your medications.
What Severity, Likelihood & Evidence Mean
Severity — How Serious It Can Be
- Major. Clinically significant; generally best avoided, or used only under direct professional supervision.
- Moderate. May need monitoring, a dose adjustment, or separating the times you take each one.
- Minor. Generally not clinically significant, but still worth noting and mentioning to your pharmacist.
- No known interaction. Checked against our sources with nothing documented — not the same as proven safety.
Likelihood — How Well It’s Documented
- Likely. Well-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction
- Probable. Interaction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
- Possible. Interaction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists
- Unlikely. Interaction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.
Where This Data Comes From
- Interaction records are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database (TRC Healthcare), the same reference used by pharmacists and hospitals.
- Each drug listed above links to the full report for that exact Secretin combination — clinical detail, likelihood, evidence level, and citations.
- Content is reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists — see our data sources and editorial standards.
Secretin: Uses, Safety & Side Effects
Secretin is a natural digestive hormone, not a typical dietary supplement. As a medicine it is an FDA-approved injectable used mainly for diagnostic tests of the pancreas, and it must be given by a healthcare professional. Despite past interest, there is strong evidence that secretin does NOT help autism, and it should never be self-administered.
- Part used
- Hormone produced naturally in the small intestine; pharmaceutical versions are made synthetically or from animal sources
- Common forms
- Injectable solution (prescription, used in medical settings)
- Diagnostic testing of pancreas function
- Diagnosing gastrinoma (Zollinger-Ellison syndrome)
- Aiding pancreatic imaging procedures
- Investigational use in autism (not proven)
Popular and traditional uses — not proof it works. See “Uses & effectiveness” below for the evidence.
Secretin is a prescription injectable given only by trained healthcare providers, not a self-care supplement.
Insufficient reliable information available; avoid using.
Read the full pregnancy detailInsufficient reliable information available; avoid using.
Read the full breastfeeding detailPregnancy & breastfeeding ratings are from Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center). Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.
Overview
Secretin is a hormone your body makes naturally. It is produced by special cells in the lining of the small intestine (the duodenum) when acidic food leaves the stomach. Once released, it signals the pancreas and liver to help with digestion.
Secretin is not a plant or an herb, and it is not a typical over-the-counter dietary supplement. The version used in medicine is a man-made (synthetic) hormone given as an injection. In the United States it is an FDA-approved prescription product used by doctors during certain diagnostic tests.
Because it is a hormone given by injection in a clinical setting, secretin is very different from the herbs and supplements people buy at a store.
How it works
Secretin works as a chemical messenger in the digestive system. When acid from the stomach reaches the small intestine, cells there release secretin into the bloodstream.
Secretin then signals the pancreas to release a watery fluid rich in bicarbonate. Bicarbonate is a base that neutralizes stomach acid, creating a better environment for digestive enzymes to work. Secretin also affects the liver and helps reduce stomach acid production.
In diagnostic tests, doctors give secretin to stimulate the pancreas on purpose. They then measure the response (such as fluid or hormone levels) to see whether the pancreas is healthy or whether a tumor or other problem is present.
Does Secretin work?
How to read these evidence grades
Natural Medicines’ 7-point scale. We show each rating’s label word-for-word.
Likely Ineffective Autism spectrum disorder
Administering secretin intravenously doesn't improve symptoms of autism or pervasive developmental disorder. There have been some anecdotal and preliminary reports showing subjective improvement in gastrointestinal function, social and behavioral function, and language skills after single infusions of secretin. However, evidence from clinical studies shows that secretin, as both synthetic human and porcine-derived preparations, is no better than placebo for any outcome measure associated with autism spectrum disorder when given in single or repeated doses.
Also studied for 3 conditions — evidence insufficient to rate
Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Dyspepsia
A small clinical trial in patients with functional dyspepsia shows that intravenous synthetic secretin 0.2 mcg/kg delays gastric emptying of a liquid drink (Ensure, Abbott Laboratories) by approximately 8% at 30 minutes. There was no effect on satiation, gastric accommodation, postprandial symptoms of fullness, nausea, bloating, or abdominal pain, or blood levels of hormones involved in the use and metabolism of nutrients.
Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Pancreatitis
Some preliminary clinical research shows that administration of a depot formulation of secretin might reduce pain in patients with chronic recurrent pancreatitis when compared to baseline. However, other preliminary clinical research in adults with chronic pancreatitis shows that intravenous administration of secretin daily for 3 days does not improve pain or reduce the use of analgesic medications when compared to baseline. The validity of these findings is limited by the small size of these trials and the lack of a comparator group.
Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Schizophrenia
A small clinical study in patients with refractory schizophrenia shows that receiving a single infusion of porcine secretin does not improve symptoms when compared with placebo.
Source & disclaimer. Effectiveness ratings and evidence summaries are provided by Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center) and shown as licensed. Where Natural Medicines hasn’t rated a use, HelloPharmacist’s pharmacists may add their own reviewed rating and evidence (each such entry is labeled). This is educational information, not medical advice — talk with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or changing a supplement.
Safety & precautions
Secretin should only be given by a trained healthcare professional in a medical setting. It is not something you can or should buy and use on your own. Self-injecting hormones can be dangerous.
People with certain conditions, including some pancreatic diseases or a history of allergic reactions, may need extra caution. Your medical team will decide whether testing with secretin is appropriate for you.
For pregnancy and breastfeeding, there is not enough reliable information to call secretin safe. If a diagnostic test is being considered, tell your doctor if you are pregnant, might be pregnant, or are nursing, so they can weigh the risks and benefits. When safety is unclear, it is best to avoid use unless a doctor decides it is truly needed.
Always talk with your pharmacist or doctor before any procedure that involves secretin.
Side effects
Because secretin is given during short medical tests, side effects are usually brief. Some people may feel nausea, abdominal discomfort, flushing, or a temporary change in heart rate or blood pressure.
More rarely, secretin can cause an allergic reaction. Signs may include rash, itching, swelling, trouble breathing, or feeling faint. Because the test is done in a clinical setting, providers can monitor you and treat any reaction quickly.
If you have had any reaction during a previous secretin test, tell your healthcare team before another one.
Secretin: Reported Adverse Effects
Documented safety reports on Secretin from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database, shown word-for-word from the licensed record.
Intravenously, the most common adverse reaction to secretin is flushing of the face, neck, and chest immediately after infusion. Less common potential adverse effects are vomiting, diarrhea, fainting, venous thrombosis, fever, and tachycardia. Some patients can have allergic reactions including urticaria, erythema, and anaphylaxis. Because of the potential for these hypersensitivity reactions, a 0.1 mL test dose is often administered prior to giving a full dose. Secretin has also been linked with pancreatitis and aspiration pneumonia.
- Secretin for the treatment of autism. Pharmacist's Letter/Prescriber's Letter 1998;14(12):141212.
- Roberts W, Weaver L, Brian J, et al. Repeated doses of porcine secretin in the treatment of autism: A randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Pediatrics 2001;107:e71.
- McEvoy GK, ed. AHFS Drug Information. Bethesda, MD: American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, 1998.
- Law R, Vargo JJ, Stevens T. Acute pancreatitis and aspiration pneumonia after administration of synthetic human secretin (with video). Gastrointest Endosc. 2011;74(5):1166-8.
Diarrhea Gastrointestinal
Intravenously, secretin might cause abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Secretin has also been linked with the development of pancreatitis.
- Secretin for the treatment of autism. Pharmacist's Letter/Prescriber's Letter 1998;14(12):141212.
- Roberts W, Weaver L, Brian J, et al. Repeated doses of porcine secretin in the treatment of autism: A randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Pediatrics 2001;107:e71.
- Brandler J, Miller LJ, Wang XJ, et al. Secretin effects on gastric functions, hormones and symptoms in functional dyspepsia and health: randomized crossover trial. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 2020;318(4):G635-G645.
- Law R, Vargo JJ, Stevens T. Acute pancreatitis and aspiration pneumonia after administration of synthetic human secretin (with video). Gastrointest Endosc. 2011;74(5):1166-8.
Erythema Immunologic
Intravenously, secretin might cause allergic reactions including urticaria, erythema, and anaphylaxis. Because of the potential for these hypersensitivity reactions, a 0.1 mL test dose is often administered prior to giving a full dose.
- Roberts W, Weaver L, Brian J, et al. Repeated doses of porcine secretin in the treatment of autism: A randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Pediatrics 2001;107:e71.
Irregular heartbeat Cardiovascular
Intravenously, secretin might cause venous thrombosis and tachycardia in rare cases.
- Secretin for the treatment of autism. Pharmacist's Letter/Prescriber's Letter 1998;14(12):141212.
- Roberts W, Weaver L, Brian J, et al. Repeated doses of porcine secretin in the treatment of autism: A randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Pediatrics 2001;107:e71.
Niacin-induced flushing Other
Intravenously, the most common adverse reaction to secretin is flushing of the face, neck, and chest immediately after infusion.
- Secretin for the treatment of autism. Pharmacist's Letter/Prescriber's Letter 1998;14(12):141212.
- Roberts W, Weaver L, Brian J, et al. Repeated doses of porcine secretin in the treatment of autism: A randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Pediatrics 2001;107:e71.
Pneumonia Pulmonary/Respiratory
Intravenously, secretin has also been linked with the development of aspiration pneumonia.
Adverse-effects data: Natural Medicines, Therapeutic Research Center
Dosing
There is no general supplement dose for secretin because it is not used as a supplement. It is a prescription injectable, and the dose is calculated by your healthcare provider based on your body and the specific test being done.
You should never try to obtain or self-administer secretin. Dosing, timing, and monitoring are all handled by trained medical staff during a procedure. If you have questions, ask the pharmacist or doctor managing your care.
Secretin & Pregnancy
Secretin & Breastfeeding
© 2026 Therapeutic Research Center
Pregnancy & lactation ratings: Natural Medicines, Therapeutic Research Center
References & further reading
The 14 references that drive our Secretin monograph and interaction data, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Citations with a link open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.
- McEvoy GK, ed. AHFS Drug Information. Bethesda, MD: American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, 1998.
- Horvath K, Stefatos G, Sokolski KN. Improved social and language skills after secretin administration. J Assoc Acad Minor Phys 1998;9:9-15.
- Tympner F, Rosch W. The treatment of chronic recurrent pancreatitis with depot secretin-a preliminary report. Hepatogastroenterology 1986;33:159-62.
- Coniglio SJ, Lewis JD, Lang C, et al. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of single-dose intravenous secretin as treatment for children with autism. J Pediatr 2001;138:649-55. PubMed
- Secretin for the treatment of autism. Pharmacist's Letter/Prescriber's Letter 1998;14(12):141212.
- Sandler AD, Sutton KA, DeWeese J, et al. Lack of benefit of a single dose of synthetic human secretin in the treatment of autism and pervasive developmental disorder. N Engl J Med 1999;341(24):1801-6. PubMed
- Lightdale JR, Hayer C, Duer A, et al. Effects of intravenous secretin on language and behavior of children with autism and gastrointestinal symptoms: a single-blinded, open-label pilot study. Pediatrics 2001;108:90. PubMed
- Roberts W, Weaver L, Brian J, et al. Repeated doses of porcine secretin in the treatment of autism: A randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Pediatrics 2001;107:e71. PubMed
- Honomichl RD, Goodlin-Jones BL, Burnham MM, Hansen RL, Anders TF. Secretin and sleep in children with autism. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev. 2002;33(2):107-23. PubMed
- Law R, Vargo JJ, Stevens T. Acute pancreatitis and aspiration pneumonia after administration of synthetic human secretin (with video). Gastrointest Endosc. 2011;74(5):1166-8. PubMed
- Sheitman BB, Knable MB, Jarskog LF, et al. Secretin for refractory schizophrenia. Schizophr Res. 2004;66(2-3):177-81. PubMed
- Levenick JM, Andrews CL, Purich ED, Gordon SR, Gardner TB. A phase II trial of human secretin infusion for refractory type B pain in chronic pancreatitis. Pancreas. 2013;42(4):596-600. PubMed
- Williams K, Wray JA, Wheeler DM. Intravenous secretin for autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012;2012(4):CD003495. PubMed
- Brandler J, Miller LJ, Wang XJ, et al. Secretin effects on gastric functions, hormones and symptoms in functional dyspepsia and health: randomized crossover trial. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 2020;318(4):G635-G645. PubMed
This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.
Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.
DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.
© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC
Secretin: Common Questions
What is Secretin used for, and does it work?
Does Secretin interact with prescription medications?
How are Secretin interactions rated?
Is it safe to take Secretin with my medications?
Where does this Secretin interaction information come from?
Is Secretin a dietary supplement I can buy?
Does Secretin help with autism?
What is Secretin actually used for?
Is Secretin safe during pregnancy or breastfeeding?
Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy
Have a question about Secretin?
Our pharmacists answer your medication & supplement questions — free.