Side Effects of Trypsin-Chymotrypsin Combination for Lumbar Disc Prolapse
Based on the available evidence, trypsin-chymotrypsin (Chymoral) appears to have minimal side effects when taken three times daily for two months, though the clinical benefit for lumbar disc prolapse is questionable at best.
Evidence Quality and Clinical Efficacy
The only identified study examining this specific intervention found that Chymoral demonstrated "little better than placebo" efficacy for lumbar disc prolapse 1. In this double-blind randomized trial of 93 patients, those receiving Chymoral showed only modest improvements in straight-leg raising and required fewer analgesics, but no differences were apparent in other clinical parameters, and similar numbers from both groups required further therapy 1.
Reported Side Effects
The 1975 randomized controlled trial did not report any specific adverse effects or safety concerns associated with Chymoral use over the treatment period 1. This absence of reported adverse events in the published literature suggests the medication was generally well-tolerated, though the lack of explicit safety data reporting is a limitation.
Clinical Context and Alternative Approaches
Given the minimal evidence supporting trypsin-chymotrypsin for lumbar disc prolapse, consider these evidence-based alternatives:
Conservative management remains first-line: The natural course of disc prolapse with radiculopathy is generally favorable, with improvement within the first 4 weeks under conservative therapy 2.
Staying active is preferred over bed rest for acute disc prolapse 2.
Surgical discectomy provides faster relief from acute attacks than conservative management for carefully selected patients with sciatica due to lumbar disc prolapse, though effects on lifetime natural history remain unclear 3, 4, 5.
Clinical Recommendation
While trypsin-chymotrypsin appears safe for short-term use based on limited evidence, its clinical benefit for lumbar disc prolapse is not substantially better than placebo 1. The two-month duration you're considering exceeds the typical 4-week timeframe in which most patients with disc prolapse show improvement with conservative therapy 2. If symptoms persist beyond 4-6 weeks despite conservative measures, consider referral for specialist evaluation rather than prolonged use of marginally effective treatments 2.