Drug-induced hyperlipasemia refers to an elevation of lipase attributed to a medication or other drug exposure. Importantly, this does not indicate pancreatitis, as pancreatitis requires 2 of 3 criteria: (1) lipase over 3 times the upper limit of normal, (2) imaging findings suggestive of pancreatitis, and (3) clinical examination consistent with pancreatitis.

Narcotics, thiazide diuretics, oral contraceptives, adrenocorticotropic hormone, and cholinergics are commonly associated with hyperlipasemia. For a list of medications associated with drug-induced hyperlipasemia, see Drug Reaction Data below.

Benign lipasemia will be asymptomatic. If lipase is elevated in the setting of drug-induced pancreatitis, patients will often present with nausea, emesis, and mid-epigastric abdominal pain radiating to the back.