 is a prescription medication used to replace enzymes normally produced by the pancreas. Cystic fibrosis, chronic pancreatitis (swollen pancreas), or pancreatectomy (removal of some or all of the pancreas) can cause a lack of these enzymes that help your body digest food. Creon contains a mixture of 3 enzymes from the glands of pigs.This medication comes in capsule form and is taken before each meal. Do not crush or chew Creon capsules.Common side effects of Creon include nausea, vomiting, and mild stomach... "Pin It")
Creon Overview
Creon (generic: pancrelipase) is a prescription medication used to replace enzymes normally produced by the pancreas. Cystic fibrosis, chronic pancreatitis (swollen pancreas), or pancreatectomy (removal of some or all of the pancreas) can cause a lack of these enzymes that help your body digest food. Creon contains a mixture of 3 enzymes from the glands of pigs.
This medication comes in capsule form and is taken before each meal. Do not crush or chew Creon capsules.
Common side effects of Creon include nausea, vomiting, and mild stomach pain.
Uses of Creon
Creon is a prescription medicine used to treat people who cannot digest food normally because their pancreas does not make enough enzymes due to cystic fibrosis, swelling of the pancreas that lasts a long time (chronic pancreatitis), removal of some or all of the pancreas (pancreatectomy), or other conditions.
This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
Side Effects of Creon
Creon may cause serious side effects, including:
- See “Drug Precautions”.
- Irritation of the inside of your mouth. This can happen if Creon is not swallowed completely.
- Increase in blood uric acid levels. This may cause worsening of swollen, painful joints (gout) caused by an increase in your blood uric acid levels.
- Allergic reactions, including trouble with breathing, skin rashes, or swollen lips.
Call your doctor right away if you have any of these symptoms.
The most common side effects of Creon include:
- Blood sugar increase (hyperglycemia) or decrease (hypoglycemia)
- Pain in your stomach (abdominal area)
- Frequent or abnormal bowel movements
- Gas
- Vomiting
- Dizziness
- Sore throat and cough
Other Possible Side Effects:
Creon and other pancreatic enzyme products are made from the pancreas of pigs, the same pigs people eat as pork. These pigs may carry viruses. Although it has never been reported, it may be possible for a person to get a viral infection from taking pancreatic enzyme products that come from pigs.
Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.
These are not all the side effects of Creon. For more information, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Creon Interactions
No Creon drug interactions have been identified, however, you should tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Not all drug interactions are known or reported and new drug interactions are continually being reported.
Creon Precautions
Creon may increase your chance of having a rare bowel disorder called fibrosing colonopathy. This condition is serious and may require surgery. The risk of having this condition may be reduced by following the dosing instructions that your doctor gave you. Call your doctor right away if you have any unusual or severe:
- stomach area (abdominal) pain
- bloating
- trouble passing stool (having bowel movements)
- nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
Take Creon exactly as prescribed. Do not take more or less Creon than directed by your doctor.
Creon Food Interactions
Medicines can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods. In the case of Creon there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when receiving Creon.
Inform MD
Before taking Creon, tell your doctor about all your medical conditions, including if you:
- are allergic to pork (pig) products
- have a history of intestinal blockage of your intestines, or scarring or thickening of your bowel wall (fibrosing colonopathy)
- have gout, kidney disease, or high blood uric acid (hyperuricemia)
- have trouble swallowing capsules
- have any other medical condition
- are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
- are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.
Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
Creon and Pregnancy
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if Creon will harm your unborn baby.
Creon and Lactation
Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if Creon passes into your breast milk.
Creon Usage
- Take Creon exactly as your doctor tells you.
- You should not switch Creon with any other pancreatic enzyme product without first talking to your doctor.
- Do not take more capsules in a day than the number your doctor tells you to take (total daily dose).
- Always take Creon with a meal or snack and enough liquid to swallow Creon completely. If you eat a lot of meals or snacks in a day, be careful not to go over your total daily dose.
- Your doctor may change your dose based on the amount of fatty foods you eat or based on your weight.
- Do not crush or chew Creon capsules or its contents, and do not hold the capsule or capsule contents in your mouth. Crushing, chewing or holding the Creon capsules in your mouth may cause irritation in your mouth or change the way Creon works in your body.
Giving Creon to infants (children up to 12 months)
- Give Creon right before each feeding of formula or breast milk.
- Do not mix Creon capsule contents directly into formula or breast milk.
- Open the capsules and sprinkle the contents directly into your infant's mouth or mix the contents in a small amount of room temperature acidic soft food such as applesauce. These foods should be the kind found in baby food jars that you buy at the store, or other food recommended by your doctor.
- If you sprinkle the Creon on food, give the Creon and food mixture to your child right away. Do not store Creon that is mixed with food.
- Give your child enough liquid to completely swallow the Creon contents or the Creon and food mixture.
- Look in your child's mouth to make sure that all of the medicine has been swallowed.
Giving Creon to children and adults
- Swallow Creon capsules whole and take them with enough liquid to swallow them right away.
- If you have trouble swallowing capsules, open the capsules and sprinkle the contents on a small amount of room temperature acidic food such as applesauce. Ask your doctor about other foods you can mix with Creon.
- If you sprinkle Creon on food, swallow it right after you mix it and drink enough water or juice to make sure the medicine is swallowed completely. Do not store Creon that is mixed with food.
- If you forget to take Creon, call your doctor or wait until your next meal and take your usual number of capsules. Take your next dose at your usual time. Do not make up for missed doses.
Creon Dosage
Take Creon exactly as prescribed. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully. The dose needed will vary between individuals. Your doctor may start you on a low dose of Creon and gradually increase your dose depending on your needs.
Creon Overdose
If you take too much Creon, call your local Poison Control Center or seek emergency medical attention right away.
Forms of Creon
Active Ingredient: lipase, protease, amylase
Inactive Ingredients: cetyl alcohol, dimethicone, hypromellose phthalate, polyethylene glycol, and triethyl citrate.
The shells of the Creon 6,000 USP units of lipase, 12,000 USP units of lipase, and 24,000 USP units of lipase strengths contain: gelatin, red iron oxide, sodium lauryl sulfate, titanium dioxide, and yellow iron oxide.
In addition:
The shells for the Creon 3,000 USP units of lipase contain titanium dioxide and hypromellose.
The shells of the 6,000 USP units of lipase strength capsules contain FD&C Blue No. 2.
The shells of the 12,000 USP units of lipase strength capsules contain black iron oxide.
Other Requirements
- Store Creon at room temperature below 77°F (25°C). Avoid heat.
- You may store Creon at a temperature between 77°F to 104°F (25°C to 40°C) for up to 30 days. Throw away any Creon stored at these temperatures for more than 30 days.
- Keep Creon in a dry place and in the original container.
- After opening the bottle, keep it closed tightly between uses to protect from moisture.
Keep Creon and all medicines out of the reach of children.
