Creon: Ingredients, uses, dosage and side effects

Posted by Pharmacist Quang Anh Nguyet - Faculty of Pharmacy - Vinmec Central Park International General Hospital

Ingredients: Each Creon capsule contains 300mg of Pancreatin (pancreatin powder, prepared from the pancreatic tissue of pigs, containing digestive enzymes in the pancreas, corresponding to 18000 units of amylase, 25000 units of lipase, 1000 units of insulin).
Uses:
Protease has the effect of hydrolysing protein, helping to reduce the risk of intolerance reactions to some foods such as protein in meat and casein (from milk) Lipase helps separate fats into fatty acids It promotes better-than-normal fat digestion in people with pancreatic disease.Even if it's not known whether or not there is a pancreatic disorder, Lipase supplementation will still provide benefits to the body. In addition, lipase helps facilitate the absorption of important fat-soluble nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D, vitamin K, lutein, and gamma tocopherol (vitamin E). starch and glycogen, forming simple substrates such as glucose and maltose.

Indications:
Insufficiency of the exocrine pancreas (common in cystic fibrosis) Pancreatitis Pancreatectomy Gastric resection Pancreatic cancer After gastrointestinal anastomosis Pancreatic/bile duct obstruction Shwachman-Diamond syndrome

Cystic fibrosis: Start with 1,000 lipase units/kg/meal (children < 4 years old), 500 lipase units/kg/meal (children > 4 years old); Adjust dose according to severity of disease, control of steatorrhea, and maintenance of good nutritional status (a dose of 10,000 lipase units/kg/day or 4,000 lipase units/gram fat intake is usually sufficient).
Exocrine pancreatic deficiency : Determine dose according to degree of indigestion and dietary fat content: 25,000-80,000 units of lipase for main meal and half of individual patient dose for snack.

Very common: Abdominal pain Common: Nausea, vomiting, constipation, unusual abdominal fullness (distention), diarrhea Uncommon: Rash Frequency not known: Colonic fibrosis (narrowing of the colon wall), urticaria, anaphylactic shock

Published studies from case reports have not shown an association between this drug and major reproductive abnormalities, miscarriage, or adverse effects on the mother or the fetus. There are no similar studies in animals. The FDA safety rating for this drug in pregnancy is C. It should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit outweighs the potential risk to the fetus.
Animal studies do not indicate systemic exposure of nursing mothers to pancreatic enzymes. The secretion of pancreatic enzymes into breast milk is not known. The drug can be used by lactating women.
If Creon is used during pregnancy and lactation, adequate doses should be used for nutritional response.

How to take:
Take the tablet whole (do not crush/chew) with enough water during or after each main meal or snack. For young children, the elderly, people with difficulty swallowing: Open the cap of the tablet, pour the microcapsules into a small amount of soft food or acidic liquid drink (pH<5.5) and drink immediately, should not be kept for a long time. Contraindications: Hypersensitivity to any ingredient of the drug
Vinmec International General Hospital with a system of facilities, modern medical equipment and a team of experts and doctors with many years of experience in the field. For medical examination and treatment, patients can rest assured that they will be examined and treated at the Hospital.

References: Micromedex, FDA.gov