CREON FAQs

CREON is a prescription medicine used to treat people with EPI (exocrine pancreatic insufficiency), a condition that occurs when the pancreas does not release enough enzymes to digest food normally.

CREON contains a mixture of digestive enzymes:

• Lipases — break down fats
• Proteases — break down proteins
• Amylases — break down carbohydrates (sugars)

Your doctor will prescribe a specific CREON dose based on things like your body weight and diet. CREON comes in 5 different dosing strengths: 3,000, 6,000, 12,000, 24,000, and 36,000. Don't be alarmed by these high dosing strength numbers. A healthy pancreas actually releases on average 720,000 lipase units during every meal. Your doctor will determine the dosing strength that best fits your needs. The CREON dose your doctor prescribes should always be taken with food. When eating snacks, you typically need half the dose used for meals.  

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, bananas, or plain Greek yogurt. Drink enough liquid to make sure the medicine is swallowed completely. Ask your doctor about other foods you can mix with CREON. Do not store CREON that has been mixed with food. 

Your doctor will provide you with instructions on how much CREON to take for both meals and snacks. When eating snacks, you typically need half the dose used for meals. If you have questions, it's important to ask your doctor. 

If you miss a dose, call your doctor or wait until your next meal or snack to take your usual number of capsules. Take your next dose at your usual time and do not make up for missed doses. Your dose should not be doubled. 

CREON needs to be taken with every meal and snack to work as expected. The digestive enzymes in CREON need to mix with food and enter the stomach and the small intestine at the same time.  

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).
• Your doctor may change your dose based on the amount of fatty foods you eat or based on your weight.

The most common side effects include increased blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia) or decreased blood sugar levels (hypoglycemia), pain in your stomach area, frequent or abnormal bowel movements, gas, vomiting, dizziness, or sore throat and cough. Always carefully discuss the risks and benefits of CREON with your doctor. 

• Store CREON at room temperature, 59°F to 77°F (15°C to 25°C). Avoid heat.
• You may store CREON at a temperature between 77°F and 104°F (25°C to 40°C) for up to 30 days. Throw away any CREON that has been 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. If there is a moisture-absorbing packet (desiccant) in the bottle, keep it in the bottle. Do not eat it or throw it away.
• Keep CREON and all medicines out of the reach of children.

CREON is often covered by Medicare Part D. Contact your Medicare Part D insurance provider to find out if CREON is covered under your particular insurance policy.

If you have additional questions about CREON, please call 1-800-633-9110 for assistance or visit AbbVieMedInfo.com for further information.