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Mechanism of Action

See how CREON works

CREON is a pancrelipase that replaces enzymes that are normally secreted by the pancreas. CREON is
formulated to deliver enzymes to the duodenum where the pH is the most conducive to enzymatic activity.
Instruct your patients to always take CREON with food. CREON should not be crushed or chewed.¹

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CREON should be taken during meals or snacks.

Along with food, the CREON capsules enter the stomach.

Capsule releases enteric-coated spheres sized between 0.7 and 1.6 mm in diameter.

Enteric coating allows the spheres to travel beyond the low pH of the stomach through the pylorus, releasing enzymes into the duodenum and the small intestine when the pH is ≥5.5.

CREON enteric-coated spheres dissolve in the duodenum and the small intestine, releasing pancreatic enzymes to mix with food.

In the duodenum and the small intestine, these enzymes work to break down fats, proteins, and carbohydrates in food.

CREON should be taken during meals or snacks.

Along with food, the CREON capsules enter the stomach.

Stomach with CREON and food after swallowing

Capsule releases enteric-coated spheres sized between 0.7 and 1.6 mm in diameter.

CREON moving through the stomach into intestines

Enteric coating allows the spheres to travel beyond the low pH of the stomach through the pylorus, releasing enzymes into the duodenum and the small intestine at a pH ≥5.5.

CREON enteric-coated spheres dissolve in the duodenum and the small intestine, releasing pancreatic enzymes to mix with food.

In the duodenum and the small intestine, these enzymes work to break down fats, proteins, and carbohydrates in food.

Determine an appropriate
per-meal dose for your patients

Use Dosing Guide

CREON offers a wide range
of dosing strengths

See Dosing Strengths

CREON patient support programs
offer financial, multivitamin, and
educational support

See Patient Support
Programs

Indications and Important
Safety Information

Indications¹

CREON^® (pancrelipase) Delayed-Release Capsules is a pancrelipase which is a combination of porcine-derived lipases, proteases, and amylases indicated for the treatment of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency due to cystic fibrosis, chronic pancreatitis, pancreatectomy, or other conditions.

Important Safety Information

Fibrosing colonopathy is associated with high-dose use of pancreatic enzyme replacement in the treatment
of cystic fibrosis patients. Exercise caution when doses of CREON exceed 2,500 lipase units/kg of body weight
per meal (or greater than 10,000 lipase units/kg of body weight per day).
To avoid irritation of oral mucosa, care should be taken to ensure that CREON is not crushed, chewed, or retained in the mouth. CREON should always be taken with food.
Porcine-derived pancreatic enzyme products contain purines. Caution should be exercised when prescribing CREON to patients with gout, renal impairment, or hyperuricemia.
There is theoretical risk of viral transmission with all pancreatic enzyme products including CREON.
Exercise caution when administering pancrelipase to a patient with a known allergy to proteins of porcine origin.
Adverse reactions that occurred in at least 2 cystic fibrosis patients (greater than or equal to 4%) receiving CREON were vomiting, dizziness, and cough.
Adverse reactions that occurred in at least 1 chronic pancreatitis or pancreatectomy patient (greater than or equal to 4%) receiving CREON were hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia, abdominal pain, abnormal feces, flatulence, frequent bowel movements, and nasopharyngitis.
CREON is not interchangeable with any other pancrelipase product.