This leaflet answers some of the common questions about Creon 10,000, Creon 25,000 and Creon 40,000 capsules. It does not contain all of the available information. It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.

If you are helping someone else to take Creon capsules, please read this leaflet before you give the first dose.

All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you taking Creon capsules against the benefits expected for you.

Your doctor and pharmacist have more information.

You may need to read it again.

Creon is a pancreatic enzyme supplement used in a condition called pancreatic exocrine insufficiency where the body does not make enough enzymes to digest food. This condition appears in a number of different patients including those with cystic fibrosis, chronic pancreatitis, or patients who have had upper gastrointestinal surgery. People with a deficiency of pancreatic enzymes often suffer with symptoms of diarrhoea, steatorrhoea (foul fatty stools which float in the toilet), bloating and weight loss. These symptoms appear because the body is unable to digest food normally. When this happens your body's ability to absorb important nutrients from food is impaired and leads to malnutrition. If left untreated these symptoms can affect your quality of life and a poor nutritional status could have long term health implications. The supplementation of pancreatic enzymes using Creon helps restore the normal digestive action in your body to relieve abdominal symptoms and improve nutritional status.

The enzymes are extracted from pancreas of pigs.

Creon capsules are approved for the uses listed above. However, your doctor may prescribe this medicine for another use. If you would like more information, ask your doctor.

Creon 25,000 and Creon 40,000 cannot be obtained without a doctor's prescription.

There is no evidence that Creon capsules are addictive. 

If you take this medicine after the expiry date has passed, it may not work as well.

Your doctor will discuss whether you should take these products.

You should avoid taking antacids, which are medicines that are used to treat heartburn and indigestion, when taking Creon capsules. Antacids may affect how well Creon capsules work by breaking down the special coating used to protect the pancreatic enzymes. If it is necessary to take an antacid, then it should be taken at least one hour before you take your Creon capsules.

These directions may differ from the information in this leaflet.

Your doctor will tell you how many capsules to take to suit your particular needs. Do not increase the number of capsules yourself without informing your doctor.

For children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis, your doctor will have determined a dose specific to the patient's body weight and condition.

For adult patients starting Creon for the first time, the usual starting dose is 25 000 to 40 000 units of lipase with each meal and half this dose with snacks. Your doctor may need to make a number of adjustments before determining the right dose which suits you best. If needed, the dose can be increased up to 80 000 units of lipase with each meal.

It is normally not necessary to restrict your diet of fat while you are taking Creon as your symptoms will usually be under control. In people with malnutrition, getting enough fat in the diet will help improve nutrition. If unsure, you should consult your doctor or dietitian regarding your diet whilst on Creon.

If the doctor advises you to increase the dosage, you should increase the number of capsules gradually (for example, by one at a time). A very rapid increase in dosage may lead to constipation. If you are unsure how to increase the dose, ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain it to you.

The maximum recommended dose of lipase in infants and children with cystic fibrosis is 10,000 units per kilogram body weight in 24 hours.

Patients who use more than 10,000 units per kilogram per day, will probably be monitored closely by their doctor.

If you mix the granules with food, it is important to swallow the mixture straight away, without chewing.

Neither the capsules nor the granules inside should be chewed as they have a special coating to stop them dissolving until they have gone through the stomach and into the intestines where they work.

When you are taking Creon capsules, it is important to make sure that you drink plenty of liquid every day.

Drink plenty of water every day when you are taking Creon capsules.

Diet should be considered as part of your overall management plan. Talk to your doctor for more information and advice.

Creon capsules help most people whose bodies do not make enough enzymes to digest their food, but it may have unwanted side effects in a few people. All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical treatment if you get some of the side effects.

Several children with cystic fibrosis who were taking high doses of pancreatic enzyme supplements have suffered from narrowing of the bowel and required an operation.

In rare cases, people taking very high doses have had a tendency to develop high levels of uric acid in their blood and urine.

If you take too much Creon you may get irritation or inflammation in the anal region.

You may not experience any of them.

The active ingredient in Creon capsules is an extract of pancreatic powder of porcine origin (pigs), therefore the presence of porcine parvovirus or other porcine viruses cannot be totally excluded. However, there is no evidence of transmission of these viruses to humans or of porcine pancreatic powder extracts causing illness in humans.

If you take the capsules out of the bottle they may not keep well.

Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.

A locked cupboard at least one-and-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.

If your doctor tells you to stop taking Creon capsules, or the capsules have passed their expiry date, ask your pharmacist what to do with any that are left over.

CREON 10,000 is a dark brown/colourless capsule containing small brownish coloured granules (minimicrospheres) that have a special coating. Available in bottles of 100 capsules.

CREON 25,000 is a light brown/colourless capsule containing small brownish coloured granules (minimicrospheres) that have a special coating. Available in bottles of 100 capsules.

CREON 40,000 is an opaque brown/colourless-transparent capsule containing brownish minimicrospheres in bottles of 100 capsules.

Each CREON 10,000 capsule contains Pancreatin Extract 150mg equivalent to not less than lipase 10,000 Ph.Eur. units, amylase 8,000 Ph.Eur. units and protease 600 Ph. Eur. units.

Inactive ingredients in CREON 10,000 capsules are: macrogol 4000, hypromellose phthalate, cetyl alcohol, triethyl citrate, dimeticone 1000, gelatin, iron oxide red, iron oxide black, iron oxide yellow, titanium dioxide and sodium lauryl sulfate.

Each CREON 25,000 capsule contains Pancreatic Extract 300mg equivalent to not less than lipase 25,000 Ph.Eur. units, amylase 18,000 Ph.Eur. units and protease 1,000 Ph. Eur. units.

Inactive ingredients in CREON 25,000 capsules are: macrogol 4000, hypromellose phthalate, cetyl alcohol, triethyl citrate, dimeticone 1000, gelatin, iron oxide red, iron oxide yellow, titanium dioxide and sodium lauryl sulfate.

Each CREON 40,000 capsule contains Pancreatic Extract 400mg equivalent to not less than lipase 40,000 Ph.Eur. units, amylase 25,000 Ph.Eur. units and protease 1,600 Ph. Eur. units.

Inactive ingredients in CREON 40,000 capsules are: macrogol 4000, hypromellose phthalate, cetyl alcohol, triethyl citrate, dimeticone 1000, gelatin, iron oxide, titanium dioxide and sodium lauryl sulfate.