Important things you should know about Creon

• Creon is a pancreatic enzyme supplement for people whose bodies do not make enough enzymes to digest their food.
• Take the amount of capsules as prescribed by your doctor or dietician.
• Take Creon with a meal or a snack and drink plenty of water.
• Do not take Creon if you are allergic to pork or any pig product.
• If you experience severe abdominal pain while taking Creon , contact your doctor immediately.
• Most people do not have problems taking Creon but side effects can occur.
  

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What is Creon and how does it work

• Creon is a high strength pancreatic enzyme supplement
• Pancreatic enzyme supplements are used by people whose bodies do not make enough of their own enzymes to digest their food.
• Creon granules contain a mixture of the natural enzymes which are used to digest food.
• The enzymes are taken from pig pancreas glands.

How does Creon work?

The enzymes in Creon work by digesting food as it passes through the gut. So, you must take Creon at the same time as eating a meal or a snack. This will allow the enzymes to mix thoroughly with the food.

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Before you take Creon

Do not take Creon if:

• Your doctor has told you that you are in the early stages of inflammation of the pancreas (acute pancreatitis)
• You are allergic to pork or any pig product.
• If any of the above applies to you, do not take Creon. Talk to your doctor or dietician again.

Talk to your doctor, if:

• you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant
• you are breast feeding

Please tell your doctor, dietician, or pharmacist if you think that you should not take Creon for any other reason.

If you drive or use machines

It is unlikely that Creon will affect your ability to drive or operate tools or machines.

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How to take Creon

How much Creon to take

• Always follow your doctor or dietician's advice on how many capsules to take.
• If your doctor advises you to increase the number of capsules you take, you should do so slowly. If you still have fatty stools or abdominal pain, talk to your doctor or dietician.

When to take Creon

Always take Creon at the same time as eating a meal or a snack and drink plenty of water.

How to take Creon

• Swallow the capsules whole or
• Open the capsules and mix the granules with soft food. Swallow the mixture straight away, without chewing.
• Drink plenty of liquid every day.
  You should keep taking your medicine for as long as your doctor advises.

If you take too much Creon

If you take too much Creon, you should drink plenty of water and see your doctor immediately.

If you forget a dose

If you forget to take your medicine, wait until your next meal and take your usual number of capsules. Do not try to make up for the number of capsules that you have missed. Just take your next dose at the usual time.

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Possible side effects

Like all medicines, Creon can cause side effects (unwanted effects or reactions), but not everyone gets them.

If you have severe or long-lasting abdominal pain, contact your doctor immediately.

Fibrosing colonopathy

A rare bowel disorder called fibrosing colonopathy was reported in a small number of children with cystic fibrosis who took large doses of both high and low-strength enzymes.

However, this is not known to happen to children taking Creon . If you notice any unusual abdominal symptoms while taking Creon - contact your doctor.

Uncommon side effects (1 in 500 patients): Inform your doctor if you have:

• diarrhoea
• constipation
• stomach pains
• feeling sick
• skin reactions, such as a rash or itching.

Rare side effects (less than 1 in 1000 patients):

• developing high levels of uric acid in your blood and urine

If you notice any unwanted effect (even one not mentioned in this leaflet), or if you feel unwell while taking Creon : Tell your doctor.

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How to store Creon

How and where to keep your capsules
Keep all medicines where children cannot reach or see them, preferably locked in a cupboard or medicine cabinet.

Do not store above 25°C and keep in the original container. The enzymes in Creon are natural products and their ability to digest food decreases over time. If the container is left in warm conditions (e.g. the glove compartment of a car), the digestive activity decreases faster.

Do not take Creon capsules after the expiry date on the bottle.

Return all unused medicine to your pharmacist

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Further information

The ingredients in Creon

Creon capsules are available in 3 strengths:

Creon 10000 capsules

Creon 25000 capsules

Creon 40000 capsules

In addition Creon Micro is available and consists of a 20g pot of granules.

The enzyme contents of each preparation are listed below.

• The granules are coated with a mixture of the following ingredients: macrogol 4000, liquid paraffin, hypromellose phthalate, dibutyl phthalate and dimeticone.
• The gelatin capsule is coloured with red and yellow iron oxides (E172) and titanium dioxide (E171).
• Each pack contains 100 capsules.
• The marketing authorisation holder is Solvay Healthcare Ltd, Southampton, SO18 3JD.
• The manufacturer is Solvay Pharmaceuticals GmbH, 31535 Neustadt a. Rbge, Germany.

More information about cystic fibrosis and pancreatitis

You can find out more about Cystic Fibrosis from the following organisation:
The CF Trust
11 London Road, Bromley BR1 1BY
www.cftrust.org.uk

You can find out more about Pancreatitis from the following organisation:
Pancreatitis Supporters Network
PO Box 8938, Birmingham B13 9FW
www.pancreatitis.org.uk

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