Dosing & administration for patients with EPI due to
chronic pancreatitis or pancreatectomy

Getting started with CREON 36K1
Specific dosing for patients with EPI due to chronic pancreatitis (CP) or pancreatectomy

CREON 36K lipase unit capsule example dosing

During meals

During snacks

Capsules shown are not actual size and do not represent the exact color shade. For illustrative purposes only. The active ingredient in CREON evaluated in clinical trials is lipase.

CREON 36K may not be appropriate for all patients. CREON is also available in 3K, 6K, 12K, and 24K lipase unit capsules.

  • CP/pancreatectomy study: Patients received either placebo or 72,000 units of lipase per main meal (3 main meals) and 36,000 units per snack (2 snacks) while consuming ≥100 g of fat per day1,2
  • Usually, half of the prescribed CREON dose for an individualized full meal should be given with each snack1
  • 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 nasopharyngitis1

CREON should be taken with every meal and snack, with sufficient fluid. Capsules should not be crushed or chewed.1

CREON dosing tips

Hear from gastroenterologist Shahab Mehdizadeh, MD, as he shares tips for dosing CREON in patients with EPI due to CP or pancreatectomy.

After starting your patient on CREON, follow up as early as 7 days* to assess the need for a dose adjustment1
CREON dosage should be individualized and adjusted based on1:

Clinical symptoms

Degree of steatorrhea present

Dietary fat content

*In clinical studies, improvement in fat absorption after treatment with CREON was assessed as early as 5-7 days.

Per-meal 36K dosing range based on patient weight
CREON 36K capsules can be an appropriate strength for many adult patients with EPI who weigh ≥110 lb.1

When adjusting the dosage, prescribe a dose within the recommended range based on patient weight1†
  Patient weight Minimum per-meal dose Maximum per-meal dose  
 

110 lb49.9 kg

36,000Lipase units

108,000Lipase units

 
 

130 lb59 kg

36,000Lipase units

144,000Lipase units

 
 

160 lb72.6 kg

72,000Lipase units

180,000Lipase units

 
 

200 lb90.7 kg

72,000Lipase units

216,000Lipase units

 
 

230 lb104.3 kg

72,000Lipase units

252,000Lipase units

 

Based on guidelines established by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF).
This chart is intended to be a guide for the CREON 36K lipase unit dosing option. CREON capsules represent nearest capsule count within the recommended dosing range.
Capsules shown are not actual size and do not represent the exact color shade. For illustrative purposes only.
CREON dosages should be initiated at the lowest recommended dose based on the patient’s weight and individualized based on clinical symptoms, the degree of steatorrhea present, and dietary fat content.
CREON 36K may not be appropriate for all patients. CREON is also available in 3K, 6K, 12K, and 24K lipase unit capsules.1

Dosing and administration considerations

  • CREON should always be taken with food. CREON should not be crushed or chewed.
  • If a CREON dose is missed, the next dose should be taken with the next meal. Doses should not be doubled.
  • Total daily dose should not exceed 10,000 lipase units/kg body weight/day unless clinically indicated.

The CFF Guidelines also provide a dietary fat-based maximum lipase dose of less than 4,000 units per g of fat ingested per day.

How soon do you follow up with patients after CREON treatment initiation?

You answered within the first month

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You answered between 1 and 6 months

Review how to set treatment expectations with patients and what to discuss at follow-up appointments.

Hear from gastroenterologist Shahab Mehdizadeh, MD, as he shares CREON dosing tips.

6 months to 1 year

Review how to set treatment expectations with patients and what to discuss at follow-up appointments.

Hear from gastroenterologist Shahab Mehdizadeh, MD, as he shares CREON dosing tips.

Never

Review how to set treatment expectations with patients and what to discuss at follow-up appointments.

Hear from gastroenterologist Shahab Mehdizadeh, MD, as he shares CREON dosing tips.

Encourage patients to use the Treatment Tracker to record their symptoms, dietary habits, and dosing/administration routines and share it with you at their next follow-up appointment.

Get educational resources, support program details, and prescription savings information for your patients and practice.

EPI = exocrine pancreatic insufficiency.