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How CREON Works

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CREON replaces
pancreatic enzymes

CREON is a pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT) that works by replacing the 3 pancreatic enzymes normally made by a healthy pancreas—lipase, protease, and amylase.1

Your pancreas normally produces enzymes every time you eat, so CREON needs to replace those enzymes every time you eat. Timing is key—CREON needs to be taken at the same time as food, with every meal and snack.

    The CREON capsules are
    taken with meals and
    snacks so they can enter
    the stomach at the same
    time as food.1

    The CREON capsules
    release tiny, coated
    spheres containing
    pancreatic enzymes.1

    CREON spheres dissolve
    in the starting point of the
    small intestine, called the
    duodenum.1

    In the small intestine,
    CREON enzymes work to
    break down fats, proteins,
    and carbohydrates in food.1

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    Your doctor will adjust your CREON dose to you and your needs

    Learn About Dosing
    Learning the basics about CREON® (pancrelipase) is easy

    Learning the basics about CREON is easy

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    Uses and Important Safety Information

    Uses1

    CREON is a prescription medicine used to treat people who cannot digest food normally because their pancreas does not make enough enzymes due to cystic fibrosis, swelling of the pancreas that lasts a long time (chronic pancreatitis), removal of some or all of the pancreas (pancreatectomy), or other conditions.

    Important Safety Information

    • CREON may increase your chance of having a rare bowel disorder called fibrosing colonopathy. The risk of having this condition may be reduced by following the dosing instructions that your doctor gave you.
    • Do not crush or chew CREON capsules or its contents, and do not hold the capsule or capsule contents in your mouth. Crushing, chewing, or holding the CREON capsules in your mouth may cause irritation in your mouth. Talk to your doctor or consult the CREON Medication Guide for how to take CREON if you have trouble swallowing capsules. Always take CREON with a meal or snack and enough liquid to swallow CREON completely. Take CREON exactly as your doctor tells you.
    • Tell your doctor right away if you have unusual or severe: stomach (abdominal) pain, bloating, trouble passing stool, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, worsening of painful, swollen joints (gout), or allergic reactions including trouble with breathing, skin rashes, or swollen lips.
    • The most common side effects include: increased (hyperglycemia) or decreased (hypoglycemia) blood sugars, pain in your stomach area (abdominal area), frequent or abnormal bowel movements, gas, vomiting, dizziness, or sore throat and cough.
    • CREON and other pancreatic enzyme products are made from the pancreas of pigs, the same pigs people eat as pork. These pigs may carry viruses. Although it has never been reported, it may be possible for a person to get a viral infection from taking pancreatic enzyme products that come from pigs.

    Refer to the CREON Medication Guide and Full Prescribing Information every time you refill your prescription because information may change. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any symptom or side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

    You are encouraged to report negative adverse effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

    If you cannot afford your medication, contact www.pparx.org.

    Reference: 1. CREON [package insert]. North Chicago, IL: AbbVie Inc.

    1. Reference:
    2. CREON [package insert]. North Chicago, IL: AbbVie Inc.

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