Real Patient Stories
Understanding EPI & how CREON helps
Mildred:
I wish there was more awareness about EPI. I’m still learning, I’m only a year out since my diagnosis. We need to make sure other people out there not knowing what’s going on—if they even think that they could possibly have it, go out there and research it because you never know.
Mark:
That’s why I feel it’s my duty to talk about it and share with others so that they can learn. And the health issues that can cause it, like chronic pancreatitis, which is where mine came from.
Mildred:
I just wish I had known about EPI and CREON a lot sooner.
Mark:
I wish I would have known earlier, too. That time in my life, I was riding with a group of bikers, and it kind of takes away from your tough guy image when you're carrying baby wipes and extra clothing.
Mark:
For a long time, I discussed my symptoms with multiple doctors, but I hadn't reached the doctor that was educated in that specific area.
Mildred:
I went through the same thing, from not knowing what was going on, to having doctors tell me that they didn’t see anything. Everybody’s story’s different on how we got this diagnosis of EPI.
Mark:
One of the trips to the hospital for the chronic pancreatitis was when I was able to share with the doctor some of the other weird things that were going on with my body.
Mark:
He knew exactly what I was talking about, but he was educated in that specific area. They discovered that I had a blockage in my pancreas due to chronic pancreatitis. They also discovered that I had EPI. The day that I was diagnosed, the doctor spoke to me about what EPI was. And he explained to me that the enzymes that are produced in the pancreas are secreted into the small intestine, and they break the food down to a level that can be absorbed. That function was not happening. My body was not producing enough enzymes to be able to absorb the nutrition. He explained to me that CREON was a replacement enzyme for what I was not producing naturally. And I picture that I'm swallowing these little Pac Man characters, and they make their way down into my intestines, and they go to work, and they do their job, and they break down the food that's in there so that I can absorb it.
Mildred:
That's a great way to explain how CREON aids in our digestion, so we can better digest our food and get the nutrients we need.
Mark:
I know there's other people out there that are suffering from the same symptoms we are. I hope that they will go and take the symptoms quiz at CREONINFO.com. It could really help them learn about EPI and know what information to take to their physician.
Mark:
I truly believe that everything I have been through has allowed me to help other people. Everyone with an experience like ours should go to their doctor and ask about EPI and CREON.
SAFETY VOICE OVER:
USE
CREON® (pancrelipase) is a prescription medicine used to treat people who cannot digest food normally because their pancreas does not make enough enzymes.
Important Safety Information
What is the most important information I should know about CREON?
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 healthcare professional (HCP) gave you. Call your HCP right away if you have any unusual or severe: stomach area (abdominal) pain, bloating, trouble passing stool, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
What should I tell my HCP before taking CREON?
Before taking CREON, tell your HCP about all the medicines you take and all your medical conditions, including if you are allergic to pork (pig) products; have a history of intestinal blockage or scarring or thickening of your bowel wall (fibrosing colonopathy), gout, kidney disease, or high blood uric acid (hyperuricemia); or are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, are breastfeeding, or plan to breastfeed.
How should I take CREON?
Take CREON exactly as your HCP tells you. Always take CREON with a meal or snack and enough liquid to swallow CREON completely. Do not crush or chew the CREON capsule or its contents, as this may cause irritation in your mouth or change the way CREON works in your body. Talk to your HCP or consult the CREON Medication Guide for how to take CREON if you have trouble swallowing capsules.
What are the possible side effects of CREON?
CREON may cause additional serious side effects, including:
- Increase in blood uric acid levels (hyperuricemia), including pain, stiffness, redness or swelling of your joints.
- Allergic reactions, including trouble with breathing, skin rashes, swollen lips, or itching.
Call your HCP right away if you have any of these symptoms.
The most common side effects of CREON include blood sugar increase (hyperglycemia) or decrease (hypoglycemia), pain in your stomach, frequent or abnormal bowel movements, gas, vomiting, dizziness, 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.
These are not all the possible side effects of CREON. For more information, ask your HCP or pharmacist.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
If you are having difficulty paying for your medicine, AbbVie may be able to help. Visit AbbVie.com/PatientAccessSupport to learn more.
My EPI symptoms & getting into diagnosis
Mildred:
It took me about a year to get diagnosed with EPI correctly.
Mildred:
I started out having really bad abdominal pains and I couldn’t eat or drink anything without having to go diarrhea within about two minutes or so. And with me being a chef, it’s kind of hard for me to do that because I’m always having to go to the restroom every time I taste something different.
Mark:
It took me about 12 or 13 years to get diagnosed. I just kept having things like diarrhea, gas, stomach pain, whatever it was, it just wouldn’t go away.
Mark:
I had not shared anything with my doctor until my 40-year-old tune up. Through conversation, I realized that my bathroom habits were not normal. I didn’t realize that other people didn’t experience those pains, the trips to the bathroom.
Mildred:
During my journey with being diagnosed, they said I had Crohn’s disease, they said I had IBS. I had been put on a variety of different treatment options and nothing was seeming to help, and it got frustrating.
Mark:
When they first diagnosed my pancreatitis, they told me that about 90% of the people that had chronic pancreatitis, it came from alcohol abuse. The doctor didn’t believe when I told him what my drinking habits were. Once they determined that I was telling the truth, then they started looking at the pancreas. The same conversation, I was diagnosed with EPI. And I started CREON that day.
Mildred:
I went to my second doctor. And I knew I was going to have to ask some of the harder questions and get over the part of being embarrassed to making sure that I was getting the help I needed. I’m grateful because she really did help me a lot and she listened to what was going on. She said, I think it could be EPI and it’s very hard to diagnose because it does mimic other disorders. She prescribed me CREON and it helped manage my EPI.
Mark:
That’s why I keep saying that there’s no reason to wait if you think you might have symptoms of EPI. I found a doctor that was educated in what was going on and he nailed it. But it took finding the correct doctor that was educated specifically in this issue. If you’re not getting the help that you need, ask for another doctor. Get a second opinion, get a third opinion.
Mildred:
Persistence is so important. Especially being diagnosed with this. We had to be our own advocates because this is a fairly unknown thing.
Mark:
Once I learned what EPI was and that I had EPI, then I had to take an active role in managing my symptoms. One of the things that really helped me was to keep a journal. I couldn’t remember from one visit to the next what all had happened. It also helped me make a plan on what to do in the future. I kept track of meals. Kept track of weight loss, weight gain. Alternative plans in case one didn’t work, sleep routines.
Mildred:
That’s really good. I too do journaling. Because it’s better for us to journal and keep track of what we’re doing, how we’re doing with the medicine. And now whenever I go in to the doctor, she’ll ask me, have you had any changes with your stomach issues? Is the CREON helping you? Do we need to increase it?
Mark:
I found that we were a team. And that I just had to keep asking my doctor questions. I wrote those questions down in my journal as I thought of them in between appointments.
Mildred:
I agree that communication is the biggest part of it. It’s the heart and soul of getting you the proper treatments that you need.
Mark:
It’s important to keep talking to your doctors whether you get feeling better or not. Keep asking questions. Make sure that the answers are explained in a manner that you can understand them.
Mildred:
I couldn’t agree more.
SAFETY VOICE OVER:
USE
CREON® (pancrelipase) is a prescription medicine used to treat people who cannot digest food normally because their pancreas does not make enough enzymes.
Important Safety Information
What is the most important information I should know about CREON?
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 healthcare professional (HCP) gave you. Call your HCP right away if you have any unusual or severe: stomach area (abdominal) pain, bloating, trouble passing stool, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
What should I tell my HCP before taking CREON?
Before taking CREON, tell your HCP about all the medicines you take and all your medical conditions, including if you are allergic to pork (pig) products; have a history of intestinal blockage or scarring or thickening of your bowel wall (fibrosing colonopathy), gout, kidney disease, or high blood uric acid (hyperuricemia); or are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, are breastfeeding, or plan to breastfeed.
How should I take CREON?
Take CREON exactly as your HCP tells you. Always take CREON with a meal or snack and enough liquid to swallow CREON completely. Do not crush or chew the CREON capsule or its contents, as this may cause irritation in your mouth or change the way CREON works in your body. Talk to your HCP or consult the CREON Medication Guide for how to take CREON if you have trouble swallowing capsules.
What are the possible side effects of CREON?
CREON may cause additional serious side effects, including:
- Increase in blood uric acid levels (hyperuricemia), including pain, stiffness, redness or swelling of your joints.
- Allergic reactions, including trouble with breathing, skin rashes, swollen lips, or itching.
Call your HCP right away if you have any of these symptoms.
The most common side effects of CREON include blood sugar increase (hyperglycemia) or decrease (hypoglycemia), pain in your stomach, frequent or abnormal bowel movements, gas, vomiting, dizziness, 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.
These are not all the possible side effects of CREON. For more information, ask your HCP or pharmacist.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
If you are having difficulty paying for your medicine, AbbVie may be able to help. Visit AbbVie.com/PatientAccessSupport to learn more.
Speaking with your doctor about EPI
Dr. Ranney:
I was really interested to hear about how you were diagnosed and how long it took to reach that diagnosis.
Camille:
When my gastroenterologist finally diagnosed me with EPI, it was because he listened to my story.
Camille:
It did take a while before they found the EPI. The symptoms are so similar to that of stomach issues. But by paying close attention to my body, that little light bulb turned on that said, “Hey, it’s got to be something else.” So I went to the doctor after doing some research and I said, I think it could be my pancreas. But my doctor said “no, it’s stomach issues,” which was frustrating.
Dr. Ranney:
Yeah, I’m sorry to hear you went through that. You know, when it comes to frequent diarrhea, bloating, and abdominal pain, it’s not uncommon to think of other GI issues, like IBS-D, first. These tend to be thought of first because they are in fact more common. Especially in patients under 50.
Dr. Ranney:
But it’s important for practitioners to not have tunnel vision and to only think about IBS-D when patients report these symptoms. Thinking about only the more common GI diagnosis can be a tough habit to break. We should be looking at the whole picture, including family or personal history of any underlying conditions related to EPI, clinical features, and also considering stool tests that include a fecal elastase.
Camille:
I wish they would have ordered those tests for me initially. There were a lot of communication barriers in those early days—like only being asked “yes or no” questions or having limited time to fully tell my story.
Dr. Ranney:
Unfortunately, I have seen that as well. Good communication is just so important in making a timely diagnosis. I can’t emphasize that enough. In my opinion, it’s so important to develop rapport with your patients. I think that includes making eye contact, you know, leaning in, and really hearing their story in their own words.
Dr. Ranney:
You know, we should be looking for symptoms and clinical features, like having symptoms after eating certain foods, fatty or floating stools, urgent bowel movements, and unexplained weight loss. For many patients, it often takes far too long to make the proper diagnosis, which can affect a patient’s overall health.
Camille:
I always tell people to keep track of their symptoms and write them down. If you have a good rapport with your doctor, they’ll say “Okay, let’s look into EPI.” If your doctor is reluctant to investigate things, then it’s time to advocate for yourself. Find another option, and refuse to give up.
Dr. Ranney:
I love the part about how you were persistent, you did your own research, and you continued to go back to your doctor to communicate what the issues were until they finally found the diagnosis for you. If EPI is missed, it can lead to some serious consequences. It is so important to include EPI in our differential early and to listen to our patients carefully as they describe their symptoms.
Camille:
The one thing that I really learned from this whole journey was to make sure and advocate for yourself.
SAFETY VOICE OVER:
USE
CREON® (pancrelipase) is a prescription medicine used to treat people who cannot digest food normally because their pancreas does not make enough enzymes.
Important Safety Information
What is the most important information I should know about CREON?
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 healthcare professional (HCP) gave you. Call your HCP right away if you have any unusual or severe: stomach area (abdominal) pain, bloating, trouble passing stool, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
What should I tell my HCP before taking CREON?
Before taking CREON, tell your HCP about all the medicines you take and all your medical conditions, including if you are allergic to pork (pig) products; have a history of intestinal blockage or scarring or thickening of your bowel wall (fibrosing colonopathy), gout, kidney disease, or high blood uric acid (hyperuricemia); or are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, are breastfeeding, or plan to breastfeed.
How should I take CREON?
Take CREON exactly as your HCP tells you. Always take CREON with a meal or snack and enough liquid to swallow CREON completely. Do not crush or chew the CREON capsule or its contents, as this may cause irritation in your mouth or change the way CREON works in your body. Talk to your HCP or consult the CREON Medication Guide for how to take CREON if you have trouble swallowing capsules.
What are the possible side effects of CREON?
CREON may cause additional serious side effects, including:
- Increase in blood uric acid levels (hyperuricemia), including pain, stiffness, redness or swelling of your joints.
- Allergic reactions, including trouble with breathing, skin rashes, swollen lips, or itching.
Call your HCP right away if you have any of these symptoms.
The most common side effects of CREON include blood sugar increase (hyperglycemia) or decrease (hypoglycemia), pain in your stomach, frequent or abnormal bowel movements, gas, vomiting, dizziness, 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.
These are not all the possible side effects of CREON. For more information, ask your HCP or pharmacist.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
If you are having difficulty paying for your medicine, AbbVie may be able to help. Visit AbbVie.com/PatientAccessSupport to learn more.
Understanding EPI diagnosis & treatment
Camille:
When my gastroenterologist finally diagnosed me with EPI, he told me my food wasn’t being digested because my pancreas wasn’t releasing enough enzymes.
Dr. Ranney:
Yeah, that’s exactly right. I typically tell my patients, “EPI is manageable. Your pancreas is not producing or secreting enough enzymes to digest your food, so I am simply going to give you enzymes in a capsule form to help break down your food.” I feel like patients understand that concept very easily.
Dr. Ranney:
Diagnosing EPI early on and starting patients on a PERT like CREON is so important.
Dr. Ranney:
I just explain how important it is that they take CREON every time they eat, whether with meals or with snacks. I also tell them to check back in with me after five to seven days from starting CREON to see how the treatment is going.
Camille:
That’s how my gastroenterologist explained it to me. He prescribed CREON right away and he said, “Take it with meals and snacks,” so that I would have the enzymes I needed to break down my food. He said, “You’ll be taking this the rest of your life, but EPI is manageable.”
Dr. Ranney:
That’s true—manageable with the proper dose. And when it comes to prescribing CREON, I will typically start patients on a dose that’s appropriate for their weight and also for the amount of fat content in their diet.
Dr. Ranney:
I like to explain that pancreatic insufficiency is primarily a disorder of fat absorption and fat digestion. And so when we dose CREON and we talk about how many capsules to take with either a meal or a snack, I like to remind them of that because some snacks are bigger than others. And if their snack contains a lot of fat, they may actually need to take a dose that’s more appropriate for a meal.
Camille:
Exactly. What you snack on, and even how much you snack, can vary depending on where you live or the foods that may be associated with your culture and background. My doctor tells me how much to take with my meals and snacks.
Dr. Ranney:
One of the reasons I like CREON is because of the dosing options. This really allows us to tailor dosing to fit each patient’s need, no matter their weight or their eating habits. And if that diet changes over time, we can simply adjust the dose.
Camille:
It really is nice. Everywhere I go, I always take my CREON with me. It’s simply a part of my life.
SAFETY VOICE OVER:
USE
CREON® (pancrelipase) is a prescription medicine used to treat people who cannot digest food normally because their pancreas does not make enough enzymes.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
What is the most important information I should know about CREON?
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 healthcare professional (HCP) gave you. Call your HCP right away if you have any unusual or severe: stomach area (abdominal) pain, bloating, trouble passing stool, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
What should I tell my HCP before taking CREON?
Before taking CREON, tell your HCP about all the medicines you take and all your medical conditions, including if you are allergic to pork (pig) products; have a history of intestinal blockage or scarring or thickening of your bowel wall (fibrosing colonopathy), gout, kidney disease, or high blood uric acid (hyperuricemia); or are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, are breastfeeding, or plan to breastfeed.
How should I take CREON?
Take CREON exactly as your HCP tells you. Always take CREON with a meal or snack and enough liquid to swallow CREON completely. Do not crush or chew the CREON capsule or its contents, as this may cause irritation in your mouth or change the way CREON works in your body. Talk to your HCP or consult the CREON Medication Guide for how to take CREON if you have trouble swallowing capsules.
What are the possible side effects of CREON?
CREON may cause additional serious side effects, including:
- Increase in blood uric acid levels (hyperuricemia), including pain, stiffness, redness or swelling of your joints.
- Allergic reactions, including trouble with breathing, skin rashes, swollen lips, or itching.
Call your HCP right away if you have any of these symptoms.
The most common side effects of CREON include blood sugar increase (hyperglycemia) or decrease (hypoglycemia), pain in your stomach, frequent or abnormal bowel movements, gas, vomiting, dizziness, 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.
These are not all the possible side effects of CREON. For more information, ask your HCP or pharmacist.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
If you are having difficulty paying for your medicine, AbbVie may be able to help. Visit AbbVie.com/PatientAccessSupport to learn more.
Getting the most from your EPI treatment
Melissa:
Being able to properly manage EPI starts with really great communication between patients and providers and encouraging patients to open up about what's really going on. One of my favorite approaches is saying, you know what, everybody poops, everybody passes gas. And if I have kind of that blank stare from my patients, and I try to make it, like, a little bit more approachable.
Melissa:
I'm like, you know, like, farting. And that usually gets, like, a giggle out of people. And so now you feel a little bit more relaxed. That's the point. I want to make my patients feel comfortable and open up about these what could be very uncomfortable symptoms.
Melissa:
I think it’s so important for patients to be their own advocates.
Camille:
Right, right.
Melissa:
You know your body better than we do. If you know there’s something not quite right it’s worth investigating.
Camille:
I agree. There’s so many people that want to give up when they’re sick and can’t find a diagnosis; and they go, “it’s gonna be like this the rest of my life.” And I wanna say it doesn’t have to be. Keep advocating for yourself.
Melissa:
When talking to my patients, I'll start by asking questions like, what have you heard about EPI? Or what is your understanding of what the pancreas does?
Melissa:
And then from there, I can continue building on that understanding and assess how things are going with their treatment plan, as well as how well they understand their condition.
Camille:
Sounds like your patients are very fortunate. My care team is great. The best thing they taught me was to watch the floating stools, what looked like oily stools, which could be signs of malabsorption and may mean my pancreas isn't producing enough enzymes to break down food.
Melissa:
That's a great example of how we as healthcare professionals need to be there for our patients. I believe it’s more important to understand the function, rather than the label, like saying “look for oily or floating stools” instead of saying “look for or be aware of malabsorption.” You know, and this can help us better educate our patients so we can diagnose them faster.
Melissa:
Communication is so important, and not just between patients and providers, but even within the provider and the care team itself, right? I find that using our practice's healthcare portal and following up seven days after starting treatment can help create an open and honest communication.
Melissa:
I might not always be the one seeing my patients appointment after appointment, but making sure that everyone's on the same page and knows what the treatment plan is, is so helpful.
Camille:
Right.
Melissa:
And so I do tell my patients, and I lovingly call it, to keep a food and poop log. I want to know what they're eating and how that relates to their bowel movements.
Camille:
Almost like a snapshot of what they've eaten.
Melissa:
Yeah. Exactly. Then they bring that back a week after or so and as a care team we look at that and we are able to decide, you know what, I think we need to make some adjustments.
Melissa:
I know starting a new medication can be a little bit daunting, especially when it's brand new and, and it's a lifestyle change to have to take it. The key is to not overwhelm patients with too much information at once, though. When setting treatment expectations with my patients after they've been diagnosed with EPI and prescribed CREON, the top three things I want them to remember are, number one, you must take CREON with food. Number two, communicate with your providers. And finally, keep track of what you're eating to be able to identify whether you're on the right dose.
Camille:
I agree. Over time, I worked with my doctor to get the right dose with CREON. And it's been managing my EPI ever since.
SAFETY VOICE OVER:
USE
CREON® (pancrelipase) is a prescription medicine used to treat people who cannot digest food normally because their pancreas does not make enough enzymes.
Important Safety Information
What is the most important information I should know about CREON?
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 healthcare professional (HCP) gave you. Call your HCP right away if you have any unusual or severe: stomach area (abdominal) pain, bloating, trouble passing stool, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
What should I tell my HCP before taking CREON?
Before taking CREON, tell your HCP about all the medicines you take and all your medical conditions, including if you are allergic to pork (pig) products; have a history of intestinal blockage or scarring or thickening of your bowel wall (fibrosing colonopathy), gout, kidney disease, or high blood uric acid (hyperuricemia); or are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, are breastfeeding, or plan to breastfeed.
How should I take CREON?
Take CREON exactly as your HCP tells you. Always take CREON with a meal or snack and enough liquid to swallow CREON completely. Do not crush or chew the CREON capsule or its contents, as this may cause irritation in your mouth or change the way CREON works in your body. Talk to your HCP or consult the CREON Medication Guide for how to take CREON if you have trouble swallowing capsules.
What are the possible side effects of CREON?
CREON may cause additional serious side effects, including:
- Increase in blood uric acid levels (hyperuricemia), including pain, stiffness, redness or swelling of your joints.
- Allergic reactions, including trouble with breathing, skin rashes, swollen lips, or itching.
Call your HCP right away if you have any of these symptoms.
The most common side effects of CREON include blood sugar increase (hyperglycemia) or decrease (hypoglycemia), pain in your stomach, frequent or abnormal bowel movements, gas, vomiting, dizziness, 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.
These are not all the possible side effects of CREON. For more information, ask your HCP or pharmacist.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
If you are having difficulty paying for your medicine, AbbVie may be able to help. Visit AbbVie.com/PatientAccessSupport to learn more.
Understanding EPI & CREON
What Is EPI?
Narrator:
I want to talk to you today about a condition that affects digestion called exocrine pancreatic insufficiency.
Phew, that’s a mouthful - let’s just call it EPI.
So, what do you need to know?
Well, EPI can happen when your pancreas isn’t producing enough digestive enzymes.
Most people don’t even realize that the pancreas plays an important role in digestion.
Think of your digestive system as a factory that is constantly working to help break down your food and turn it into energy.
Your mouth helps start this process by breaking down your food into pieces that are small enough to be swallowed.
When these food pieces reach the stomach, they mix with gastric juices that help break the food down even more.
Once the broken-down food enters the small intestine, it’s time for the pancreas to do its job.
The pancreas makes enzymes that break down the fats, proteins, and carbohydrates found in food, which are called nutrients...
...so that they can be absorbed in the intestines and used by the body.
When you have EPI, your pancreas isn’t fully functional,...
...so food doesn’t get broken down properly.
This is called maldigestion.
Undigested food in your intestines can result in digestive issues...
...and because your food isn’t broken down properly, your body can’t fully absorb the nutrients you need.
This is called malabsorption.
You should know that EPI is typically a chronic condition, but the good news is it is manageable. So it’s important to talk to your healthcare provider.
Use
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, chronic pancreatitis (which is the swelling of the pancreas that lasts a long time), pancreatectomy (which is the removal of some or all of the pancreas), or other conditions.
SAFETY VOICE OVER:
USE
CREON® (pancrelipase) is a prescription medicine used to treat people who cannot digest food normally because their pancreas does not make enough enzymes.
Important Safety Information
What is the most important information I should know about CREON?
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 healthcare professional (HCP) gave you. Call your HCP right away if you have any unusual or severe: stomach area (abdominal) pain, bloating, trouble passing stool, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
What should I tell my HCP before taking CREON?
Before taking CREON, tell your HCP about all the medicines you take and all your medical conditions, including if you are allergic to pork (pig) products; have a history of intestinal blockage or scarring or thickening of your bowel wall (fibrosing colonopathy), gout, kidney disease, or high blood uric acid (hyperuricemia); or are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, are breastfeeding, or plan to breastfeed.
How should I take CREON?
Take CREON exactly as your HCP tells you. Always take CREON with a meal or snack and enough liquid to swallow CREON completely. Do not crush or chew the CREON capsule or its contents, as this may cause irritation in your mouth or change the way CREON works in your body. Talk to your HCP or consult the CREON Medication Guide for how to take CREON if you have trouble swallowing capsules.
What are the possible side effects of CREON?
CREON may cause additional serious side effects, including:
- Increase in blood uric acid levels (hyperuricemia), including pain, stiffness, redness or swelling of your joints.
- Allergic reactions, including trouble with breathing, skin rashes, swollen lips, or itching.
Call your HCP right away if you have any of these symptoms.
The most common side effects of CREON include blood sugar increase (hyperglycemia) or decrease (hypoglycemia), pain in your stomach, frequent or abnormal bowel movements, gas, vomiting, dizziness, 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.
These are not all the possible side effects of CREON. For more information, ask your HCP or pharmacist.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
If you are having difficulty paying for your medicine, AbbVie may be able to help. Visit AbbVie.com/PatientAccessSupport to learn more.
CREON & food
Narrator:
When you have EPI, your pancreas is not producing the enzymes that you need to help break down your food...
...so that’s why your healthcare provider may have prescribed CREON, pancrelipase.
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, chronic pancreatitis (which is the swelling of the pancreas that lasts a long time), pancreatectomy (which is the removal of some or all of the pancreas), or other conditions.
CREON can help your body replace the enzymes your pancreas isn’t making and break down the foods you eat.
In order for CREON to do this, it always needs to go along with your food...
...at every meal and snack.
It’s not like other medications that need to be taken just once or twice per day.
You can’t just take it in the morning and be done.
So, do you need to take CREON with your morning breakfast smoothie?
YES!
With your sandwich at lunch?
YES!
With your afternoon energy bar?
YES!
When you’re having dinner at a restaurant?
YES!
A couple of other things to keep in mind:
When you’re taking CREON, make sure to drink enough liquid to swallow the capsules completely.
Also, CREON shouldn’t be crushed or chewed and should be stored at room temperature and kept in a dry place.
Remember, CREON goes with your food, so make sure it always goes with you.
Use
CREON® (pancrelipase) is a prescription medicine used to treat people who cannot digest food normally because their pancreas does not make enough enzymes.
Important Safety Information
What is the most important information I should know about CREON?
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 healthcare professional (HCP) gave you. Call your HCP right away if you have any unusual or severe: stomach area (abdominal) pain, bloating, trouble passing stool, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
What should I tell my HCP before taking CREON?
Before taking CREON, tell your HCP about all the medicines you take and all your medical conditions, including if you are allergic to pork (pig) products; have a history of intestinal blockage or scarring or thickening of your bowel wall (fibrosing colonopathy), gout, kidney disease, or high blood uric acid (hyperuricemia); or are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, are breastfeeding, or plan to breastfeed.
How should I take CREON?
Take CREON exactly as your HCP tells you. Always take CREON with a meal or snack and enough liquid to swallow CREON completely. Do not crush or chew the CREON capsule or its contents, as this may cause irritation in your mouth or change the way CREON works in your body. Talk to your HCP or consult the CREON Medication Guide for how to take CREON if you have trouble swallowing capsules.
What are the possible side effects of CREON?
CREON may cause additional serious side effects, including:
- Increase in blood uric acid levels (hyperuricemia), including pain, stiffness, redness or swelling of your joints.
- Allergic reactions, including trouble with breathing, skin rashes, swollen lips, or itching.
Call your HCP right away if you have any of these symptoms.
The most common side effects of CREON include blood sugar increase (hyperglycemia) or decrease (hypoglycemia), pain in your stomach, frequent or abnormal bowel movements, gas, vomiting, dizziness, 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.
These are not all the possible side effects of CREON. For more information, ask your HCP or pharmacist.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1‑800‑FDA‑1088.
If you are having difficulty paying for your medicine, AbbVie may be able to help. Visit AbbVie.com/PatientAccessSupport to learn more.
How CREON works
Narrator:
CREON, pancrelipase, is a prescription medicine that works by replacing the pancreatic enzymes that are missing in people who have EPI...
....due to cystic fibrosis, chronic pancreatitis (which is the swelling of the pancreas that lasts a long time), pancreatectomy (which is the removal of some or all of the pancreas), or other conditions.
CREON needs to be taken with every meal and snack, and there’s a good reason why.
Your pancreas PRODUCES enzymes every time you eat...
...so CREON is used to REPLACE those enzymes every time you eat.
It’s important to always take CREON with a meal or snack and enough liquid to swallow the capsules completely.
Also, be sure not to chew or crush CREON capsules.
In order to work, CREON needs to get to the right location in the body to do its job...
...and it needs to travel down the digestive tract with your food.
Timing is key. CREON and food need to get on board together...
...so that they reach their destination together.
CREON has a special coating to make sure it reaches the starting point of your small intestine (which is called your duodenum).
Your duodenum is where CREON releases enzymes to break down the fats, proteins, and carbohydrates in your food...
...so that they can be absorbed and used by your body.
So remember, if you have EPI, CREON can help break down your food so that nutrients can get to their final destination.
Use
CREON® (pancrelipase) is a prescription medicine used to treat people who cannot digest food normally because their pancreas does not make enough enzymes.
Important Safety Information
What is the most important information I should know about CREON?
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 healthcare professional (HCP) gave you. Call your HCP right away if you have any unusual or severe: stomach area (abdominal) pain, bloating, trouble passing stool, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
What should I tell my HCP before taking CREON?
Before taking CREON, tell your HCP about all the medicines you take and all your medical conditions, including if you are allergic to pork (pig) products; have a history of intestinal blockage or scarring or thickening of your bowel wall (fibrosing colonopathy), gout, kidney disease, or high blood uric acid (hyperuricemia); or are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, are breastfeeding, or plan to breastfeed.
How should I take CREON?
Take CREON exactly as your HCP tells you. Always take CREON with a meal or snack and enough liquid to swallow CREON completely. Do not crush or chew the CREON capsule or its contents, as this may cause irritation in your mouth or change the way CREON works in your body. Talk to your HCP or consult the CREON Medication Guide for how to take CREON if you have trouble swallowing capsules.
What are the possible side effects of CREON?
CREON may cause additional serious side effects, including:
- Increase in blood uric acid levels (hyperuricemia), including pain, stiffness, redness or swelling of your joints.
- Allergic reactions, including trouble with breathing, skin rashes, swollen lips, or itching.
Call your HCP right away if you have any of these symptoms.
The most common side effects of CREON include blood sugar increase (hyperglycemia) or decrease (hypoglycemia), pain in your stomach, frequent or abnormal bowel movements, gas, vomiting, dizziness, 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.
These are not all the possible side effects of CREON. For more information, ask your HCP or pharmacist.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1‑800‑FDA‑1088.
If you are having difficulty paying for your medicine, AbbVie may be able to help. Visit AbbVie.com/PatientAccessSupport to learn more.
Understanding your CREON dose
Narrator:
If you’ve been prescribed CREON, pancrelipase, there are a few things you should know to help keep your therapy on track.
CREON replaces the enzymes that your pancreas normally produces in order to help you digest and absorb food.
Your CREON dose is tailored just for you based on your individual needs.
It’s important to take CREON as prescribed by your healthcare provider. He or she will determine an appropriate dose for you based on the following three things:
Your weight,...
...the types of foods that you prefer to eat,...
...and your symptoms.
Since EPI is typically a chronic condition, these things may change over time. Talk to your healthcare provider because he or she may need to adjust your CREON dose.
That’s why it’s important to keep track of things like your diet, your symptoms, your weight, and when you’re taking your CREON...
...and to share this information with your healthcare provider at your next appointment.
Use
CREON® (pancrelipase) is a prescription medicine used to treat people who cannot digest food normally because their pancreas does not make enough enzymes.
Important Safety Information
What is the most important information I should know about CREON?
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 healthcare professional (HCP) gave you. Call your HCP right away if you have any unusual or severe: stomach area (abdominal) pain, bloating, trouble passing stool, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
What should I tell my HCP before taking CREON?
Before taking CREON, tell your HCP about all the medicines you take and all your medical conditions, including if you are allergic to pork (pig) products; have a history of intestinal blockage or scarring or thickening of your bowel wall (fibrosing colonopathy), gout, kidney disease, or high blood uric acid (hyperuricemia); or are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, are breastfeeding, or plan to breastfeed.
How should I take CREON?
Take CREON exactly as your HCP tells you. Always take CREON with a meal or snack and enough liquid to swallow CREON completely. Do not crush or chew the CREON capsule or its contents, as this may cause irritation in your mouth or change the way CREON works in your body. Talk to your HCP or consult the CREON Medication Guide for how to take CREON if you have trouble swallowing capsules.
What are the possible side effects of CREON?
CREON may cause additional serious side effects, including:
- Increase in blood uric acid levels (hyperuricemia), including pain, stiffness, redness or swelling of your joints.
- Allergic reactions, including trouble with breathing, skin rashes, swollen lips, or itching.
Call your HCP right away if you have any of these symptoms.
The most common side effects of CREON include blood sugar increase (hyperglycemia) or decrease (hypoglycemia), pain in your stomach, frequent or abnormal bowel movements, gas, vomiting, dizziness, 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.
These are not all the possible side effects of CREON. For more information, ask your HCP or pharmacist.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1‑800‑FDA‑1088.
If you are having difficulty paying for your medicine, AbbVie may be able to help. Visit AbbVie.com/PatientAccessSupport to learn more.
CF Patient Videos
Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) & GI health: Communicating with your healthcare team
Bryan:
As someone living with EPI due to cystic fibrosis, I know that GI symptoms are something I need to pay attention to, and that if I experience any, I should take note and talk to my doctor about them.
EPI can also result from other conditions that affect the pancreas in different ways, including chronic pancreatitis, pancreatectomy, and other conditions.
I meet with my treatment team on a regular basis, and one part of that is meeting with my dietitian. When I meet with my dietitian, she’ll ask about my stool formation and if I’m having any stomach issues.
If I report symptoms, my team can help me figure out if my dosage needs to be adjusted.
Working with my dietitian has helped me take a more holistic approach to my treatment. I look at the labels closely when I’m choosing what to eat.
Most importantly, I try to stay away from sodas and foods with empty calories.
At different times in my life, I’ve kept a diet journal.
I’ve found that it has really helped me figure out what foods work better for me than others.
Showing the journal to my doctor helps us have a more informed discussion about what foods may cause issues.
It’s important that I work with him and do my part in providing as much information as I can.
Use
CREON® (pancrelipase) is a prescription medicine used to treat people who cannot digest food normally because their pancreas does not make enough enzymes.
Important Safety Information
What is the most important information I should know about CREON?
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 healthcare professional (HCP) gave you. Call your HCP right away if you have any unusual or severe: stomach area (abdominal) pain, bloating, trouble passing stool, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
What should I tell my HCP before taking CREON?
Before taking CREON, tell your HCP about all the medicines you take and all your medical conditions, including if you are allergic to pork (pig) products; have a history of intestinal blockage or scarring or thickening of your bowel wall (fibrosing colonopathy), gout, kidney disease, or high blood uric acid (hyperuricemia); or are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, are breastfeeding, or plan to breastfeed.
How should I take CREON?
Take CREON exactly as your HCP tells you. Always take CREON with a meal or snack and enough liquid to swallow CREON completely. Do not crush or chew the CREON capsule or its contents, as this may cause irritation in your mouth or change the way CREON works in your body. Talk to your HCP or consult the CREON Medication Guide for how to take CREON if you have trouble swallowing capsules.
What are the possible side effects of CREON?
CREON may cause additional serious side effects, including:
- Increase in blood uric acid levels (hyperuricemia), including pain, stiffness, redness or swelling of your joints.
- Allergic reactions, including trouble with breathing, skin rashes, swollen lips, or itching.
Call your HCP right away if you have any of these symptoms.
The most common side effects of CREON include blood sugar increase (hyperglycemia) or decrease (hypoglycemia), pain in your stomach, frequent or abnormal bowel movements, gas, vomiting, dizziness, 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.
These are not all the possible side effects of CREON. For more information, ask your HCP or pharmacist.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1‑800‑FDA‑1088.
If you are having difficulty paying for your medicine, AbbVie may be able to help. Visit AbbVie.com/PatientAccessSupport to learn more.
Please see full Prescribing Information, including Medication Guide, provided at CREONinfo.com.
Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) & cystic fibrosis (CF): Diet & nutrition
Jennifer and Sabrina:
A healthy diet for someone with CF is different than what most people consider to be a healthy diet.
It’s really important for kids living with CF to eat a lot of high-calorie and high-fat foods.
We’ve been very diligent about making sure Sabrina gets the nutrition she needs.
I’ve been learning more about nutrition and learning about good food options that are both healthy and high in calories.
My mom has done a lot to help me, things like helping me make good food choices, whether it’s preparing healthy meals or always making sure I have snacks packed in my backpack for school.
She also reminds me about taking my pancreatic enzymes. She has bugged me so much that it’s just become a habit.
There are all sorts of ways for people like me who have EPI due to CF get the nutrients they need.
I can eat eggs, I like eggs sometimes.
Almonds, I love almonds. Sometimes salted, sometimes not, depending on my mood. I’ve actually enjoyed brussels sprouts since my dad cooked them for me, and we’re actually growing them in our garden. And I love rice. Rice is my favorite.
I work closely with my dietitian to make sure I’m getting all of the nutrition I need from my food.
I want to do my part to make sure that I’m making good food choices every day.
Use
CREON® (pancrelipase) is a prescription medicine used to treat people who cannot digest food normally because their pancreas does not make enough enzymes.
Important Safety Information
What is the most important information I should know about CREON?
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 healthcare professional (HCP) gave you. Call your HCP right away if you have any unusual or severe: stomach area (abdominal) pain, bloating, trouble passing stool, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
What should I tell my HCP before taking CREON?
Before taking CREON, tell your HCP about all the medicines you take and all your medical conditions, including if you are allergic to pork (pig) products; have a history of intestinal blockage or scarring or thickening of your bowel wall (fibrosing colonopathy), gout, kidney disease, or high blood uric acid (hyperuricemia); or are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, are breastfeeding, or plan to breastfeed.
How should I take CREON?
Take CREON exactly as your HCP tells you. Always take CREON with a meal or snack and enough liquid to swallow CREON completely. Do not crush or chew the CREON capsule or its contents, as this may cause irritation in your mouth or change the way CREON works in your body. Talk to your HCP or consult the CREON Medication Guide for how to take CREON if you have trouble swallowing capsules.
What are the possible side effects of CREON?
CREON may cause additional serious side effects, including:
- Increase in blood uric acid levels (hyperuricemia), including pain, stiffness, redness or swelling of your joints.
- Allergic reactions, including trouble with breathing, skin rashes, swollen lips, or itching.
Call your HCP right away if you have any of these symptoms.
The most common side effects of CREON include blood sugar increase (hyperglycemia) or decrease (hypoglycemia), pain in your stomach, frequent or abnormal bowel movements, gas, vomiting, dizziness, 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.
These are not all the possible side effects of CREON. For more information, ask your HCP or pharmacist.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1‑800‑FDA‑1088.
If you are having difficulty paying for your medicine, AbbVie may be able to help. Visit AbbVie.com/PatientAccessSupport to learn more.
Please see full Prescribing Information, including Medication Guide, provided at CREONinfo.com.
Caring for a child with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) due to cystic fibrosis (CF)
Jennifer:
Sabrina was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis and exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, also known as EPI, due to CF, at five months old.
Her GI symptoms were what prompted us to take her to the doctor. While it was difficult to hear her diagnosis, at least it provided us with an explanation.
We’ve been very diligent about making sure Sabrina gets the nutrition she needs. We’ve also tried to help her develop the habit of always taking enzymes when she eats.
We do things to help her remember her enzymes like keeping them on our kitchen table and always making sure she has them in her backpack when she goes to school.
We make sure to always keep her enzymes, in a cool, dry place and avoid storing them anywhere where it will get too hot.
It’s a family effort. We always make sure that we have them on us. And when we forget, we have to turn around and go home and get them.
Sometimes she’s better at remembering than I am. We’ll be out and I’ll realize I didn’t grab her enzymes. She’ll tell me, "it's all right, Mom, I have them."
When Sabrina was in elementary school, she had to go to the nurse to get her enzymes.
At that time, I helped her remember to take her pancreatic enzymes when she was at home.
When she entered junior high, she could self-carry her medication.
Since then she’s always been so good at remembering to take her pancreatic enzymes when she eats. She’s learned that if she forgets to take them, she may have some issues.
But that’s only happened once or twice because she’s so on top of it.
Sabrina is getting to be older. She’s a teenager now. It’s really important for her to take responsibility for her health. When we go to the doctor’s office, they ask her questions, and she knows her medications. She knows the names, what they’re for.
So if I wasn’t there, she would be able to step right in and take ownership and know what she needs to do to take care of herself. As a parent, it’s been awesome for me to watch her take more responsibility for her own care.
She asks questions, wants to help prepare meals. She’s even the one who reminds me about her medications now. I want to make sure I’m doing everything I can to help support her and to make sure she has the foundation to make positive choices for herself.
Use
CREON® (pancrelipase) is a prescription medicine used to treat people who cannot digest food normally because their pancreas does not make enough enzymes.
Important Safety Information
What is the most important information I should know about CREON?
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 healthcare professional (HCP) gave you. Call your HCP right away if you have any unusual or severe: stomach area (abdominal) pain, bloating, trouble passing stool, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
What should I tell my HCP before taking CREON?
Before taking CREON, tell your HCP about all the medicines you take and all your medical conditions, including if you are allergic to pork (pig) products; have a history of intestinal blockage or scarring or thickening of your bowel wall (fibrosing colonopathy), gout, kidney disease, or high blood uric acid (hyperuricemia); or are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, are breastfeeding, or plan to breastfeed.
How should I take CREON?
Take CREON exactly as your HCP tells you. Always take CREON with a meal or snack and enough liquid to swallow CREON completely. Do not crush or chew the CREON capsule or its contents, as this may cause irritation in your mouth or change the way CREON works in your body. Talk to your HCP or consult the CREON Medication Guide for how to take CREON if you have trouble swallowing capsules.
What are the possible side effects of CREON?
CREON may cause additional serious side effects, including:
- Increase in blood uric acid levels (hyperuricemia), including pain, stiffness, redness or swelling of your joints.
- Allergic reactions, including trouble with breathing, skin rashes, swollen lips, or itching. .
Call your HCP right away if you have any of these symptoms.
The most common side effects of CREON include blood sugar increase (hyperglycemia) or decrease (hypoglycemia), pain in your stomach, frequent or abnormal bowel movements, gas, vomiting, dizziness, 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.
These are not all the possible side effects of CREON. For more information, ask your HCP or pharmacist.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1‑800‑FDA‑1088.
If you are having difficulty paying for your medicine, AbbVie may be able to help. Visit AbbVie.com/PatientAccessSupport to learn more.
Please see full Prescribing Information, including Medication Guide, provided at CREONinfo.com.
Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) and cystic fibrosis (CF)
Sabrina, Jennifer, and Bryan:
I was only five months old when my mom took me to the doctor and I was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. This also led to the diagnosis of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, also known as EPI due to CF.
Her pediatrician explained that in a person with cystic fibrosis the body makes a sticky mucus that affects the lungs and also the pancreas.
In the pancreas, this mucus stops the digestive enzymes from coming out.
These enzymes are necessary to help properly digest food.
Pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy, also known as PERT, replaces the enzymes that the pancreas normally produces.
Being someone with CF and having EPI that’s caused by CF means as you grow up, you have to take responsibility for your treatments. For me, learning that responsibility extended to other areas of my life. Other kids were focused on their video games, and I was focused on remembering to take my enzymes.
Well I would say, don’t be scared to talk to people about it, and you should always tell your doctors, ask questions, you know, and just, just start to live with it.
I used to be more self-conscious in high school and college. I didn’t want to take my enzymes in public. I’d choose to be discreet about taking them, or I’d take them in the bathroom. Now I know that taking pancreatic enzymes in front of people will spark questions. But that’s okay, because it gives me a chance to explain it. I didn’t choose to have this condition, but it gives me a chance to help educate others.
Use
CREON® (pancrelipase) is a prescription medicine used to treat people who cannot digest food normally because their pancreas does not make enough enzymes.
Important Safety Information
What is the most important information I should know about CREON?
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 healthcare professional (HCP) gave you. Call your HCP right away if you have any unusual or severe: stomach area (abdominal) pain, bloating, trouble passing stool, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
What should I tell my HCP before taking CREON?
Before taking CREON, tell your HCP about all the medicines you take and all your medical conditions, including if you are allergic to pork (pig) products; have a history of intestinal blockage or scarring or thickening of your bowel wall (fibrosing colonopathy), gout, kidney disease, or high blood uric acid (hyperuricemia); or are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, are breastfeeding, or plan to breastfeed.
How should I take CREON?
Take CREON exactly as your HCP tells you. Always take CREON with a meal or snack and enough liquid to swallow CREON completely. Do not crush or chew the CREON capsule or its contents, as this may cause irritation in your mouth or change the way CREON works in your body. Talk to your HCP or consult the CREON Medication Guide for how to take CREON if you have trouble swallowing capsules.
What are the possible side effects of CREON?
CREON may cause additional serious side effects, including:
- Increase in blood uric acid levels (hyperuricemia), including pain, stiffness, redness or swelling of your joints.
- Allergic reactions, including trouble with breathing, skin rashes, swollen lips, or itching.
Call your HCP right away if you have any of these symptoms.
The most common side effects of CREON include blood sugar increase (hyperglycemia) or decrease (hypoglycemia), pain in your stomach, frequent or abnormal bowel movements, gas, vomiting, dizziness, 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.
These are not all the possible side effects of CREON. For more information, ask your HCP or pharmacist.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1‑800‑FDA‑1088.
If you are having difficulty paying for your medicine, AbbVie may be able to help. Visit AbbVie.com/PatientAccessSupport to learn more.
Please see full Prescribing Information, including Medication Guide, provided at CREONinfo.com.
Tips for giving enzymes to your baby
Most babies who have cystic fibrosis need to take pancreatic enzymes.
Pancreatic enzymes help your child digest breast milk or formula so that nutrients like fats, carbohydrates, and proteins can be absorbed.
Since nutrition in infancy is so important, your baby needs to be given enzymes with every breast- or bottle-feeding to help them digest breast milk or formula into nutrients.
All it takes is a little practice to get into the routine of giving your baby enzymes with every breast- or bottle-feeding.
CREON is a pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy used to treat people who cannot digest food normally because their pancreas does not make enough enzymes.
One method dietitians teach for giving enzymes like CREON 3000 to infants is to sprinkle the beads onto applesauce.
Hold the capsule upright so that you can read the word CREON on the capsule.
Carefully twist off the top portion of the capsule.
Open the capsules and mix the contents in a small amount of room-temperature acidic soft food, such as applesauce. The food should be the kind found in baby food jars that you buy at the store, or other food recommended by your doctor.
It’s important to use acidic food to allow the enzymes to work properly.
Give the CREON with soft food to your child and then breast- or bottle-feed right away.
Do not store CREON that is mixed with food.
If the mixture sits too long, the enzymes will no longer be active.
If your child spits out the enzyme-applesauce mixture, don’t worry; just keep trying to spoon the mixture back into your child’s mouth until it’s swallowed. Eventually your baby will get used to the new texture and it will become easier.
If you don’t want to mix CREON with food, you can also sprinkle the contents directly into your infant’s mouth.
Do not mix CREON directly into a bottle of formula or breast milk.
No matter which method you choose, make sure to give your child enough liquid to completely swallow the CREON contents or the CREON and food mixture.
To avoid irritation, care should be taken to ensure no medicine is left in the mouth. After the feeding, look in your child’s mouth to make sure all the medicine has been swallowed, including under the tongue and inside the cheeks.
...and make sure to wipe away any enzymes that may have spilled onto your baby’s face or neck.
If you forget to give CREON to your baby, call your doctor or wait until the next feeding and give the usual number of capsules.
Do not make up for missed doses.
It’s easy to make sure that you’re prepared to give your baby CREON at every feeding.
When you’re at home, make sure that you have plenty of CREON and applesauce (or the acidic soft food your baby prefers).
When you’re away from home it can be helpful to make feeding kits that contain CREON capsules, prepackaged applesauce, a baby spoon, and wet wipes—so that when you breast- or bottle-feed, you have everything you need to give your child enzymes.
And always remember, CREON should be kept at room temperature, and sprinkling on food should occur just prior to feeding your baby.
Remember, taking enzymes at every feeding will help your child digest the important nutrients they need from breast milk or formula.
As your child grows, taking enzymes with meals and snacks will continue to help them get the nutrition they need.
If you have any questions about giving your baby enzymes, be sure to reach out to your child’s doctor or dietitian.
For quick tips and more information about giving CREON to your baby, go to CREON.com/infants
Use
CREON® (pancrelipase) is a prescription medicine used to treat people who cannot digest food normally because their pancreas does not make enough enzymes.
Important Safety Information
What is the most important information I should know about CREON?
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 healthcare professional (HCP) gave you. Call your HCP right away if you have any unusual or severe: stomach area (abdominal) pain, bloating, trouble passing stool, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
What should I tell my HCP before taking CREON?
Before taking CREON, tell your HCP about all the medicines you take and all your medical conditions, including if you are allergic to pork (pig) products; have a history of intestinal blockage or scarring or thickening of your bowel wall (fibrosing colonopathy), gout, kidney disease, or high blood uric acid (hyperuricemia); or are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, are breastfeeding, or plan to breastfeed.
How should I take CREON?
Take CREON exactly as your HCP tells you. Always take CREON with a meal or snack and enough liquid to swallow CREON completely. Do not crush or chew the CREON capsule or its contents, as this may cause irritation in your mouth or change the way CREON works in your body. Talk to your HCP or consult the CREON Medication Guide for how to take CREON if you have trouble swallowing capsules.
What are the possible side effects of CREON?
CREON may cause additional serious side effects, including:
- Increase in blood uric acid levels (hyperuricemia), including pain, stiffness, redness or swelling of your joints.
- Allergic reactions, including trouble with breathing, skin rashes, swollen lips, or itching.
Call your HCP right away if you have any of these symptoms.
The most common side effects of CREON include blood sugar increase (hyperglycemia) or decrease (hypoglycemia), pain in your stomach, frequent or abnormal bowel movements, gas, vomiting, dizziness, 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.
These are not all the possible side effects of CREON. For more information, ask your HCP or pharmacist.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1‑800‑FDA‑1088.
If you are having difficulty paying for your medicine, AbbVie may be able to help. Visit AbbVie.com/PatientAccessSupport to learn more.
Please see full Prescribing Information, including Medication Guide, or visit www.rxabbvie.com/pdf/creon_pi.pdf.