What is EPI?

EPI (exocrine pancreatic insufficiency) is the medical term for a condition that occurs when the pancreas doesn’t release enough digestive enzymes. As a result, the body cannot properly digest food and absorb nutrients.

EPI and digestion

Click through the steps below to explore how EPI can affect the way your body digests food.

EPI is condition that affects the pancreas 1

Food isn’t digested properly with EPI 2

There are consequences of EPI 3

EPI is a condition that affects the pancreas

The pancreas is an organ that makes 3 types of enzymes—lipase, protease, and amylase—which help the body digest food into nutrients.

Food isn’t digested properly with EPI

In people with EPI, the pancreas does not make enough enzymes to properly digest food. Fats are especially hard to break down, and the fat-soluble vitamins—A, D, E, and K—may not be properly absorbed.

There are consequences of EPI

When people have EPI, nutrients may not be properly absorbed by the intestines. Unabsorbed food can lead to diarrhea, gas, bloating, stomach pain, unexplained weight loss, and oily, foul-smelling stools (steatorrhea).

Answer this question so we can help you find what you're looking for:

Have you been diagnosed with EPI?

You answered Yes

CREON replaces enzymes to help people with EPI digest food.

Learn more about CREON

When prescribing CREON, your doctor will choose a dose that is specific for you based on different factors.

Learn about dosing

You answered No

Use an online tool to log your symptoms and share them with your doctor.

Check your symptoms

The first step in diagnosing EPI is talking with your doctor about your medical history and the symptoms you're experiencing.

Learn about EPI diagnosis

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Want to take a closer look at EPI?

Learn more about the role of the pancreas and how EPI affects digestion.

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Answers to frequently asked questions

Signs and symptoms of EPI

Symptoms of EPI are similar to those of other conditions that affect your stomach and digestion.

Learn about EPI symptoms

USE

CREON® (pancrelipase) 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. Tell your doctor if you have a history of intestinal blockage, or scarring or thickening of your bowel wall (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 their 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 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/myAbbVieAssist to learn more.

US-CREO-210280

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.

Important Safety Information

CREON may increase your chance of having a rare bowel disorder called fibrosing …

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.

Important Safety Information

CREON may increase your chance of having a rare bowel disorder called fibrosing …

USE

CREON® (pancrelipase) 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. Tell your doctor if you have a history of intestinal blockage, or scarring or thickening of your bowel wall (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 their 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 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/myAbbVieAssist to learn more.

US-CREO-210280