Pancrelipase
Pancrelipase replaces the digestive enzymes the pancreas normally makes, helping food to be broken down and absorbed. Creon 150mg capsules are the pancrelipase product sold here.
What pancrelipase is for
Pancrelipase is a mixture of three digestive enzymes: lipase for fats, protease for proteins and amylase for starches. It is made from pig pancreas and stands in for the enzymes your own pancreas would release into the small intestine. When the pancreas cannot make enough of them — a condition called exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) — food passes through only partly broken down. Stools turn pale, greasy and hard to flush, the abdomen bloats, and weight can fall even when you are eating well. Cystic fibrosis, chronic pancreatitis and surgery to remove the pancreas are the usual reasons it happens. What is sold here for it is Creon, 150mg capsules.
Taking the capsules with meals
A capsule goes with every meal and snack, swallowed whole with plenty of water. Chewing or crushing one, or leaving it in the mouth, lets the enzymes irritate the lining of the mouth, and the coating on the beads has to survive the stomach so that they open further down. If swallowing a capsule is hard, open it and stir the beads into a spoonful of something soft and acidic such as apple puree, then swallow it straight away without chewing and follow with a glass of water or juice. For a baby, sprinkle the contents into the mouth instead — never into formula or breast milk — give liquid afterwards and check the mouth is empty.
How much you need depends on the fat in your diet, and it changes as digestion improves, so two people with the same condition may take very different numbers of capsules. Mix only what the meal needs and throw away anything left over.
Side effects and interactions
Wind, bloating, stomach ache, nausea and a change in how often you go to the toilet are the effects people notice most, and they often ease as the dose is settled. Get emergency help if the lips, tongue or throat swell or breathing becomes difficult. Because the enzymes come from pig tissue, they are not for anyone with a pork allergy. Antacids containing calcium carbonate or magnesium hydroxide can reduce how well the enzymes work. Rarely, children with cystic fibrosis given very high doses have developed a narrowing of the large bowel, which is one reason the amount is kept as low as it can be while still controlling symptoms.
Storing the capsules
Heat and damp can spoil the protective coating on the beads, so keep the capsules in the container they came in and open one only when the meal is in front of you. Creon is the only pancrelipase product PockDose sells: 150mg capsules, in the same section as the other digestive health medicines.
Sources
- Pancrelipase: MedlinePlus Drug Information — MedlinePlus / U.S. National Library of Medicine
- Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI) - NIDDK — NIDDK / NIH
Where can I buy Pancrelipase in Hong Kong?
Pancrelipase can be ordered online with delivery to Hong Kong. The page lists generic Creon 150mg capsules. Tracked courier delivery to Hong Kong takes 5 to 9 business days and comes with online tracking.
How much do Pancrelipase products cost in Hong Kong?
The price depends on the strength and pack size you choose. The Creon page shows current prices in HKD or the currency you select.
Do I need a prescription to order Pancrelipase?
PockDose does not ask you to upload a prescription when you order pancrelipase. See the ordering FAQ for details.
What are the brand names for pancrelipase?
Creon is a brand name of pancrelipase, which is also sold as Pancreaze and Zenpep. Here, pancrelipase can be bought online as generic Creon. These are generics, not the original brand.
Is Creon the same as pancrelipase?
Pancrelipase is the active ingredient; Creon is the brand name it is sold under here. The capsules hold pig-derived lipase, protease and amylase, the same three enzymes other pancrelipase brands use. Creon on this page comes as 150mg capsules.
How long does pancrelipase take to work?
The enzymes act on the meal they are taken with, breaking down fat, protein and starch as the food leaves the stomach, so nothing builds up between doses. Greasy stools, bloating and stomach ache can improve once the amount taken matches the fat in your diet.
Can I take antacids with pancrelipase?
Antacids containing calcium carbonate or magnesium hydroxide can reduce the effect of the enzymes. Pancrelipase works on the food in front of you, so it is taken with the meal itself rather than between meals.
How many capsules do I take in a day?
It depends on how often you eat, because each meal and snack needs its own capsule — three meals and two snacks means five. How much you need is tied to the fat in your diet, and the amount goes up if stools or weight have not improved.
Is pancrelipase only for cystic fibrosis?
No. Cystic fibrosis is one cause of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, but chronic pancreatitis, surgery to remove the pancreas and other conditions that damage the gland cause it too. The enzymes work the same way whatever the cause.