Creon (pancrelipase) is a prescription drug that’s used to treat pancreatic insufficiency caused by certain conditions. This drug can interact with certain medications, including calcium carbonate.
Creon is used in adults and certain children to treat exocrine pancreatic insufficiency caused by:
- cystic fibrosis
- chronic pancreatitis
- pancreatectomy (surgery to remove the pancreas)
- other conditions, such as Crohn’s disease
Creon comes as an oral delayed-release capsule. It contains the active ingredient pancrelipase. (An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.)
An interaction can occur because one substance causes another substance to have a different effect than expected. Interactions can also occur if you have certain health conditions.
Keep reading to learn about Creon’s possible interactions. And for more information about Creon, including details about its uses, see this article.
Before you start taking Creon, tell your doctor and pharmacist about any prescription, over-the-counter, or other drugs you take. Sharing this information with them may help prevent possible interactions. (To learn whether Creon interacts with supplements, herbs, and vitamins, see the “Are there other interactions with Creon?” section below.)
If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
The table below lists drugs that may interact with Creon. Keep in mind that this table does not include all drugs that may interact with Creon. For more information about some of these interactions, see the “Drug interactions explained” section below.
Creon is not known to interact with alcohol. But Creon and alcohol can cause some similar side effects, such as vomiting and dizziness. So you may be more likely to experience these side effects if you drink alcohol during your Creon treatment.
If you have questions about consuming alcohol while using Creon, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Learn more about certain drug interactions that can occur with Creon.
Interaction with antacids
Creon can interact with antacids, which help treat symptoms of acid reflux caused by heartburn or indigestion (upset stomach).
Examples of antacid medications include:
- calcium carbonate (TUMS)
- sodium bicarbonate
- calcium carbonate/magnesium hydroxide (Rolaids)
- aluminum hydroxide/magnesium hydroxide (Maalox)
What could happen
Taking Creon with antacids can prevent your body from absorbing it properly, which can make it less effective.
What you can do
Your doctor may suggest that you don’t take antacids during your Creon treatment. Or they may suggest spacing out your antacid dose from your Creon dose to reduce the risk of these drugs interacting. For example, they may suggest waiting at least 2 hours to take a dose of antacid after taking Creon.
If you have questions about taking Creon with antacids, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Interaction with alpha-glucosidase inhibitors
Creon can interact with alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, which are used to treat type 2 diabetes.
Examples of alpha-glucosidase inhibitor medications include:
- acarbose
- miglitol (Glyset)
What could happen
Taking these drugs together can make alpha-glucosidase inhibitors less effective. Creon works by replacing pancreatic enzymes (proteins that speed up reactions), and these enzymes can prevent alpha-glucosidase inhibitors from working properly.
What you can do
Doctors typically won’t prescribe Creon and alpha-glucosidase inhibitors together. This is because you have to take both drugs at the same time as meals, making the interaction difficult to avoid.
If you have questions about taking Creon with alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Creon may have other interactions. They could occur with supplements, foods, vaccines, or even lab tests. See below for details. Note that the information below does not include all other possible interactions with Creon.
Does Creon interact with supplements?
Before you start taking Creon, talk with your doctor and pharmacist about any supplements, herbs, and vitamins you take. Sharing this information with them may help you avoid possible interactions.
Creon may interact with sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) supplements. Some people use these as antacids or to improve athletic performance. If you use sodium bicarbonate and take Creon, your doctor can advise you on when it’s safe to use sodium bicarbonate. For example, they may recommend you separate taking Creon doses and sodium bicarbonate by at least 2 hours.
If you have questions about interactions that may affect you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Creon and herbs
There are currently no reports of Creon interacting with herbs. But this doesn’t mean that interactions with herbs won’t be recognized in the future.
For this reason, it’s still important to check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any of these products while taking Creon.
Creon and vitamins
There are currently no reports of Creon interacting with vitamins. But this doesn’t mean that vitamin interactions won’t be recognized in the future.
For this reason, it’s still important to check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any of these products while taking Creon.
Does Creon interact with food?
There are currently no reports of Creon interacting with food. If you have questions about eating certain foods during your treatment with Creon, talk with your doctor.
Note: Sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) in certain antacids and supplements can interact with Creon. But baking soda found in foods isn’t expected to have this interaction. The amount of baking soda in food is typically much less than in an antacid or sodium bicarbonate supplement. To learn more, see the “Does Creon interact with supplements?” section.
Does Creon interact with vaccines?
There are currently no reports of Creon interacting with vaccines. If you have questions about getting certain vaccines during your Creon treatment, talk with your doctor.
Does Creon interact with lab tests?
There are currently no reports of Creon interacting with lab tests. If you have questions about having certain lab tests during your treatment with Creon, talk with the healthcare professional ordering the test.
Does Creon interact with cannabis or CBD?There are currently no reports of Creon interacting with cannabis (commonly called marijuana) or cannabis products such as cannabidiol (CBD). But as with any drug or supplement, talk with your doctor before using cannabis with Creon.
Note: Cannabis is illegal at a federal level but is legal in many states to varying degrees.
Certain medical conditions or other health factors may raise the risk of interactions with Creon. Before taking Creon, talk with your doctor about your health history. They’ll determine whether Creon is right for you.
Health conditions or other factors that might interact with Creon include:
Fibrosing colonopathy. Taking Creon may worsen fibrosing colonopathy (a condition that causes shortening of and scarring in the colon in people with cystic fibrosis). If you have fibrosing colonopathy, your doctor may prescribe you a lower dosage of Creon. They’ll also monitor you closely during treatment.
Gout or high uric acid level. Taking Creon may increase your uric acid level. If you have gout or already have a high level of uric acid, taking Creon could worsen your condition. Your doctor may prescribe a lower dose of Creon for you and monitor your uric acid level closely during treatment.
Kidney condition. People with a kidney condition (such as chronic kidney disease) have a higher risk of developing a high uric acid level, which can lead to gout. Taking Creon may also raise your uric acid level. If you have a kidney condition and take Creon, you may have an increased risk of developing a high uric acid level or gout. Your doctor may prescribe a lower Creon dosage and closely monitor your uric acid level during your treatment.
Pregnancy. It’s not known whether Creon is safe to take during pregnancy. If you’re pregnant or planning a pregnancy, talk with your doctor before taking Creon.
Breastfeeding. It’s not known whether it’s safe to take Creon while breastfeeding. If you’re breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor about your options.
Allergic reaction. If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Creon or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Creon. This is because taking the drug could cause another allergic reaction. You can ask your doctor about other treatments that may be better choices for you.
Find answers to some frequently asked questions about Creon and possible interactions.
Are there foods to avoid when taking Creon?
There are no reports of specific foods interacting with Creon.
But if you’re taking Creon, you should always follow the diet or nutrition advice recommended by your doctor, dietitian, or nutritionist. Ask your care team if there are specific foods you should avoid as part of your treatment plan for exocrine pancreatic insufficiency.
Does Creon have any contraindications?
No, Creon doesn’t have any contraindications.
Contraindications are certain health conditions or other factors that could raise your risk of harm from taking certain medications. In such cases, your doctor may not prescribe a medication for you.
If you have questions about whether your health history or other factors could raise your risk of side effects from Creon, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Is there an interaction between Creon and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) such as omeprazole?
No, there’s no known interaction between Creon and PPIs such as omeprazole (Prilosec).
Creon can interact with antacids, and both antacids and PPIs are used to treat symptoms of acid reflux in certain situations. But interactions with PPIs haven’t been reported.
If you have other questions about taking Creon with a proton pump inhibitor drug, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Taking certain steps can help you avoid interactions with Creon. Before starting treatment, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Things to discuss with them include:
- Whether you drink alcohol or use cannabis.
- Other medications you take, as well as any vitamins, supplements, and herbs. Your doctor or pharmacist can help you fill out a
medication list . - What to do if you start taking a new drug during your Creon treatment.
It’s also important to understand Creon’s
If you have trouble reading or understanding this information, your doctor or pharmacist can help.
Taking Creon exactly as prescribed can also help prevent interactions.
If you still have questions about Creon and its possible interactions, talk with your doctor.
Questions you may want to ask your doctor include:
- Do I need to space out when I take my medications throughout the day to avoid interactions?
- Which medications for acid reflux are safe for me to take with Creon?
- Could I still take Creon even if it interacts with a health condition I have?
To learn more about Creon, see these articles:
To get information on different conditions and tips for improving your health, subscribe to any of Healthline’s newsletters. You may also want to check out the online communities at Bezzy. It’s a place where people with certain conditions can find support and connect with others.
Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.
