Instructions
Pancreatin is a medicine containing enzymes that act as biological catalysts in the body. Creon is an enzyme preparation prescribed for disorders of the digestive processes, lesions of the exocrine glands and significant disruptions in the functioning of the respiratory system. These medications have similar pharmacological effects on the human body, and therefore patients often have the question of what should be taken for treatment - Pancreatin or Creon.
Pancreatin acts as a biological catalyst in the body; Creon is an enzyme preparation prescribed for disorders of the digestive processes.
Why do humans need digestive enzymes?
A large number of diseases appear due to enzyme deficiency. Chemical reactions continuously occur in the body to ensure vital processes occur. These reactions occur under normal conditions, without exposure to high pressure and elevated temperature. Substances that provide the human body with the necessary “building materials” and energy are oxidized in cells.
Thanks to enzymes - complex protein molecules, food is quickly digested in cells. Enzymes are biological catalysts - substances that accelerate the occurrence of chemical reactions, and are divided into 3 large groups:
- Amylase. These are the names of enzymes - specific proteins that are capable of processing carbohydrates. Because there are many types of carbohydrates, each requires a different type of amylase. Such enzymes are secreted along with saliva or gastric juice.
- Lipase is the name given to digestive protein molecules that break down food into fats. Their secretion occurs in the pancreas and the stomach itself.
- Protease - enzymes that process proteins. Synthesis occurs in the stomach.
A person does not receive a sufficient amount of enzymes that are released after eating. Constant heat treatment applied to products - cooking in a microwave oven, defrosting and freezing, heating once to +60...+80°C - destroys enzymes. Because of this, a sufficient amount of such proteins does not enter the body with food.
Thanks to the enzymes that Creon contains in cells, food is quickly digested.
Foods that do not contain living enzymes have a negative effect on the body. To digest such food, he needs to use the synthesis of additional enzymes, and because of this, the creation of other important substances is suspended.
All this leads to disruption of the digestive tract. Symptoms such as headache, heartburn, gastrointestinal infections, diarrhea and constipation appear.
Thus, for the normal functioning of the body, a person needs more enzymes, because their main function is the breakdown of complex substances into simpler ones that are easily absorbed in the intestines.
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What's better?
The prescription of drugs is determined by the doctor. However, it is clear that the therapeutic effectiveness of Creon is higher, the doses are more precise, and the dosage scale gives scope for prescriptions. Patients who cannot take whole capsules, in the case of Creon, can pour microspheres from the capsule into kefir, yogurt and drink.
The effectiveness of the drug will not decrease significantly. Its intake is accompanied by drinking up to 1.5 liters of water per day (prevention of constipation). Low cost is an attractive feature of pancreatin.
Indications for use
The main indication for the use of the drug Creon is insufficient or completely impaired function of the exocrine pancreas:
- chronic inflammation or pancreatic cancer;
- bone marrow dysfunction;
- insufficient function of enzyme formation in the gastrointestinal tract in older people;
- mutation of the transmembrane regulator gene, damage to the exocrine glands;
- ductal obstruction.
If the main goal of treatment with Creon is to weaken or completely eliminate the symptoms of the disease, then the drug is prescribed if there are problems in the gastrointestinal tract:
- after a gastrectomy - a surgical procedure during which the stomach is completely removed;
- biliary obstruction;
- disruption of bile flow, accumulation of its components in the liver;
- negative symptomatic conditions after surgery to remove the gallbladder;
- symptomatic conditions after removal of a part of the stomach that was affected by the pathological process;
- pathology of the terminal part of the small intestine;
- intensive growth of the number of bacteria in the small intestine.
Creon is often prescribed to young children after they have suffered from diarrhea.
The main indication for the use of Pancreatin is replacement therapy for exocrine pancreatic insufficiency:
- complete or partial removal of the pancreas during surgery;
- diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
- difficult and painful digestion, disruption of the stomach;
- chronic inflammation of the pancreas;
- cystic fibrosis;
- symptomatic conditions after irradiation.
Pancreatin is indicated for chronic inflammation of the pancreas.
In addition, there are other indications for use, such as:
- excessive accumulation of gases in the intestines;
- chronic diseases of the biliary tract;
- improper digestion of food by the stomach, including after its partial removal;
- preparation for ultrasound and x-rays.
Impaired chewing function, eating too much food and hard-to-digest foods are all also indications for the use of Pancreatin.
Description of Pancreatin
Pancreatin is sold in pharmacies in tablet form. There are tablet forms (125 mg, 100 mg, 90 mg or 25 units, 30 units). There is also children's Pancreatin, which is produced in a dosage of 25 units. The medicine is used in pediatrics and neonatology for pancreatic insufficiency. Pancreatin is an analogue of Creon.
Pancreatin is prescribed to treat pancreatic dysfunction . The drug is suitable for long-term use. It can be prescribed for life to correct digestion in cystic fibrosis and other serious diseases accompanied by insufficient functioning of the pancreas.
You can use Pancreatin to prepare for x-rays and ultrasound examinations of the intestine. People who have undergone bowel resection need to be prescribed Pancreatin. The product can be used for diarrhea syndrome and severe bloating. The drug is often used after prolonged immobilization (forced lack of movement) of the patient. For cystic fibrosis, Pancreatin helps reduce dyspepsia and reduce the likelihood of intestinal obstruction.
The medicine should not be used for pancreatitis in the acute phase. The drug is not used for hepatitis and cirrhosis of the liver. You should not use Pancreatin if you have stones in the gallbladder ducts. Pancreatin should not be used simultaneously with iron supplements. Iron absorption decreases. Antacid medications interfere with the work of Pancreatin enzymes.
You should not take the medicine in the acute phase of pancreatitis or liver pathology (hepatitis, cirrhosis). The drug is not prescribed for stone formation in the biliary tract, as well as obstruction of the intestinal tube. High-dose pancreatin is not used in children under 3 years of age. You should not take the drug if you are allergic to its components. Pancreatin impairs the absorption of iron supplements. Antacids reduce the effect of therapy.
How are the drugs different?
The main thing you need to focus on when choosing one of these 2 medications is the doctor’s testimony. In case of a slight upset stomach, a minor disruption of the digestive process, excessive accumulation of gases in the intestines, or ingestion of difficult-to-digest foods, it is better to take Pancreatin. If the body is threatened by more dangerous diseases, such as chronic or acute pancreatitis, Shweikhman-Diamond syndrome, or if the patient has undergone severe gastric surgery, then the doctor will recommend taking Creon.
Another important difference is the way drugs act on the body. Pancreatin begins to act directly in the stomach, because active enzymes are released in this area. Due to the acidic environment of the stomach, these enzymes do not reach the intestines unchanged and are therefore unable to function properly. In this case, the active substances of Creon, on the contrary, do not have time to dissolve and reach the intestines unchanged, which makes the effect on the digestive system more productive.
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Characteristics of active ingredients
The active substances in the drug Pancreatin are elements made from extracts of the pancreas of cows and pigs. The main active ingredient is pancreatin.
The active components of Creon are obtained from the extract of pancreatic secretions exclusively from pigs. The main one is also pancreatin.
Which is better - Pancreatin or Creon?
Without a doctor’s recommendation and the necessary medical examination, it is difficult to determine which drug is best to use in the treatment of pancreatic problems. Despite the identical effects and similar indications, one or another medicine may be suitable in different situations. In most cases, when choosing a remedy, doctors rely on examination results, symptoms and complaints of the patient.
Definition of concepts
Creon is a medicine that contains enzyme components. The direction of the composition’s work is to eliminate problems in the digestion process. It also eliminates malfunctions associated with the functioning of the endocrine glands or in the respiratory system.
Pancreatin is a drug that contains enzymes necessary for the body. The main task of the product is to play the role of a catalyst in natural biological processes associated with digestion and the functioning of the glands.
Directions for use and dosage
The drug Creon is available in capsules containing different amounts of the active substance. The dosage depends on the degree of insufficiency of gastrointestinal tract functions. The average dose for adult patients is 150,000 units/day. If we are talking about complete deficiency - 400,000 units/day. The maximum permissible dosage per day is 15,000 units/kg. The duration of treatment depends on the type of disease: for minor digestive disorders - several days or weeks, for chronic diseases for which the patient needs constant therapy - several years.
Pancreatin is taken with meals or immediately after meals. The average dosage is from 1 to 3 tablets 3 times a day. If necessary, the doctor can increase the rate.
Rules for using Pancreatin
Pancreatin can be used at the beginning and during meals. If you use the drug in 2 doses during meals, the effect of therapy will be higher. The product is used in the form of tablet forms, which are protected by a coating. The tablets must be taken completely. The drug should be taken with water. The medicine should not be chewed. If you chew Pancreatin, the enzymes are partially destroyed by the action of gastric and digestive juices.
Young children need to crush the tablet into powder. It is better to use the children's form of Pancreatin for this. The powder is added to food. The medicine can be put into formula, breast milk, purees, as well as into soup and other dishes.
The dose calculation is carried out necessarily based on lipase. For children under one year of age, a single dosage per feeding can be 1200-3500 IU, depending on the severity of pancreatic insufficiency. A child from 1 to 5 years old is advised to take 1500-1000 units. Children over 5 years old are prescribed 1000-500 units. Instead of Pancreatin, you can take Creon if your child is uncomfortable using tablets. Creon has more convenient forms that are added to food.
special instructions
There are some factors to consider when using these medications.
Pregnancy and lactation
The effect of drugs on the body during pregnancy has not been studied, however, judging by the reviews, Pancreatin and Creon do not pose any danger to the fetus and mother, so use is permitted.
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Childhood
Pancreatin and Creon are not allowed to be given to children under 2 years of age.
Elderly age
There are no restrictions for older people in the use of these medications.
Is it permissible to take medications together?
Pancreatin cannot be used simultaneously with Creon . Medicines are structural analogues of each other. They both contain the same active ingredient. You can only take one of these drugs.
When taking drugs together, patients develop an overdose. High dosages of medications can disrupt digestion. Patients experience constipation. Intestinal obstruction may develop. In case of severe overdose, hyperuricosuria and hyperuricemia develop.
If the patient experiences complications after using 2 medications, the medications are discontinued. Treat the consequences of an overdose symptomatically. After normalization of the patient’s condition, a few days later the patient is prescribed an adequate dose of Creon or Pancreatin.
Reviews from doctors
On the Internet you can study the opinions of doctors about which remedy works better and more effectively:
Larisa Viktorovna, gastroenterologist, 44 years old, Moscow: “The capsule drug Creon is better in everything. It has a wider range of applications due to the accuracy of dosing and has high therapeutic effectiveness. If for some reason the patient cannot swallow the entire capsule, then I recommend pouring its contents into yogurt or kefir and drinking it in one gulp. You can’t do that with pills.”
Irina Sergeevna, gastroenterologist, 53 years old, Voronezh: “Like other doctors, I do not advise anyone to treat the pancreas on their own; you need to select this or that drug only according to the recommendations of a specialist. Replacing one drug with another can cause negative reactions, especially for children. In adults, this goes away in most cases without consequences.”
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Patient reviews
Patients themselves share their experience of using 2 drugs:
Elena, 36 years old, Samara: “I took both, there is no difference. However, many note that their reactions to them were different. For example, my mother doesn’t see any results after taking Pancreatin tablets, so she prefers the product in capsules.”
Olga, 47 years old, Yekaterinburg: “My son is 16 years old, he has problems with the digestive system, at night there was bloating, vomiting and pain, he was taken to the hospital several times for this. At first I took pills, but the problem only worsened, but Creon capsules worked; they are not cheap, but health is more expensive.”
Characteristics of Creon
This drug is in the form of small capsules with a dosed composition of enzymes. It can be 10,000, 25,000 or 40,000 mg. As in the previous case, they represent an extract from the pancreas of cattle. The composition of the drug is completely similar to the previous one.
This drug is in the form of small capsules with a dosed composition of enzymes.
