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Creon - am I taking too much or too little?

Posted by stillaround @stillaround, Sep 27, 2025

Hi - pancreatic cancer person here. (Surgery 14 years ago removed tail, recurrence on head a year ago, currently in remission after treatment including hi-dose radiation.) Started Creon several weeks ago. I THINK I am taking enough as I am finally putting weight on, stools are proper color etc. But I am quite bloated with distended belly and a bit constipated. If everything else is good could this mean I'm not taking enough? Or does constipation with normal stools mean I'm already taking too much?

I take 36,000 with my smallish calorie-dense meals, my weight is 108. The PERT calculator indicates I need closer to 48,000 at breakfast but other meals I'm in range.

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anilittl | @anilittl | Jan 5 12:18pm
In reply to @johnny1955 "@anilittl are you having cramps with too much creon?" + (show)
Profile picture for johnny1955 @johnny1955

@anilittl are you having cramps with too much creon?

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@johnny1955
No cramps. The more fat and oil in food the more creon you should take, also if you poo floats is another indicaion your not taking enough. I have dumping snydrome because of the whipples op. This affects me terribly. The

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whipple123 | @whipple123 | Jan 5 8:27pm

I had Whipple 4 months ago
Taking 1 Zenpep 40000 and 1 Pert 24000 every meal. Sometimes frequent stool
Still trying to adjust the dosage
Do we need to take these supplements the rest of the life?

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johnny1955 | @johnny1955 | Feb 16 11:05am
In reply to @anilittl "@allioops always take Creon immediatly before food. i take 9 25000 strengh with all food, if..." + (show)
Profile picture for anilittl @anilittl

@allioops always take Creon immediatly before food. i take 9 25000 strengh with all food, if i have a coffee or a sweet i take 6. if half an hour lapses between meals i would take another 6 to 9. you cant overdose on them. if your poo floats or its lighter than the colour of dark chocolate i would increase creon.

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@anilittl
That sounds like a lot of creon. If I take too much I get gas and bloating.

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jamie1235 | @jamie1235 | Feb 17 9:12am

I had the Whipple a year ago. I had begun taking one Creon with meals and snacks, but had “floaters” and frequent diarrhea, so my Dr recommended taking two, 36,000 with small meals and one with snacks. For the most part, that seems to have solved the diarrhea problem, but I do have gas and bloating, too. I eat lots of mashed potatoes to help prevent diarrhea!

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gordond | @gordond | Feb 27 7:40am

I am 2 years post whipped and cannot gain weight, started. With 36000 2 at each meal now on 24000 what do I do to gain weight?

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johnny1955 | @johnny1955 | Feb 27 9:09am
In reply to @katieliz "This topic is so confusing, I would like to know the correct amount of the enzymes..." + (show)
Profile picture for katieliz @katieliz

This topic is so confusing, I would like to know the correct amount of the enzymes to take also. They upped my dosage as I was not gaining weight, but I think I’m now maintaining so that’s better than continuing losing - starts to feel like I am just going to fade away when it’s a lower # every time I am weighed (I am 5’ 7” and I weight 109 or so now). But when they upped my dosage (I was taking ZenPep, 20,000 IUs at meals, 10,000 for snacks) they okayed me to order a different, OTC med - Vital Nutrients, so take one of these at my three main meals along with the ZenPep. Much cheaper, $40/month. Now I am wondering what is the difference? - if much - between the ZenPep and cheaper OTC med? I wouldn't have known about the OTC cheaper med if the Dr hadn't recommended it, so they must have some faith in it. Hard to find answers for these medications. And is there much difference between Creon and ZenPep? I think Creon may be more expensive than ZenPep, I pay $194/month from the hospital mail order pharmacy - I’ve seen much higher $$ for both, the mail order option helps us (initially was paying $394/month).

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@katieliz I get my creon free, sent to me. Check with your doctor and have him pursue it. Also check on the web for Abbvie.com.

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