5 Foods to Limit or Avoid When Taking Creon: High-Fiber Foods, Hot Drinks, and More

The foods that we consume are made up of various nutrients that give us energy. Macronutrients are a vital part of this, and they include proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. But our bodies can’t take advantage of these nutrients without breaking them down and absorbing them first.

This job ultimately falls to your pancreas. Normally, your pancreas releases enzymes (proteins) that act as tools your body can use to digest your meals and snacks. These enzymes break apart the food you eat into smaller pieces so your body can absorb it for energy. But some health conditions affect your body’s ability to process and absorb nutrients from your diet.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with a condition like cystic fibrosis or pancreatic insufficiency, you may have been prescribed a medication called Creon (pancrelipase). These conditions can hinder how effective your pancreas is, so Creon can offer support by providing additional pancreatic enzymes as reinforcements.

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However, Creon can be sensitive. Certain foods and drinks can mess with it.

Should I take Creon with meals and snacks?

Yes. You should take Creon when you eat. It contains enzymes that help break down the food that you consume. The medication and food need to be in your gut at the same time in order to work.

Your exact Creon dosage will likely differ between meals and snacks. Usually, half of the meal dose is taken with snacks. And you may need to take slightly more medication than normal depending on what type of meal you’re eating. Your healthcare provider will come up with customized Creon doses for you that are based on your diet and lifestyle.

There are some exceptions where you don’t need to take Creon. This is when you consume very small quantities of food — like a bite-size piece of chocolate. For more specific recommendations, it’s best to talk to your care team.

Can I sprinkle Creon capsules onto food?

Yes, you can.

For infants and children with cystic fibrosis, Creon is often prescribed. In this case, you can open the capsule and sprinkle the contents of Creon on soft, acidic foods — like applesauce. You shouldn’t mix Creon into breast milk or formula because Creon may not work as well. It may also irritate your child’s mouth.

Alternatively, you may sprinkle the contents of the capsule directly into your child’s mouth. Just make sure that Creon does not accidentally get chewed, crushed, or remain in their mouth for too long. If it does, it can cause mouth irritation. Give your infant or child enough liquid to completely swallow the contents of the capsules.

Good to know: Sprinkling the contents of Creon (instead of swallowing the capsules whole) isn’t limited to children. Adolescents and adults can do this, too.

Yet, no matter if you swallow Creon whole or sprinkle it onto something, certain foods and drinks could interfere with your dose. Five important dietary considerations are highlighted below.

1. Non-acidic foods — but only during dose administration

Creon capsules contain very small spheres of medication inside of them. These spheres have a protective coating to help the medication safely travel from your mouth and into your small intestine so it can get to work. The small intestine is responsible for the bulk of nutrient absorption.

However, this medication coating is only stable in acidic areas. The intestines are naturally less acidic, and this is what dissolves Creon’s coating and allows it to start working. If you swallow your Creon dose with a non-acidic food or drink, it could make the medication start working in your mouth or stomach instead of your intestines. This isn’t ideal — you want Creon to become active once it reaches your intestines. This is true no matter if you’re swallowing capsules whole or sprinkling the contents of them onto food.

To prevent this, it’s a good idea to only take Creon with acidic foods.

Good to know: This doesn’t mean you have to avoid all non-acidic foods. You should just avoid them at the same time you’re actively swallowing Creon. For information about specific foods, dose timing, and dietary restrictions, it’s best to speak to your healthcare provider or registered dietitian.

What are non-acidic foods? 

Creon’s labeling states that it shouldn’t be mixed with foods with a pH higher than 4.5. Examples of more alkaline (basic) food products that aren’t acidic enough to consume with Creon include:

• Milk (including breast milk)

• Baby formula

• Cheese

• Watermelon

• Cantaloupe

This list isn’t comprehensive. You should speak to your provider to obtain more information on what kinds of foods you should and shouldn’t take with Creon.

2. Fatty foods (in inconsistent amounts)

When your healthcare provider prescribes Creon, they will recommend a dose based on the amount of fat you normally consume in your diet. The more fat you consume, the greater the dose of Creon.

If you change the amount of fat you eat on a daily basis, this makes it harder for your provider to prescribe the right amount of medication. On some days, you might be taking too much medication. On other days, you might not be taking enough.

This doesn’t necessarily mean you should or need to consume a low-fat diet. This just means you should try to have a level of consistency in your diet so that your healthcare provider can choose an appropriate dose for you.

3. Large amounts of fiber

While eating plenty of fiber is usually a good thing, this is not necessarily the case if you’re taking pancreatic enzymes. There are two main problems that occur when you consume a very high-fiber diet with Creon:

1. Decreased effectiveness: Too much fiber can cause Creon to not work as well, so your body may not absorb all the nutrients from the foods you eat.

2. Fatty stool: A high-fiber diet can cause your body to release excess fat in your stool. This is a sign that your body isn’t adequately absorbing nutrients from your food.

What’s considered to be very high fiber? According to experts, consuming more than 25 grams of fiber per day is the upper limit while you’re taking Creon. Example foods that are high in fiber include:

• Whole grain bread

• Beans

• Lentils

• Chia seeds

• Flax seeds

• Psyllium husk

4. Hot drinks

Acidity isn’t the only factor that affects Creon’s stability. It also needs to be at the right temperature when you take it.

If Creon is in too hot of an environment, this can damage the medication, and it may not work correctly. This is why you should avoid hot drinks, like coffee or tea, while swallowing your doses. If Creon is exposed to too much heat, it can damage the medication and dampen its effectiveness. It’s better to take it with a cold or lukewarm beverage.

This doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a hot beverage — you just shouldn’t have one while you’re swallowing your medication. Try to wait a few moments after you swallow your dose before consuming something hot.

5. Alcohol

You should also try to avoid alcohol while taking Creon.

There isn’t a ton of data that indicates the effects of alcohol on Creon itself — or vice versa. But we do know that alcohol has negative effects on your pancreas. It can damage it or contribute to additional inflammation.

If your pancreas is already not working as well as it could, adding alcohol to the mix can worsen your condition. This is especially true when alcohol is consumed in large or frequent amounts.

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Written by:

Mandeep Sohal, PharmD

Mandeep Sohal, PharmD, has more than 7 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry and is licensed in California. In his career, he’s had experience with specialty pharmacy, community pharmacy, pharmacy benefit management, and pharmaceutical manufacturers.

Edited by:

Joshua Murdock, PharmD, BCBBS

Joshua Murdock, PharmD, BCBBS, is a licensed pharmacist in Arizona, Colorado, and Rhode Island. He has worked in the pharmacy industry for more than 10 years and currently serves as a pharmacy editor for GoodRx.

Reviewed by:

Christina Aungst, PharmD

Christina Aungst, PharmD, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. She began writing for GoodRx Health in 2019, transitioning from freelance writer to editor in 2021.

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