Creon

Question

I am 18 years old and take creon almost regularly. I am surprised, though, that I am not thin, like the other CF patients. I am 153 cm tall/short ;-) and weigh 55kg, and I have a rather plump belly which bothers me.

My question: am I taking too much or too little creon?

Answer

Hello,

the question whether you are taking too much or too little creon cannot be measured against weight or height alone. The intake of creon has to be based on the composition of the diet. This means that a daily standard dosage that is not adjusted to amount of fat, protein, and carbohydrates contained in the diet will cause problems -- unless you eat the same meal with the same composition every day, which is very unlikely.

Apart from weight development, many clinical symptoms play a role. The plump belly, for instance, is a symptom that points to the fact that the creon dosage is not optimized based on the composition of your meals (too low concerning the amount of fat in your meals). Voluminous fatty stools which smell bad and float on top in the toilet are a further indication. However, other causes such as lactose intolerance, celiac disease or other diseases can also be possible. Consult your treating doctor about the symptoms. Appropriate diagnostics (stool tests, etc.) and nutritional counseling should then be initiated.

Best regards,
Dr. Christian von Mallinckrodt

07.05.2012