Enzyme intake -- how many do you take with meals?

M

musclemania70

New member
There are supposed to be limits with the amount of enzymes you take with meals. However, i found that the only amount that works for me without stomachaches is 8 Creon 24k with meals.

How many Creon do you take with meals? Your age?

i think as we age, we need more enzymes but there is no true guidance from the docs on this. They tell you not to take more than 5 with a meal but 5 is not nearly enough for me and i am at the strongest dosage.

Thanks for reading!
 
R

Ratatosk

Administrator
Staff member
When ds was a baby we were given a general idea as to how many enzymes to give him, but adjust accordingly based on output. Unlike some of my friends we were never given a maximum allowable so if ds eats pizza or theater popcorn, I'll give him a couple extra enzymes. He gets 8 Creon 12k with meals and 4-5 with snacks on a regular basis if he has something that I know has a lot of extra fat, I'll bump up the amount. I figure not all pancreases function equally. So now days the prescription is written based on what he usually eats rather than a generic number.
 
A

Aboveallislove

Super Moderator
Our CF center refuses to dose based on intake and will only give maximum per weight. DS was getting tons of stomach aches and floating stools, so I added a meal and made them smaller so that he could have the maximum dose per the doctors but was getting enough based on fat intake. I believe the maximum dose is within an hour so if you can eat more often with smaller fat intake. I seemed to recall the maximum dosing could handle like 24 grams of fat and he was having nearly 40 grams for some meals.
 
T

tattertott

Guest
I just recently got converted from Pancrease MT 10's to Creon enzymes just last year. I had been taking the MT 10's since I was born till I was 21. With those, I had to take 10 for meals and 6 for snacks. Now that I'm on Creon, I take 4 for meals and 2-3 for snacks. I do think they need to get increased with age because my enzyme intake has had to have been adjusted about 13 times throughout my life.
 
E

erock77

Member
It's definitely been increased through my life, mostly my teen growing years.
I take 12-14 Zenpep 20's w/ meals and less with snacks, depending on the snack. I used to take 16 Creon-20's, but Zenpep helped me get down. I haven't heard of anyone who takes more, so I'm interested if my record still holds. That being said, the docs have been pretty concerned since I take over double the max recommended dose. But haven't had issues yet, which seems lucky. So I wouldn't recommend it. It's also annoying that I have to open a new bottle every 2 days or so.
 
J

Jason1981

Guest
I try taking as little as possible for each meal. Otherwise , it umm....goes out the other end pretty quickly. LOL Seriously, though, I take maybe 1 to 3 Zenpep (the 20,000 units) with meals. Sometimes I take 4 or 5 , if I'm eating a big meal, or something that I know would be more difficult to digest.

For example, if I eat an egg or two, I can get by with one pill(sometimes not even one pill, if I'm drinking something like warm tea. ). Something like a big grilled hamburger on the other hand, I'll take four or five pills.

I might actually be doing it wrong, but I don't want to run out of capsules TOO quickly. Getting a new prescription approved is a pain, when it comes to insurance. (I have Partnership Healthplan of California. I think that's also Medi-Cal, which is California's version of Medicaid, I think)
 
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windex125

Guest
I take 1 in the morning as I only east yogurt-pc of fruit then larger meal 2. I am taking Creon 6000 I was PS my whole life had my first attack in May 2 wks in hosp. now this added and they took away my wine. OMG I am really so upset I am 59 what few pleasures do I have left??? Pat
 
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