Your EPI Patients Are Calling — They Can't Find Creon

If you prescribe Creon (Pancrelipase) for patients with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI), you've likely fielded calls from patients who can't fill their prescriptions. Creon has experienced intermittent supply constraints since 2022, and while the situation has improved in 2026, regional and strength-specific gaps continue to affect patient access.

This guide provides a practical, step-by-step approach to helping your patients maintain consistent access to pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy — even when their preferred pharmacy is out of stock.

Current Creon Availability in 2026

Creon is not currently on the FDA's official drug shortage list, but real-world availability remains inconsistent in some areas. Key patterns include:

• The 12,000 and 24,000 lipase unit capsules are the most commonly affected strengths
• Rural areas and communities served by limited pharmacy chains experience more frequent stock-outs
• Specialty and independent pharmacies often have better access than major retail chains
• Supply is generally stable for the 3,000, 6,000, and 36,000 unit capsules

AbbVie continues to manufacture Creon and has invested in expanding production capacity, but the porcine-derived supply chain and rising EPI diagnoses create ongoing pressure.

Why Patients Can't Find Creon

Understanding the barriers your patients face can help you design better solutions:

• Single pharmacy reliance: Most patients use one pharmacy and don't know to check others
• Lack of awareness: Patients may not know that other PERT products exist as alternatives
• Cost concerns: At $700–$1,500/month cash price, patients without good insurance coverage may delay refills or ration doses
• Rural access: Patients in areas with fewer pharmacy options have less flexibility when stock runs low
• Strength-specific issues: A pharmacy may have Creon in stock but not the patient's prescribed strength

What Providers Can Do: 5 Practical Steps

Step 1: Use Medfinder to Locate Stock in Real Time

Medfinder for Providers is a free tool that lets your practice search for Creon availability at pharmacies in your patient's area. When a patient calls reporting a stock-out, your staff can quickly identify an alternative pharmacy with confirmed stock and either transfer the prescription or send a new one.

Consider bookmarking medfinder.com/providers on your practice's computers and training front-desk staff and nurses to use it.

Step 2: Document a Backup PERT Plan in Every EPI Patient's Chart

Don't wait until a stock-out to figure out what to do. For each EPI patient, document:

• Current Creon dose (in lipase units per meal and per snack)
• Preferred alternative PERT product and equivalent dose
• 2–3 backup pharmacies known to carry PERT products
• Whether the patient qualifies for AbbVie's savings card or patient assistance program

This preparation allows for rapid switching when needed, minimizing gaps in therapy.

Step 3: Know Your Alternative PERT Options

Four other FDA-approved pancreatic enzyme products can serve as alternatives to Creon:

• Zenpep (3,000–40,000 lipase units) — most commonly used Creon alternative; delayed-release capsules
• Pancreaze (4,200–21,000 lipase units) — delayed-release capsules with different strength options
• Pertzye (8,000 and 16,000 lipase units) — includes bicarbonate buffering
• Viokace (10,440 and 20,880 lipase units) — non-enteric-coated tablets requiring concomitant PPI; not approved for cystic fibrosis

When switching, recalculate based on total lipase units per meal rather than capsule count. Monitor patients after switching and adjust dosing based on clinical response. For a patient-friendly overview, you can share our article on alternatives to Creon.

Step 4: Help Patients Access Financial Assistance

Cost barriers can compound supply issues. Make sure your team is aware of these programs:

• Creon Savings Card (AbbVie): Eligible commercially insured patients may pay $0 per fill. Not valid for government insurance (Medicare, Medicaid, Tricare).
• AbbVie Patient Assistance Foundation: Provides Creon at no cost to qualifying uninsured/underinsured patients (income typically ≤600% FPL). Applications at abbviepaf.org or 1-800-222-6885.
• Manufacturer programs for alternatives: Zenpep, Pancreaze, and Pertzye each have their own savings and assistance programs. Check manufacturer websites for current offerings.

For a comprehensive patient resource, direct them to How to Save Money on Creon. For provider-focused cost strategies, see our provider cost guide.

Step 5: Leverage Specialty and Mail-Order Pharmacies

For patients with chronic, stable EPI, specialty pharmacy and mail-order pharmacy channels can provide more consistent access to PERT products:

• Specialty pharmacies often have dedicated supply agreements for high-cost medications
• Mail-order pharmacies can provide 90-day supplies, reducing refill frequency and the chance of stock-out encounters
• Many insurance plans offer lower copays for mail-order prescriptions

Work with your patient's insurance to identify in-network specialty or mail-order options.

Workflow Tips for Your Practice

Integrating Creon access planning into your workflow doesn't have to be complicated. Here are some practical suggestions:

• At every EPI visit: Verify the patient's current pharmacy, ask about any access issues, and update backup pharmacy preferences
• Staff training: Ensure medical assistants and front-desk staff know how to use Medfinder and can guide patients to available stock
• Prescription routing: When sending new or refill prescriptions, check stock availability first and route to pharmacies with confirmed supply
• Template documentation: Create an EHR template or smart phrase for EPI patients that includes backup PERT product, dose conversion, and preferred backup pharmacies
• Patient education materials: Share Medfinder links and savings program information with patients at each visit. Useful patient articles include:
  • How to Find Creon in Stock Near You
  • Creon Shortage Update for Patients
  • Creon Side Effects Guide

Final Thoughts

Creon supply issues in 2026 are manageable with proactive planning. By documenting backup plans, training your team on real-time stock tools like Medfinder, and ensuring patients have access to financial assistance, you can minimize therapy gaps and reduce the burden on your practice when patients can't find their enzymes.

Your EPI patients rely on pancreatic enzyme replacement for basic nutrition. A few minutes of preparation now can prevent days of missed therapy later.