Shortage of Creon drug worries thousands of people in Spain

He shortage of medicines This is much more common than it seems, although, fortunately, in most cases we are not aware of it. It largely depends on how the country deals with it. In Spain, for example, Spanish Medicines Agency It has a protocol whereby you can ration the drug, look for other forms of the same active ingredient, or directly ship overseas to supply consumers. However, there are times when they become aware of the problem. And this is exactly what happens to him. Creon.

This is a drug consisting of pancreatic enzymes. People with pancreatic insufficiency do not produce enough of these substances, so they cannot exercise properly. digestion of food. This makes this drug indispensable for them.

Shortages of these drugs are in fact already recurring. Currently, according to Spanish Medicines Agency, notification is carried out for almost all presentations of the drug. The oldest one, for boxes 100 capsules Creon 25,000 units began on September 13, 2023, with the latest corresponding to the same dose, but in boxes 50 capsules, began on February 14 this year. At the moment, none of them have a planned end date, although the distributor of this medicine in Spain, Viatrisinsists that measures are being taken to increase its production.

Why is there so little Creon?

People with pancreatic insufficiency do not produce enough amylase, lipase or protease. These are three enzymes produced by the pancreas that are responsible for digesting carbohydrates, lipids and proteins respectively. Therefore, these patients must receive them exogenously to ensure adequate digestion.

This is the mission of Creon, the drug produced by the company. Abbott and is distributed in Spain by Viatris. It is obtained from pig pancreas and this is precisely the reason for the shortage of these drugs.

As the company has repeatedly reported, they do not have enough viable pig pancreas to provide Creon to all the patients in the world who need it. While other sources are being sought, there is no other choice but medications from the diet allocated to each country, taking into account the deficit that this entails.

What to do if there is a shortage of medicines?

Each country has its own way of proceeding before shortage of medicines. In Spain, you can consult the directory of the Spanish Medicines Agency with all the medicines that are available in this situation and what measures are taken.

In the case of Creon controlled distribution of limited units of the drug. This means that each requesting entity receives a very limited number of units of the drug depending on the request history. That is, pharmacies and hospitals where there are more patients needing the drug are seeing larger quantities than those where historically there has been less need. In this way, regular patients will be covered, and new patients will be able to receive it in other institutions where, for whatever reason, there is surplus

Of course, if things got worse, other solutions would have to be sought, but for now it is adequately covered this way. Patients already feel up to their necks in water and have expressed this on social networks. Given this discomfort, it is logical that the pharmaceutical company should take action on this issue as soon as possible in order to find a way to produce more of the drug. This will be the only way to resist Creon deficiency. There should be no panic at this point, but it is important to communicate the issue so that the companies involved do not allow themselves to rest on their laurels.