Crohn's Disease Treatment Options - OmniMedicalSearch.com

Conditions & Diseases: Digestive System

Crohn's Disease

Treatment Options

Medical management of the disease consists of “reducing the symptoms and bringing on remission.”

The following medications are used to treat Crohn’s disease:

5-ASA compounds: Most of the medications for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis have 5-aminosalicylic acid that inhibits substances causing inflammation in the immune system. These “sulfa drugs” also called sulfasalazine and trade named as Azulfadine are one such drug. It is important to note that sulfasalazine has many side affects such as headaches, nausea and vomiting.

Drugs with following trade names and formulations are available:

Asacol (mesalamine), available as a 400-milligram coated caplet.
Pentasa (mesalamine), available as a 250-milligram capsule.
Rowasa (mesalamine), available as a 500-milligram rectal suppository or a 4,000 milligram enema (effective for Crohn's colitis, which affects the rectum and left side of the colon).
Dipentum (osalazine), available as a 250-milligram capsule.

Steroids: Steroids are potentially toxic, powerful drugs used to alleviate inflammation and to suppress the body's immune system. Some of the commonly used steroids used to treat Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis include Prednisone and prednisolone. But these have dangerous side effects and precaution should be taken.

Medications that suppress the immune system: Immunosuppressive drugs are generally used in conjunction with organ transplants to minimize the possibility of rejection.

Antibiotics: Broad spectrum antibiotics like Ciprofloxacin (Cipro), Clarithromycin (Biaxin) and Ampicillin are used to treat Crohn’s disease.

Infliximab: This drug is a “chimeric monoclonal antibody-a manufactured protein” trade named as Remicade is used to treat specific biological substance.

Prevention Methods
Crohn’s disease cannot be prevented since the causes are unknown.

Article by Kona Vishnu, MS
Medical Writer,
OmniMedicalSearch.com

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Page Last Modified:
09/10/2010