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Crohn's Disease
See Also:
Crohn's Disease:
Introduction/Overview
Crohn's Disease:
Types
Crohn's
Disease: Causes & Risk Factors
Crohn's Disease:
Signs & Symptoms
Crohn's
Disease: Medical Tests & Diagnosis Methods/Tools
Crohn's
Disease: Treatment Options
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.
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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.
See Also:
Crohn's Disease:
Introduction/Overview
Crohn's Disease:
Types
Crohn's
Disease: Causes & Risk Factors
Crohn's Disease:
Signs & Symptoms
Crohn's
Disease: Medical Tests & Diagnosis Methods/Tools
Crohn's
Disease: Treatment Options
Article by Kona Vishnu, MS
Medical Writer,
OmniMedicalSearch.com
Sources:
- Crohn’s Disease (2007),
[Online], Page retrieved on March 08,2007
- Types Of Crohn's Disease
(2004). ehealthMD. Page retrieved on March 08,
2007
- About Crohn’s Disease
(2007). Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of
America (CCFA). Page retrieved on March 08, 2007
- What Causes Crohn's Disease?
(2004).ehealthMD. Page retrieved on March 08,
2007
- What Are The Symptoms Of Crohn's
Disease? (2004).ehealthMD. Page retrieved on
March 08, 2007
- Crohn's Disease (2001). USA
Today. Page retrieved on March 08, 2007
- Crohn's Disease Causes
(2006). MayoClinic.com. Page retrieved on March
08, 2007
- Crohn's Disease Risk Factors
(2006). MayoClinic.com. Page retrieved on March
08, 2007
- Crohn's Disease (2006).
National Digestive Disease
InformationClearinghouse (NDDIC). Page retrieved
on March 08, 2007
- Digestive Diseases: Crohn's
Disease (2006). WebMD. Page retrieved on
March 20, 2007
- Crohn's Disease, (2004).
FamilyDoctor.org. Page retrieved on March 20,
2007
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