Treatment options for Crohn’s disease depends largely on the severity of the condition and the parts of the digestive tract that are affected by the disease. The danger of complications, as well as responses to previous treatments is considered before deciding on any treatment option.
The treatments for Crohn’s disease don’t necessarily involve treating the Crohn’s itself, but rather the symptoms that go with the disease such as abdominal pain, diarrhea and rectal bleeding. There are no cures, as yet for Crohn’s disease.
Treatment Options
1. Surgery
A great number of Crohn’s patients will undergo surgery at some point. Surgery is typically only recommended when there are serious and severe complications, but it may also be chosen for elective reasons. Some of the conditions that require surgery are excessive bleeding, perforation of the bowel, intestinal obstruction, formation of an abscess or toxic megacolon.
Some of the reasons you might consider surgery is if your current medical treatments aren’t as effective as they once were, or they are unable to control the pain, weight loss fever or extreme fatigue that are symptoms of your condition. Another reason elective surgery might be an option is if the side effects of your Crohn’s treatment have become too much for you to bear.
Patients with Crohn’s disease should never be afraid of surgery since it helps to alleviate the complications of the disease, and conserve bowel. Not only that, an entire health care team including a surgeon, anesthesiologist and primary physician will handle the surgery so you can be assured of a successful, well tolerated procedure.
2. Drug Therapy
A present there is no drug that will cure your Crohn’s disease; however there are medicines that are used for treating the symptoms that go with Crohn’s. Drug therapies vary from one patient to another and are usually custom-designed to suit every patient.
The Aminosalicylates are ideal for patients with mild to moderate disease. This drug is used to achieve or maintain remission. While there is no concrete proof that these medications are effective in treating Crohn’s, they are prescribed frequently since most patients can tolerate the drug quite well, and experience few side effects.
For patients that do not respond well to these medications, corticosteroids are a great alternative since these drugs control inflammation and induce remission. Although, these drugs are effective, they can cause some significant side effects such as increased receptiveness to infection, mood swings, anxiety, depression, elevated blood pressure, glaucoma, cataracts and osteoporosis. As a result, doctors gradually reduce the dose you are taking once remission is achieved.
Antibiotics are used to treat many ailments not just Crohn’s disease. They are particularly helpful in patients with fistulas, and can be combined with other medications. These drugs are used to delay the recurrence of Crohn’s disease.
Immuno-suppressives are drugs that suppress the immune system. They are effective but can cause some side effects such as nausea, vomiting, liver problems or inflammation of the pancreas. These drugs work by suppressing the bone marrow and as a result the immune response. Because of their side effects, frequent monitoring is required while you are taking this medication, including blood testing and regular visits to your doctor.
Biologic Therapy is the latest addition to treatments for Crohn’s disease, and is the first drug to ever be approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating Crohn’s. What makes this drug so effective is the fact that it is an antibody that blocks that tumor necrosis factor.
3. Diet and Nutrition
Since Crohn’s disease is a disease of the digestive tract, it is critical for every Crohn’s patient to pay special attention to the foods they eat. Proper selection of food is important in order to reduce symptoms and promote healing.
4. Nutrition supplementation
Nutritional supplements are given especially to children with Crohn’s whose growth has been slowed down by the disease. A special high calorie liquid formula is sometimes used for this purpose. There may also be patients who require feeding through the veins. This procedure provides patients with extra nutrition while giving their intestines the rest they needs
5. Investigational treatments
Continuous research geared toward the discovery of effective treatments for Crohn’s disease offers patients great hope that a cure will someday be found for their disease. Investigational treatments include anti-TNF, Interluekin 10, Antibiotics, Budesonide, Methotrexate and cyclosporine, Natalizumab and zinc.
If you suspect you have Crohn’s disease, you should first consult your primary care physician before taking other steps. Careful diagnosis and monitoring is the key to living comfortably with Crohn’s.
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