Crohn's Disease- current treatments

November 29, 2020

4 min read

Around 1.3% (3 million) of individuals in the U.S. in 2015 reported receiving an IBD (inflammatory bowel disease) diagnosis (either ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease), reports the CDC. This was a huge rise from 1999 (2 million or 0.9% adults).

Research continues showing an increase in the number of individuals who live with IBD, according to the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America. And, this reflects a need for more studies to find the cure.

Individuals of any age can develop Crohn's disease and there's a higher chance of it developing in individuals:

Who smoke cigarettes
Who are between 20 years old and 29
Who have a family member with IBD (typically a parent or sibling)

What Is Crohn’s Disease?

Crohn's disease is a chronic disorder leading to irritation and inflammation in the digestive tract. Often, it affects the start of your large intestine and your small intestine. But it could affect any area of your digestive tract, from your anus to your mouth.

Two common forms of IBD are microscopic colitis and ulcerative colitis. It often starts gradually and over time becomes worse. You might experience times of remission that could last for weeks, sometimes years.

What are the Treatments for Crohn's Disease?

There's no one treatment that works for all people with Crohn's disease. The treatment goals are to:

Reduce intestinal inflammation
Keep you in remission
Prevent symptom flare-ups

Common treatments include the below.

1. Medications

Many individuals with this disease require medication. Which medications your physician prescribes you depends on the symptoms you're experiencing. While no medication cures Crohn's disease, many can decrease your symptoms.

Aminosalicylates

These medications contain 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA). They help control inflammation. Physicians use these to treat individuals who just received a Crohn's disease diagnosis and who are experiencing mild symptoms. Aminosalicylates include:

Mesalamine
Balsalazide
Sulfasalazine
Olsalazine

Immunomodulators

These medications decrease immune system activity which results in less digestive tract inflammation. These can take a few weeks to three months to begin working. Immunomodulators include:

Cyclosporine
6-mercaptopurine
Methotrexate
Cyclosporine

Corticosteroids

These, which are also referred to as steroids, help decrease immune system activity and reduce inflammation. Physicians prescribe these for individuals who are experiencing moderate to severe symptoms. Corticosteroids include:

Hydrocortisone
Budesonide
Prednisone
Methylprednisolone

2. Diet & Nutrition

Although Crohn's disease might not be due to bad reactions to certain foods, you should still pay attention to your diet as it could help decrease your symptoms, promote healing, and replace lost nutrients.

For individuals who receive a Crohn's disease diagnosis, it's important to maintain good nutrition since Crohn's frequently decreases your appetite while it increases the energy requirements of your body.

Also, common symptoms of Crohns such as diarrhea can decrease your body's ability of absorbing:

Fat
Protein
Water
Carbohydrates
Minerals
Vitamins

Many individuals experiencing flare-ups of Crohn's disease find bland, soft foods cause less discomfort than high-fiber or spicy foods. Although your diet could stay flexible and should consist of various foods from all food groups, the physician will probably suggest restricting your dairy intake if you're found to be lactose-intolerant.

3. Surgery

Even with the right medicine and diet, about two-thirds to three-quarters of individuals with this disease will need surgery sometime in their lives. While surgery doesn't cure the disease, it could conserve parts of your GI tract, and get you back to the best quality of life possible.

You might require surgery when medicines can no longer help to control your symptoms or if you begin developing fissure, fistula or intestinal obstruction. Surgery frequently involves resection, which is where the surgeon removes the diseased part of your bowel.

They'll then perform anastomosis, which is where they join the two healthy ends of your healthy bowel. Although these procedures might cause your symptoms to go away for many years, the disease can come back later down the road.

Some important things to know about surgery are:

Various types of surgery might be performed depend on the severity of your illness, the reason for it and the location of your disease
Around 70% of individuals with this disease eventually need surgery
Around 30% of individuals who have surgery for this disease experience symptom recurrence within a few years and up to 60% do within 10 years

If you're overwhelmed or confused about all the therapies and medicines available, you're not alone. Crohn's disease is a complex disease and it's essential you go over the benefits and risks of all options of treatment with your physician.

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