Crohn's Disease Treatment

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If you are diagnosed with Crohn's disease, it is wise to seek out and work closely with a gastroenterologist, internist, or other physician who specializes, or at the very least has considerable experience, in the treatment of this condition.

There is no medical treatment that can cure Crohn's disease. Treatment is aimed at easing the symptoms and slowing the progression of the disease. Diarrhea may be treated with medications like loperamide (found in Imodium AD and other over-the-counter products) or diphenoxylate and atropine (Lomotil), a prescription medication. Both of these works by slowing peristalsis, the rhythmic movement of the intestines that moves food and wastes along. In some cases, an agent such as cholestyramine (LoCholest, Questran), which binds with bile salts so that they are excreted, may be effective.

For cramping, an anticholinergic drug may be prescribed. These drugs work by interfering with the transmission of nerve impulses that cause muscle spasms in the gastrointestinal tract. Examples of this type of medication include dicyclomine (Bentyl) and hyoscyamine, which may be prescribed either on its own (under the brand names Cystospaz, Levbid, Levsin, and Levsinex) or in a combination formula that includes a mild tranquilizer (Arco-Lase, Donnatal).

To attempt to control the inflammation of Crohn's disease, a doctor may prescribe a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). The drug most often used is sulfasalazine (Azulfidine), though mesalamine (Asacol, Pentasa, Rowasa), a derivative of sulfasalazine, is also used. Potential side effects of mesalamine include headache, abdominal pain, nausea, sore throat, dizziness, weakness, fatigue, and belching. The side effects of sulfasalazine are similar, plus loss of appetite, vomiting, and, for men, a low sperm count. For an acute attack, a steroid such as prednisone (Deltasone) may be necessary to control inflammation quickly. If such a drug is used, its use should be tapered off as quickly as possible to avoid adverse effects on the adrenal gland and immune system.

Really serious disease may be treated with mercaptopurine (Purinethol). This drug depresses the body's immune response, but it takes three to six months before any benefits may be noticeable. Also, this is a drug normally used for cancer chemotherapy, so it is potentially quite toxic.

Since none of these drugs used for Crohn's disease can cure the disorder or prevent recurrences, over half of the people with this problem end up having surgery to remove badly affected portions of the intestine. If large portions of the intestine are removed, problems with nutrient absorption may result, necessitating a special low-fat diet and supplementation with medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) to help maintain a healthy weight.

If the disease results in severe malnutrition, intravenous feeding may be necessary. This is the administration of nutrients through a vein instead of by month. This is not real solution - obviously, only known nutrients can be administered this way, and "new" nutrients are being discovered all the time - but if you are unable to get enough nutrition from foods, it may be necessary.

Crohn's disease: It provides medical information about crohn's disease disease including causes, symptoms, etc.
Crohn's disease diet: It gives information and guidelines to choose your sample diet to eliminate your crohn's disease.
Crohn's disease nutritions and supplements: This section provides comprehensive list of nutritional supplements for crohn's disease.
Herbal treatment for crohn's disease: This section focuses on various traditional herbal treatments used to cure crohn's disease.
Crohn's disease acupressure treatment: This section provides various acupressure points on the body to treat crohn's disease.
Crohn's disease homeopathy treatment: It provides information about homeopathic medicines required for curing crohn's disease.

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