Some Common Crohn's Disease Medications

Crohn's disease medication comprises of anti-inflammatory drugs immune suppressors and biological therapy. Additional medication like control codeine, loperamide and diphenoxylate may be used to keep other symptoms such as diarrhea under. Most physicians aim to control the disorder, to induce and keep it in remission.

The anti-inflammatory drugs that are use to treat patients include 5-aminosalicylates, corticosteroids, and antibiotics. The patients are first treated with 5-aminosalicylates and if they fail to respond to the treatment, the physicians may prescribe other Crohn's disease medication such as the corticosteroids.

5-Aminosalicylates

Sulfasalazine containing drugs such as Azulfidine, mesalamine containing drugs such as Asacol, Dipentum, or Pentasa and Balsalazide containing Colazal may be used. These drugs are referred to as 5-aminosalicylates are used to control inflammation. These Crohn's disease medication can have certain side effects such as diarrhea, nausea, headaches, vomiting and heartburn. They are not recommended for patients who are allergic to aspirin as they are chemically very similar. Patients who have kidney disorders are not treated with drug as they have caused kidney and lung inflammation in some patients.

Corticosteroids

These Crohn's disease medications are administered orally or intravenously. These drugs reduce inflammation throughout the body and are used to induce remission. Budesonide or prednisone are used but some of these have severe side effects such as osteoporosis, diabetes, hypertension, acne, moon face and make the patients more vulnerable to infections. Budesonide is said to cause less side effects than the other drugs in this category. They are faster acting drugs than the 5-aminosalicylates but they do not keep the disease in remission.

Antibiotics

Metronidazole /Flagyl and ciprofloxacin/Cipro are Crohn's disease medications that are prescribed to some patients when they fail to respond to treatment with 5-aminosalicylates. They are used to treat patients with fistulas, unfortunately the fistulas return as soon as treatment is discontinued.

Immuno-Modulators

Immuno-modulators such as 6-mercaptopurine, methotrexate and azathioprine are also used as Crohn's disease medication. Imuran, Azasan and Purinethol are commonly used. These drugs reduce the number of immune cells thereby effectively reduce inflammation too. These drugs have various side effects too, ranging from nausea, vomiting to inflamed pancreas and liver malfunctions.

Biological Therapy

Infliximab/Remicade and Adalimumab/Humira are Crohn's disease medications that reduce inflammation by attaching themselves to the protein called tumor necrosis factor-alpha. This protein is produced in the immune cells and is one of the causes of inflammation. When the antibodies attach themselves to the proteins their functioning is impaired, there by reduces inflammations. These drugs have been known to be very effective in inducing and maintaining remission. However, they do cause certain side effects that may vary in their intensity in individual patients.

The information provided is not recommendation of any kind. People are cautioned against trying any drugs or changing their medication without consulting their physician as some of these drugs may have severe allergic reactions. The drugs mentioned here are prescribed by physicians based on the reactions and responses to the medication. If you suffer from the symptoms for Crohn's disease, you must consult a qualified physician who will access your condition, make appropriate diagnosis and recommend drugs and course of action that he may deem fit. These are some Crohn's disease medications that are used in treating patients.