Current US Treatment Methods

According to the US Department of Health and Human Services - National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases,  No single treatment works for everyone with Crohn’s Disease. The goals of treatment are to decrease the inflammation in your intestines, to prevent flare-ups of your symptoms, and to keep you in remission.   The following are offered as treatments in the US:

MEDICINES

Many people with Crohn’s disease need medicines. Which medicines your doctor prescribes will depend on your symptoms.  Although no medicine cures Crohn’s Disease, many can reduce symptoms.  The following are the various groups of medicines used for treatment: 

• Immunomodulators. These medicines reduce immune system activity, resulting in less inflammation in your digestive tract. Immunomodulators can take several weeks to 3 months to start working.  All Immunomodulators carry a risk of causing Hepatosplenic T-Cell Lymphoma or other types of cancer.  Read More

• Aminosalicylates. These medicines contain 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA), which helps control inflammation. Doctors use aminosalicylates to treat people newly diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease who have mild symptoms.  Read More

• Corticosteroids. Corticosteroids, also known as steroids, help reduce the activity of your immune system and decrease inflammation. Doctors prescribe corticosteroids for people with moderate to severe symptoms.  Read More

• Biologic therapies. These medicines target proteins made by the immune system. Neutralizing these proteins decreases inflammation in the intestines. Biologic therapies work to help you go into remission, especially if you do not respond to other medicines.  Many Biologic Therapies carry a risk of causing Hepatosplenic T-Cell Lymphoma or other types of cancer.      Read More