Drug Therapy Options For Crohn's Disease

Recommendations for treatment are divided into broad categories. These categories are determined by two considerations: whether Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis is being treated; and, within each disease, whether the aim is to bring a flare or symptoms of active disease under control or to keep a patient well once a remission has been obtained through whatever means necessary. In some instances, recommendations may be further subdivided according to the location of the disease within the gastrointestinal tract and the severity of a flare. Certain complications of the diseases, such as abscesses in Crohn's disease, may also be considered as being in another category of disease treatment. These categories may be important because in the case of several medications, they appear to be effective only in very specific situations and not in other situations.

 

Each drug or category of drugs may be used for different indications within IBD. For example, antibiotics are typically not used in ulcerative colitis because they don't appear to be very effective, but in patients with Crohn's disease, antibiotics do appear to be effective and are often used when a complication, such as an abscess or fistula, has developed in order to reduce pain, improve drainage, and reduce the risk of widespread infection.