Crohn's treatment

**Crohn's treatment methods** A combination of treatment methods can help you better control Crohn's disease and lead a normal life. Remember that there is no standard treatment for all patients; Each person has his own condition and the treatment should be adjusted accordingly. • **Drugs:** If you have Crohn's disease, successful treatment has two main goals: Healing intestinal tissue and eliminating symptoms such as fever, diarrhea and abdominal pain. When the symptoms of the disease are controlled (remission phase), medical treatment is used to reduce periods of exacerbation of the disease (maintenance of remission). Today, there are several drug groups to treat this disease. In the following, you will learn about different types of drugs: • **Aminosalicylate (5-ASA):** These drugs include 5-aminosalicylate acid; Such as Sulfasalazine, Pentasa, Asacol and Mesalazine. **These drugs reduce inflammation by affecting the surface of the digestive system, especially in the large intestine. You should know that due to the fact that in Crohn's disease, in addition to the superficial layer of the small and large intestine, deeper layers are also involved, these drugs should not be used in the treatment of Crohn's disease. Remember that these drugs have been removed from the Crohn's treatment protocol for a long time.** **Honestly, if you have Crohn's, don't worry about these drugs!!!** • **corticosteroids:** Drugs such as budesonide, prednisolone, and methylprednisolone are available both orally and topically (eg, rectally). are These drugs indirectly suppress the immune system and are used to treat moderate to severe Crohn's disease. Of course, you should know that these drugs They may have short-term and long-term side effects and should not be used as maintenance medicine. • **Immunomodulators:** This class of drugs inhibits the reaction of the immune system and prevents continuous inflammation. Immunomodulators can be useful in reducing or eliminating the need for corticosteroids and maintaining recovery in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. It may take several months to fully see the effect of these drugs. These drugs include Azathioprine, Mercaptopurine, Methotrexate, Mycophenolate and Upadacitinib. • **Antibiotics:** When an infection such as an abscess or fistula occurs around the anus and vagina, antibiotics are used. Among the drugs used to treat bacterial infections in Crohn's disease, we can mention metronidazole and ciprofloxacin. • **Biological treatments:** These new treatments are the last level of treatment for people who have not responded to conventional treatments. These drugs are antibodies that are cultured in the laboratory and prevent the growth of proteins that cause inflammation in the body. For those who need advanced Crohn's treatment, these methods can be an effective option at our IBD specialty center. These drugs include Infliximab, Adalimumab, Vedolizumab. • **combined treatments:** In some cases, the doctor may recommend that an additional drug be added to the initial treatment to achieve greater effectiveness. For example, combining a biologic therapy with an immunomodulator can improve your condition. This method, which is part of Advancing Crohn's & Colitis Care, is offered under the supervision of IBD Specialist and Dr. Ali Reza Sima. **Diet and nutrition:** Although Crohn's disease is not caused by a reaction to foods, a proper diet can reduce symptoms, compensate for lost nutrients, and speed up recovery. Patients with inflammatory bowel disease such as ulcerative colitis should pay special attention to their nutrition. Soft and bland foods are usually better tolerated; And in case of lactose intolerance, dairy consumption may be limited. A flexible diet can include foods from all food groups. • **Surgery:** Even with proper medication and diet, some patients with Crohn's disease require surgery during their lifetime. Surgery is performed in the specialized center of inflammatory bowel disease in order to preserve the healthy parts of the digestive system to improve the quality of life. Surgery becomes necessary when the symptoms can be treated with drugs are not controlled or have problems such as fistula, perforation or intestinal obstruction. Usually, in this method, the damaged part is removed and the ends of the healthy intestines are connected to each other. Although surgery can reduce symptoms for years, the disease may recur in the future. **Key points about surgery:** • About half of Crohn's disease patients need surgery during their lifetime. • Surgical methods are different depending on the cause, severity and location of the disease. For more information about advanced Crohn's treatments and advanced ulcerative colitis treatments and to receive expert advice, visit our IBD Specialist Center. Dr. Ali Reza Sima, as an experienced IBD Specialist, is always ready to accompany you in the management and improvement of inflammatory bowel disease.