Crohn's Disease

Medically reviewed by Carina Fung, PharmD, BCPPS

Crohn's Disease Treatment

Crohn’s disease is a very complex form of IBD. While the etiology of Crohn’s disease remains unknown, it most likely has multiple causal factors. Adding to its complexity, Crohn’s disease can occur in any part of the GI tract, from the mouth to the anus.

Taken together, this means that efficacious treatments for Crohn’s disease can vary widely between patients. They are often tailored to individuals based on their symptoms, the severity of their disease, and how well they react to common treatments. In other words, there is no “one size fits all” treatment for a disease as complex as Crohn’s.

Ideally, a treatment regimen for Crohn’s disease will not only help lessen problematic symptoms, such as painful chronic inflammation, but it will also lead to long-term remission (a period during which no symptoms are observed). Remission can last for months or even years, depending on the patient.

Crohn's disease medication (h3)

Generally, the two major medications for Crohn’s disease are anti-inflammatory drugs and immune system suppressors, the two of which are often prescribed together.

  • Anti-inflammatory drugs: The two main types of anti-inflammatory drugs used to treat IBD are corticosteroids and oral 5-aminosalicylates. Corticosteroids include prednisone (generic Rayos, Prednisone Intensol, Deltasone) and budesonide (generic Entocort, Uceris) and can help lower inflammation, but don’t work for all Crohn’s disease patients. When they do work, they’re typically used in 3- to 4-month regimens for short-term treatment. Oral 5-aminosalicylates—which include sulfasalazine (generic Azulfidine, Azulfidine EN-tabs) and mesalamine (generic Canasa, Delzicol, Asacol HD)—were once very popular for treating Crohn’s disease, but have fallen out of favor in recent years.
  • Immunosuppressants: Similar to anti-inflammatory drugs when used to treat IBD, immunosuppressants aim to reduce inflammation in patients with IBD by inhibiting the response of the immune system to healthy gut bacteria. Immunosuppressants commonly prescribed for Crohn’s disease include infliximab (generic Remicade), methotrexate (generic Trexall), natalizumab (generic Tysabri), and ustekinumab (generic Stelara).

Other common medications for Crohn’s disease include antibiotics, anti-diarrheals, pain relievers, iron supplements, calcium supplements, Vitamin D supplements, and Vitamin B-12 shots, as they each combat specific concerns related to Crohn’s disease.

Your provider may prescribe the following medications for Crohn's disease:

May be prescribed

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Crohn’s disease diet

Nutrition therapy for diseases like Crohn’s has become more popular in recent years, although its effectiveness remains disputed. Providers may recommend that Crohn’s disease patients adhere to a strict and specific diet low in potential irritants, such as dairy, fat, fiber, alcohol, and caffeine. Simpler methods of food preparation are also commonly recommended12.

The goal of these types of dietary “elimination” regimens is twofold: to reduce the inflammatory response in the small intestine and colon, and to reduce the strain on the bowel in particular so that it is easier (and less painful) to pass stool.

For patients with severe and very painful Crohn’s disease, a special diet administered via a feeding tube or injected intravenously may be recommended. However, this is a relatively rare treatment.

Crohn’s disease surgery

In life-threatening cases of Crohn’s disease, such as those that involve extreme levels of inflammation or serious complications, surgery may be recommended to close fistulas, remove abscesses, or resect the problematic area in question.

Depending on the area in question, a surgeon may perform a small bowel resection (a procedure in which a portion of the small intestine is removed), a subtotal colectomy (removal of a portion of the large intestine), or a proctocolectomy (removal of the entire colon and rectum). Whenever a proctocolectomy is performed, an accompanying procedure called an ileostomy is also performed so that the patient can pass stool directly into a colostomy bag attached to their abdomen, which can be a major lifestyle change13.

Surgery may also be recommended if no other treatments (such as medication, diet, and lifestyle changes) lead to lessened symptoms or remission. Nearly half of all Crohn’s disease patients will require at least one surgery to improve their quality of life.

Unfortunately, the benefits of surgery for Crohn’s disease are usually temporary, and almost always lead to recurrence. This is why surgery is often followed with medication to lower the risk of recurrence.


Disclaimer: The information on this site is generalized and is not medical advice. It is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of your healthcare professional. Always seek the advice of your healthcare professional with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard seeking advice or delay in seeking treatment because of something you have read on our site. RxSaver makes no warranty as to the accuracy, reliability or completeness of this information.

If you are in crisis or you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately.

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