Cimpay
When you are diagnosed with Crohn's disease, your doctor may prescribe a combination
of medications, steroids, or surgery to help you manage your symptoms. The treatments
you receive will depend on the severity of your Crohn's disease and which treatments
you have already tried.
Some researchers believe that changes to your diet and exercise routine may also
affect your Crohn's symptoms. It is important to note, however, that everyone's
body is different—what works for one person may not work for someone else.
That's why it's a good idea to talk to your doctor before making any changes to
your routine.
Types of medications
You and your doctor may discuss several medications. The different types of medication
traditionally used in the treatment of Crohn’s disease include:
Biologics: Biologics are drugs that copy
the effects of substances naturally made by the body’s immune system. They are genetically
engineered medications made from living organisms and their products, such as proteins,
genes, and antibodies. Anti-TNFs are the most common type of biologics for moderate
to severe Crohn’s disease. They block the part of the immune system that is responsible
for causing inflammation.
Immunomodulators: Immunomodulators work
on the immune system to decrease inflammation.
Corticosteroids: Corticosteroids are a class
of anti-inflammatory drugs that work by suppressing the immune system.
Aminosalicylates (5-ASAs): Aminosalicylates
are also anti-inflammatory drugs, used mostly in mild to moderate disease.
When surgery is necessary
Despite the advances in medication treatments, about 8 in 10 people with Crohn's
disease will need surgery at some point. Some people need to have emergency surgery
due to bleeding, intestinal obstruction, or other urgent situations. For other people,
surgery may be necessary because of severe pain, weight loss, or fever. When necessary,
surgery involves removing particularly damaged sections of your digestive tract
and then reconnecting the healthy sections of tissue. However, most of the time,
symptoms will return after surgery and the cycle of the disease will begin again.
Serious infections have happened in patients taking CIMZIA, including tuberculosis
(TB) and infections caused by viruses, fungi, or bacteria that have spread throughout
the body. Some patients have died from these infections. Please read the CIMZIA Important Safety Information for additional information on CIMZIA and discuss it with your doctor.
What was your transition to biologic therapy like?
NEXT: Essentials of Crohn's Disease Treatment
»
