Crohn's Disease Drug Treatment and Surgery

Most patients and physicians would agree that the drug treatment of Crohn's disease is disappointing at best. The most useful drug, prednisone, has long-term consequences. Too many patients have acute crises such as perforation and obstruction of the small bowel and require surgery. Relapses after surgery are common. The usual goals of therapy are to correct nutritional deficiencies, to control inflammation and to relieve abdominal pain, diarrhea and rectal bleeding.

The most commonly used drugs are:

• Sulfasalazine often lessens the inflammation, especially in the colon.  Side effects such as nausea, vomiting, weight loss, heartburn, diarrhea, and headache occur in a small percentage of cases.
• Mesalamine or 5-ASA agents (Asacol, Pentasa, Rowasa, Dipentum).
• Steroids - prednisone
• Antibiotics
• Immune suppressants

Surgery

Surgery is a last resort treatment.  Many Crohn's disease patients require surgery to rescue them from  intestinal blockage, perforation, abscess, or bleeding. Drainage of abscesses or resection of diseased bowel are common surgical procedures. The bowel is cut above and below the diseased area and reconnected. If the colon is badly diseased and resected, an ileostomy is created by  making a small opening in the front of the abdominal wall. The end of the lower small intestine (ileum) is brought to the skin's surface.  A bag [or pouch] is worn over the opening to collect waste, and the patient empties it periodically.  Surgery is never a solution for the disease. Inflammation tends to return in areas of the intestine next to the area that has been removed.

You Can Do Better

Looking for a Solution? Do the Alpha Nutrition Program You can order a Rescue Starter Pack. The book Food and Digestive Disorders describes the features of Crohn's disease and explains how the inflamed digestive tract is injured and does not work well. You have to assume that your body is damaged and must heal.

Often a food holiday on Alpha ENF is the best way to begin recovery and the Alpha Nutrition program is an ideal way to design a safer, healthier long-term diet. 

Food & Digestive Disorders

Alpha Nutrition Program

All Alpha Nutrition formulas, books, eBooks and Starter packs are ordered online. We ship through the Post Office to all destinations in Canada, Continental USA, Alaska, Hawaii. US $ prices depend on the daily dollar exchange rate. Alpha Nutrition ® is a registered trademark and a division of  Environmed Research Inc., Sechelt, British Columbia, Canada. In business since 1984. Online since 1995.