Prescribed drugs do not cure Crohn’s disease. Their role is in controlling your condition, alleviating symptoms and improving quality of life.

As part of ongoing treatment, your health professionals will monitor your symptoms and general wellbeing and decide which treatments are needed during various periods of your Crohn’s. Different treatments may be more effective in different individuals.

There is no one therapy for Crohn’s and treatment is individualised. This is based on assessing which part of your intestine is affected, how severe your symptoms are, and whether the drugs you are taking are causing side effects that may be unacceptable.

It is important to work in partnership with your doctors, keeping them well informed about your symptoms and how you feel generally. It is also advisable to discuss any over-the-counter medications, supplements or complementary therapies that you might be considering taking.

These drugs, known as the aminosalicylates, reduce inflammation and are useful for treating mild to moderate symptoms of Crohn’s and also ulcerative colitis.

They are given either orally or rectally and are indicated in higher doses to treat flares of disease and in lower doses as maintenance therapy.

The active part of these drugs is called 5-ASA and this works on the intestine. It is bonded to a compound called sulfapyridine, which helps to deliver the active 5-ASA to the intestine. However,  some side effects are caused by this compound. Newer versions of this drug deliver 5-ASA without sulfapyridine and fewer side effects.

Corticoteroids are powerful anti-inflammatory drugs. They are used for active flares of disease and more severe inflammation. (These prescribed medications should not be confused with body building ‘steroids’, which are not the same thing).

They are usually given orally, but can be given intravenously in hospital. They are similar to cortisol, a hormone which is naturally produced in the adrenal glands. Corticosteroids are generally recommended for short-term use to regain control of the disease. Steroids are very effective in acute flare-ups but not suitable for maintenance therapy.

There are side effects, so they are given in the lowest dosage for the shortest amount of time.

These are drugs that stop the immune system from causing inflammation. They are usually used to maintain remission. They have been used effectively for many years in Crohn’s disease, as the condition seems to be linked to an overactive immune system.

Sometimes an immunosuppressant will be used with a corticosteroid to deal with an active flare of the disease. This can mean that lower doses of the steroid may be used.

These drugs have a slow onset of action and it may be three to six months before their full effects are seen. There are versions that work more quickly but these need to be given at high doses intravenously in certain circumstances.  There are side effects.

Biologic Agents are already being successfully used in several areas of medicine. Many are made from substances that are found naturally in the body, such as proteins, genes and antibodies.

These drugs target specific substances that play a role in the body’s inflammatory response. While corticosteroids cause general suppression of the immune system, biologic therapies act more specifically. The biologics class known as Tumour necrosis factor (TNF) antagonists, inhibit a protein called TNF- alpha, which is present at increased levels in Crohn’s disease. HUMIRA (adalimumab) and Remicade (infliximab) are examples of tumour necrosis factor antagonist therapies. These are described below.

HUMIRA is intended for treatment of severe active Crohn’s disease.

HUMIRA is a tumour necrosis factor antagonist therapy. The active ingredient, adalimumab, is a human monoclonal antibody produced by cultured cells. Monoclonal antibodies are proteins that recognise and bind to other unique proteins. HUMIRA binds specifically to TNF-alpha, and decreases inflammation in Crohn’s disease.

HUMIRA is injected under the skin (subcutaneous use) and comes as a pre filled syringe or pre filled pen. After proper training, the injection can be self-administered or given by another person, for example a family member or friend.

Remicade is intended for treatment of severe active Crohn’s disease and also ulcerative colitis.

Remicade is a tumour necrosis factor antagonist therapy. The active substance, infliximab, is a human-mouse monoclonal antibody. Monoclonal antibodies are proteins that recognise and bind to other unique proteins. Remicade bind specifically to TNF-alpha, which is involved in inflammation. Increased amounts of TNF alpha are common in inflammatory diseases such as Crohn's disease.

Remicade is given in a vein, usually in the arm, over a 2-hour period in a health care facility e.g. hospital.

Antibiotics are used to tackle infections that occur as complications of Crohn’s disease. They are also used to prevent infection.

Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics if you develop a stricture or fistula, as you will be at high risk of infection. They are recommended on a long-term basis in those with fistulas or recurrent abscesses.

You may also be prescribed antibiotics if you need to undergo surgery as the risk of infection is high.

The rationale for prescribing antibiotics is that they are thought to reduce intestinal bacteria and to suppress the intestine’s immune system, thus controlling the symptoms of Crohn’s.

These are medications which can help to ease your diarrhoea.

You will also need to drink lots of fluids and perhaps take a special balanced electrolyte solution.

In cases of chronic disease where absorption of nutrients is severely impaired or after surgery, total parenteral nutrition treatments may be required.  They may also be given to children who have growth problems. These treatments are given in hospital or at home. Nutrients come in a special liquid form and are given via a tube or a medical infusion pump.

The nutrient solutions usually contain water, salts, glucose and amino acids and may contain some fats.