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Crones Disease: What Do Your Medicines Do?

If you are taking medicines for your Crones disease, you will probably recognize a lot of the symptoms and side effects mentioned in this article. After a summary of the most problematic sides of mainstream medication, a possible solution is given to improve life quality and health in the long run on a solid basis.

Medicines are the most common Crones disease treatment. While none can cure this inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), they are used to try to reduce the swelling that causes the symptoms. The most frequently used medicines for Crones disease are Aminosalicylates and Corticosteroids to Block Inflammation, Antibiotics to Control Intestinal Bacteria, Immunomodulators to Calm the Immune System, and Biologic Therapies for Moderate or Severe Crones disease. Brand names of these medicines are (amongst others): - Aminosalicylates : Mesalamine (Asacol, Pentasa), Balsalazide (Dipentum), Olsalazine (Colazal) - Corticosteroids: Prednisone (Deltasone), Budesonide (Entocort EC) , Hydrocortisone, Methylprednisolone (Medrol) - Antibiotics: Ciprofloxacin (Cipro), Metronidazole (Flagyl) Immunomodulators: Azathioprine (Imuran, Azasan),6-mercaptopurine (Purinethol, 6-MP), Methotrexate (MTX, Rheumatrex, Mexate) , Tacrolimus (Prograf), Cyclosporine A (Sandimmune, Neoral) - Biologic Therapies: Infliximab (Remicade), Adalimumab (Humira).

If we have a closer look at the side effects of these medicaments, we will discover some very unattractive pictures.. Don't forget that the longer we take a medicine, the more likely the side effects are to develop. In our case, we suffer from a chronic disease, and if we do not find another solution, we will be stuck taking medicines for the rest of our lives. Known side effects of the mentioned medicines are: Diarrhea Headache, dizziness Increased risk of bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract Indigestion, nausea, gas Hair loss Rash Decrease in white blood cells High blood pressure Mood swings, psychosis, insomnia Weight gain, moon facies Acne, increased facial hair, stretch marks Increased risk of infection Osteoporosis Vomiting Cough Sinus infections Sore throat

Some of the therapies have other drawbacks as well. Biologic therapies need frequent injections, and other medicines have a better effect when taken as an enema or a suppository. Not very pleasant if done frequently.

Corticosteroids are known to have severe side effects, even when used for a short time. Yet, they are frequently used to control the symptoms. Your doctor will tell you that you cannot stop from one day to the other with your corticosteroids, because your symptoms are prone to worsen. I just start to think what it is these medicines do with our body, that their effect will be like that?

Antibiotics are said to be used to control bacteria levels in the intestine and reduce the symptoms of Crones disease. They can also resolve infections caused by the condition. If you think well about it, antibiotics probably kill all bacteria in your intestines, the good ones and the bad ones, and they do not leave a healthy level of good bacteria behind. They probably leave a not so healthy level of bad resistant bacteria behind if you have bad luck... If your good bacteria are wiped out by frequent antibiotic-use, it is quite probable that you develop inflammations on gut-level, simply because there is no shield of good bacteria any more which protects your gut form attacks from outside. The question is here is antibiotics solve a problem, or actually create a much bigger problem on the not so long run.

Some researchers believe that Crones Disease is caused by an over reactive immune system. When the other medicines do not work to control the swelling, they will try to use immunomodulators which diminish the immune response. Also patients with fistulas will be treated with these medicines, often in combination with corticosteroids. Because of their effect on the immune system, these medicines tend to increase the danger of other infections or other illnesses. The effect on bone marrow, liver and kidneys has to be monitored, because of likely side effects.

Biologic therapies are a new treatment for Crones Disease and they are also the most expensive. They are used for patients who do not respond to other treatments, but because of the possible severe side effects, doctors will be hesitant to apply them. Although the pharmaceutical industry tells us that the risks are small, they still warn for the effects of suppressing the immune response. There is some evidence that they increase the risk of conditions like blood infections, tuberculosis, and lymphoma.

Apart from the above mentioned medicines, you will probably have to take medicines against diarrhea and fluid loss form time to time. Medications for Crones disease can interact with common drugs like birth control pills, antacids, and even vitamins.

It is clear that an alternative way to boost our immune system and stimulate the growth of beneficial bacteria in our gut would be more than welcome. Initially as an extra way to improve our health, and if possible later as a substitute for the mentioned treatments.

Article Source: Free Content Articles Directory

Crones Disease is a chronic disease which has a big impact on the patient and his family. Side effects of medicines can make life more complicated; here you will find an alternative to help your body fight your Crones Disease.

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