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Crohns and suppressing immune system

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  • 23-07-2009 9:47pm
    #1
    LegacyUser
    Registered Users Posts: 166,026 ✭✭✭✭


    Sorry this may be a silly question but do all people who have Crohn's have to take immune suppressents? If so, so they take them for life?
    Thank you


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    #2
    sean_17
    Closed Accounts Posts: 43 ✭sean_17


    I'm not too wise in Crohn's disease, I know a relation who has it and they aren't on immune suppresants, its diet controlled ie. avoiding foods that flare it up, and just tablet controlled during any outbreaks.


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    #3
    silversurfer
    Closed Accounts Posts: 145 ✭✭silversurfer


    Firstly, There is a crohns thread in this forum which has loads of info on crohns, it's worth a long look through.

    No, not everyone who has Crohns needs to take Imune supressing medications, some are lucky enough to get it under control with little or very few meds, like Pentasa (like an asprin for the gut [obviously containing no asprin of course]).

    Steroids are widely used to calm inflamation down and may control the Crohns by using steroids every now and again.
    Extreme cases may get steroid injections into the vein (in hospital).

    From my knowledge of Crohns, when the above don't work, then the immune supression medications can be started (like Imuran or Methotrexate)
    If these still do not work for the Crohns sufferer, then the heavy guns come out, namely, Remicade (hospital infusion, every month) or Humira (injection or pen every two weeks at home, except for the first dose).

    Crohns varies with each case. and depending on the doctors, any combination of the above could be tried. It seems to be quite individual depending on the person.

    Lots of people get major relief by adjusting their diet to restrict 'trigger' foods, that would , for them, trigger off the crohns.

    Asprin and anti-imflamatories need to be avoided as they tend to make things worse. Paracetamol is usually ok to take for the pains. Anything else you'd need to consult your Specilalist or doctor.

    s


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