Get Informed: Crohn's Disease
1 in 476 Americans have Crohn's Disease
iGuard is currently monitoring more than 3,743 patients with Crohn's Disease from around the United States as shown on the heat map below. These figures suggest that roughly 0.63 million Americans have Crohn's Disease with women being 2 times more likely to be affected than men.
< 21
21-39
40-59
60+
Age (Years)
Medications used for Crohn's Disease
Drugs commonly taken by iGuard.org users for Crohn's Disease are listed below, together with the percentage of patients that take each drug.
|
Commonly Used Medication Name* (Hover mouse over name to see medication class) |
% of Patients | Average Risk Rating | Has Generic Available |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nexium | 70% |
|
No |
| Prednisone | 14% |
|
Yes |
| Pentasa | 8% |
|
Yes |
Less than 5%: Bentyl, Humira, Imuran, Remicade
*This list is NOT EXHAUSTIVE - Only drugs used by a sufficiently large number of iGuard.org users are listed.
**Medications are sometimes known by different brand/generic names, depending upon how they are packaged or used.
Global Patient Feedback for Crohn's Disease ( Post a comment )
Question/Comment:
I have had Crohn's for over ten years. Prior to surgery, I took Pentasa and steroids for flares. Admittedly, I did not take maintenance meds regularly. Post surgery I am on Lialda and Imuran. I have no pain and seem to still be disease-free. However, I have a lot of diarrhea now and take Welchol and Immodium AD to control it and those cause flatulance. It's all very annoying, but I'm thankful I do not have a worse condition. I now take my maintenance meds and vitaimins every day. I don't want to have to go through surgery again. Good luck to any with Crohn's. Take your meds!!!
41 year old Female
Posted: 2009-09-17 15:21:04
Answer/Reply:
I have taken several meds before my surgery in 2006. I was almost killed by 6mp. I took prednisone several times on and off. That was the only med that worked but unfortunately serious future side effects and of course the horrible ones while taking it. I still have Crohn's. Came back within months after surgery. I take asacol. Really not a good one but the least side effect wise. I go to a pain doctor who gives me marinol (medical marijuana) Rather it was real marijuana. It is great because it gives you the appetite you would never have which in turn gives you the nutrients through food that your body so desperately needs. Also takes away nausea and pain. I also take percocete for the pain. This obviously takes away pain and slows down diarrhea and allows you to eat without the discomfort. We know this is no cure but after suffering for over 30 years I would rather risk addiction with drugs that have been around forever versus the poison they throw out there to "MAYBE" help which will and can kill you. I feel better for now post surgery but I feel mentally better knowing I can control to some degree how I feel rather then play russian roulette and guinea pig for the big pharmaceutical companies who could care less about YOU only their pocket is what drives these very dangerous drugs.
50 year old Female
Posted: 2009-11-03 12:07:18
Answer/Reply:
I hear you. I'm 58 and have had an ileostomy since 1974. It was determined I had chrons at 16. After 2 babies and going down to 65lbs they decided to do surgery. I could't take daily life with my condition. I made it fine and at 23 was given my life back. I still get flare up but only 2 to 4 times a year. I can't complain. they had a drug named acth then and predizone(only one that worked sometimes. The acth drug was horrible and I still don't know what it was. I went to many bad doctors but you get to the point when you will try anything.
I have no regrets and yes insurance and doctors are not what you think until you have a chronic condition.
my son-in-law and my brother-in-law also have chrons and no one else in my family have it.
hang in there
58 year old Female
Posted: 2009-11-18 14:56:40
Question/Comment:
The doctors were wishing I had Crohn's (believe it or not). They are at a loss. I am still untreated and undiagnosed. There are body cavity 'foreign fatty infiltrates' now (exploratory surgery pictures).
51 year old Female
Posted: 2009-07-19 06:53:20
Question/Comment:
Anyone try mucilaginous polysaccarides? It is a suppliment mainly found in aloe but its also in ginsing, ginger and seaweed. It is a natural anti-inflammitory that does not interact with any medications whatsoever and those using it swear by it. My G.I. specialist is ok with me taking aloe in some form. I've done some searching and thus far the cheapest one I've found is $117.00 a bottle which is way to pricey for me. Any suggestions????
50 year old Male
Posted: 2009-04-30 12:17:52
Answer/Reply:
Could you grow a plant and use that?
50 year old Female
Posted: 2009-11-03 12:38:32
Question/Comment:
My specialist wants to try me on Remicade or Imuran. I had a history of Ulcerative Colitis. I have an ileostomy with an internal pouch constructed inside which I can not use at the moment. I have recently got Fistula's which arr constanly returning around the anal area. My specialist is going to try me on REMICADE or IMURAN to hopefully resolve my problem. Has anyone tried REMICADE or IMURAN for these problems (Fistula's)....Have they worked and what side effects did you get if any from the drugs?
Any help would do.
28 yr old male
29 year old Male
Posted: 2009-04-22 13:22:18
Answer/Reply:
My son used it and it helped hom very much. He then had to stop because it caused him to have psoriasis. But it does help to close fistulas.
Sent by mother of son with Crohns Disease from NJ
16 year old Male
Posted: 2009-11-03 05:25:55
Question/Comment:
What are the symptoms of Crohns? I have been suffering from abdominal pain that doubles me over, and goes from the abdomin to what feels like under my left rib. Am going for a colonoscopy tomorrow, but not sure if they will find anything. Just know that I can not live with this pain. On a scale of 1-10 for the most part it is a constant 5 but when it gets bad it is a 10 or over. Any help would be appreciated. Been dealing with this now for six months.
52 year old Female
Posted: 2009-03-05 18:22:19
Answer/Reply:
I'm not to sure what the symptoms of Chrons are but what you are explaining happened to me two years ago. A couple times a month I would get this awful pain in my stomach, I would throw up just because the heaving gave me 5 seconds of relief. I went to see a doctor who was an emergency doctor, not my normal one, and every month he said food poisoning, even if I had only eaten salad or nothing at all that day. This went on for about a year until one day it was so bad and it did not stop within the normal 24 hours it went on and I rushed to the ER and they had to do emergency surgery on my appendix. The doctor said I was very lucky and that if I had waited any longer it would have burst! I would recommend maybe asking your doctor if that is a possibility. Hope everything works out.
22 year old Female
Posted: 2009-03-06 10:31:22
Answer/Reply:
My specialist wants to try me on Remicade or Imuran. I had a history of Ulcerative Colitis. I have an ileostomy with an internal pouch constructed inside which I can not use at the moment. I have recently got Fistula's which arr constanly returning around the anal area. My specialist is going to try me on REMICADE or IMURAN to hopefully resolve my problem. Has anyone tried REMICADE or IMURAN for these problems (Fistula's)....Have they worked and what side effects did you get if any from the drugs?
Any help would do.
28 yr old male
29 year old Male
Posted: 2009-04-20 12:06:21
Answer/Reply:
Here are my symptoms of Crohn's disease. I have had it for over 30 years. Note they are different at different times and I will also tell you what I think is Crohn's related. Severe liquid diarrhea can be painless or with pain. Once you are dehydrated it is very painful. This diarrhea can be started by anything. Ex: sip of water. As much as something goes in your mouth is as fast as it will come out. Diarrhea with severe pain that is almost spasmodic in nature. The more you have the worse the pain gets. In other words you get no relief from having the diarrhea and you get sicker trying to go to the bathroom. This can come with sweats, and nausea. Severe lethargy. Cannot move. Want to stay in bed all day. Weight loss. Sometimes the pounds drop away sometimes the weight is not the big issue. NO Appetite. If I did not take medication to stimulate my appetite I would NEVER eat. When not stimulating my appetite I force myself to eat because I feel sick from not eating. Times you are so nauseous you know not to eat. Headaches probably from not eating enough or dehydration. I have psoriasis and I know deep in my heart it is related to my Crohn's although doctors say no. I beg to differ. Fevers that range from 99-100 for no reason. I think that about covers it .
50 year old Female
Posted: 2009-11-03 12:50:42
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Patient Comments about
Crohn's Disease