Is there a better medication available?

[blondies25]

A close family member of mine has crohns disease, she is currently taking the medication methotrexate once weekly. Her doctor recently increased her dosage as her crohns moved from "mild" to "moderate to severe" over the past year and has entered into her small intestines now. Are there any newer/better working medications available at this time?
Thanks!

[lizziecee]

I have had Crohn's for 40 yrs; 30 yrs on steroids, 10 on methotrexate. Originally oral, 25 mg a week, but last 4 yrs weekly injections of 25 mg. I had a hemi-colectomy in March 09, with 15 cm of my small and large intestines removed. Unfortunately, I then had a big flare in late September requiring 2 weeks again in hospital. I was put on remicade: gastro said I would have only 3 infusions: 0, 2 weeks, 6 weeks, but still had faecal incontinence and failure to put on weight. They also found my pancreas was not working...which is a rare complication of Crohn's. Now on 8 weekly infusions for life....and am getting my life back at last! I am taking Creon enzymes on prescription with each meal and snacks.

Your family member should be guided by their gastroenterologist, as there are a number of new anti-tumour factorA drugs around now.  Crohnies make too much tnfA, which causes the inflammation in the intestines.

Liz - glad to be well enough to be back posting.

[poseidon5]

I'm surprised her doc has kept her on that med for so long if she is getting worse.  I was on Remicade for a while, now I am on Humira.  Humira works wonderfully for me.

[niki26]

There are many medications on the market. There is 6mp, Remicade, Asacol, Sulfasalazine, Ciprofloxacin , Azathioprine. Your close family member should talk to there doctor about other options if methotrexate isnt working.