Best meds for crohn's flare?

[np4175]

Was recently hospitalized for crohn's flare for 4 days.  Given cipro and flagyl via IV and steroid shots via IV.  A week later home taking cipro and prednizone orally.  Many side effects?  Feel worse now than before?

What are the best meds to quiet the inflamation and stomach swelling?

This is all new to me and feeling overwhelmed.  What about anit-anxiety meds, depression?

Help!

[noel44]

I agree with lizziecee. I'm on Cimzia, lialda and folic acid. When I have a flare to help reduce inflammation too,is to try to stay on clear, or soft diet.Applesauce,pudding, boullion,apple juice. Just give the intestines a rest for little bit. Good luck, and feel better.

[lizziecee]

Sorry to hear of your recent flare.  My brilliant gastro prescribed Remicade a year ago - it entails 6 hrs in hospital as a day patient, every 8 weeks, but after 40 years of "complex Crohn's" as he puts it, it is the only med that keeps me in remission.  As far as I understand current IBD protocols, steroids are only used short term to bring about remission, but we need an immuno-suppressor drug (Remicade, Humira, Cimzia) for maintenance of remission.  I do know what I am talking about and steer clear of well-meaning people who advocate stopping prescribed meds and using alternative medication. Aloe vera will not stop the immune system from over-reacting - if it did, all gastros would be prescribing it. At best it is a placebo, at worst a waste of money, as my gastro has frequently told me.

Take care,
Liz.

[Peanuts2]

A chemical free diet, psyllium husk for diarrhea, aloe for inflammation.