Injections for Crohn’s Disease Q&A

A type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), Crohn’s disease affects the digestive tract. Inflammation of your digestive tract can result in abdominal pain, severe diarrhea, fatigue, weight loss, and malnutrition.

People with Crohn’s disease may experience inflammation in different areas of the digestive tract, most commonly the small intestine. It is common for this inflammation to spread into the bowel’s deeper layers. In addition to being painful and debilitating, Crohn’s disease can lead to life-threatening complications.

Crohn’s disease has no known cure, but therapies can lessen its signs and symptoms and even heal inflammation for a long period. In many cases, Crohn’s disease can be managed successfully with treatment.

Symptoms of Crohn’s disease can occur anywhere in the small or large intestine. Depending on the segment, it may be continuous or may consist of multiple segments. The disease may only affect the colon, which is part of the large intestine, in some people.

Crohn’s disease can cause mild to severe signs and symptoms. Most of the time, they develop gradually, although sometimes they develop suddenly and without warning. It is possible to experience periods of no signs or symptoms (remission).

Medication – usually Remicade (infliximab), Cimzia, Entyvio, or Stelara – is delivered directly to your bloodstream through infusions. As a result, Crohn’s disease symptoms are reduced, and inflammation of the bowels is reduced. This medication is typically prescribed when oral medications haven’t worked for patients with moderate to severe Crohn’s disease.
 
A benefit of IV therapy for Crohn’s disease is that it can reduce symptoms and keep them in remission. Those with Crohn’s will benefit greatly from this since flare-ups are the only time when symptoms appear. An infusion center is also significantly cheaper than a hospital when it comes to receiving infusion treatments.
 
How often infusions for Crohn’s disease will be administered will depend on the type of medication and additional factors. One popular medication used in infusion therapy for Crohn’s disease at Jean Walter Infusion is Cimzia. Cimzia will include an initial injection followed by two more doses two weeks apart. If your condition responds positively, you will continue taking Cimzia once a month.

The recovery time following injections for Crohn’s disease varies based on the type of medication being prescribed. Stelara is a highly effective treatment option that begins with an IV infusion and is followed up with maintenance injections. Clinical trials reflected fast improvements for patients on Stelara.

A number of patients in clinical trials experienced failure or intolerance to other medications, including biologics, before being prescribed Stelara.

Most patients who were new to a biologic or had not failed one found relief from their Crohn’s disease symptoms within 6 weeks after just one IV dose of Stelara, with some noticing improvement as early as 3 weeks. Additionally, most patients were in remission at 1 year after responding to the induction dose and continuing Stelara treatment.

In the treatment of moderate to severe Crohn’s disease, Stelara injections offer a highly effective biologic medication, the FDA has approved its use for adults 18 years of age and older. The mechanism of action of Stelara differs from those of other biologic medications used to treat Crohn’s disease.
 
In order to support the body’s immune response, Stelara binds to two small proteins (cytokines). Those with Crohn’s disease have elevated levels of these cytokines, causing chronic inflammation. Inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract can be reduced with Stelara because it blocks these cytokines.
 
The knowledgeable and professional team is available at Jean Walter Infusion to help you feel better. We have convenient locations to serve you in Maryland. For more information, contact us or request an appointment online. We serve patients from Rosedale MD, Baltimore MD, Columbia MD, Glen Burnie MD, Catonsville MD, Edgewater MD, North Baltimore, Parkville MD, Middle River MD, Dundalk MD, Halethrope MD, Ellicott City MD, Laurel MD, Hebbville MD, and Woodlawn MD.