Contact your doctor if you still experience flare-ups with your current treatment regimen. They can help you determine why your Crohn’s disease treatment isn’t working and what changes you need to make.
This article discusses seven reasons your Crohn’s disease treatment may not be working.
People whose Crohn’s disease medications aren’t effectively managing the condition may experience complications, including:
- fistulas, which are unusual connections that form between tissues and organs
- strictures, which occur when scar tissue in the intestines causes narrowing
- bowel obstructions, which may develop due to strictures that keep food from passing through the intestines
- ulcers, or open sores in the intestinal walls
- complications outside the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, such as skin changes or arthritis
If you have complications from Crohn’s disease, your doctor may consider stronger or alternative medications or, potentially, surgery.
Learn more about 4 risks of not treating Crohn’s disease.
For some people with Crohn’s disease, their medications may lose their effectiveness over time. Talk with your doctor if your medication initially reduced your symptoms, but they seem to be returning or worsening.
Continuously communicating with your doctor is important. They need to monitor your medication to make sure it’s helping you. Keeping track of side effects is also important.
Finding the right medication may take a few tries, so keeping a log of symptoms and side effects as you begin a new medication may be helpful. You can also document whether you notice your current medication might not be working well.
Learn more about 10 drugs commonly prescribed for Crohn’s disease.
Sometimes, a combination of medications can work better than just one medication alone.
Doctors may often prescribe short-term corticosteroids to reduce inflammation and help with Crohn’s symptoms and remission. Your doctor may prescribe an accompanying immunosuppressant to help you maintain remission.
If you have severe Crohn’s disease, your doctor may also prescribe biologic medications, powerful treatments created using naturally occurring substances. These medications may cause some side effects, such as fatigue, nausea, and allergic reactions. They may also increase the risk of infection.
Be sure to talk with your doctor about the risks involved in any Crohn’s disease treatment.
Learn more about 4 signs it may be time to try biologics for Crohn’s disease.
Some of the medications for Crohn’s disease may manage inflammation in certain areas of the GI tract.
For example, the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation notes that 5-aminosalicylates (5-ASAs), used off label for Crohn’s disease, may not be effective if your condition only causes inflammation in the small intestine. Instead, 5-ASAs may be helpful for people who experience Crohn’s disease health effects in their colons.
Ask your doctor about which medications are right for you based on the areas of your GI tract involved.
Your Crohn’s disease medication won’t work if you don’t take it. Keep all your medications accessible or schedule a reminder on your mobile device to ensure you don’t forget to take them.
Also, keep in mind that Crohn’s is a long-term disease, so you need a long-term plan to continue managing your symptoms. You may experience flare-ups with one or more symptoms followed by periods of remission with no symptoms.
Even when you feel better, it’s important to stick to your treatment plan and continue taking your medication unless your doctor directs you otherwise.
Learn 11 things doctors want you to know about Crohn’s disease.
Though dietary factors don’t cause Crohn’s disease, they may worsen your symptoms. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases states that it may be helpful to try:
- avoiding carbonated drinks
- reducing your fiber intake
- drinking more hydrating liquids
- eating a low salt and low fat diet, which also includes smaller, more frequent daily meals
Learn more about dietary changes that may help people with Crohn’s disease.
If you try changing your diet and your symptoms don’t improve, it may be time to revisit your treatment plan with your doctor. They may also recommend nutritional supplements and vitamins, such as vitamin D or zinc, if you don’t get enough nutrients through your diet.
Always talk with your doctor before making changes to your diet.
Learn more about supplements for Crohn’s disease.
According to a 2020 research review, smoking may be a risk factor for Crohn’s disease development and may also contribute to:
- worse symptom relapses
- disease recurrence after surgery
- reduced response to medications, meaning Crohn’s disease medications may be less effective
Although there’s some conflicting evidence on the effect of smoking on Crohn’s disease, quitting smoking may reduce the severity of the disease and improve your overall health.
If you need help quitting, a program from the National Cancer Institute provides resources to help you build a quitting plan, manage nicotine cravings, and connect with trained professionals who can help you through the process.
Learn some tips for quitting smoking.
Your Crohn’s disease treatment may not be working if it’s not strong enough to manage the condition or doesn’t target the right area of your GI tract. Some people may also need more than one medication at a time, and others may need to make some dietary or lifestyle changes to manage their symptoms effectively.
Talk with your doctor about changing your treatment plan if your current treatment doesn’t manage your symptoms or if you have complications.