What is Crohn’s Disease?
Crohn’s disease is a relapsing and chronic condition that causes inflammation of gut walls. Any part of the gut can be affected and get swollen and cause severe pain. This condition can lead to various symptoms that vary from person to person including rectal bleeding, diarrhea, ulcers, anal fissures, and weight loss etc.
Crohn’s disease during pregnancy is still harmful and medications are available depending on the severity of symptoms and how often they occur. Some of the medications that are considered to reduce the flare-up of symptoms are listed below.
Medications for Crohn’s Disease during pregnancy
There are many things a woman with Crohn’s disease during her pregnancy can do to reduce or manage the symptoms, but only a few medications are safe to treat while pregnant.
Corticosteroids
Corticosteroids are the safest and are powerful anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce the severity of Crohn’s syndrome when the symptoms are active. It is mostly used in alleviating the symptoms and preventing a relapse. It is effective when no other medications are helpful and symptoms are at their worst.
Antibiotics
Antibiotics are required very often for treating Crohn’s disease. The safest antibiotic that is helpful for a pregnant woman is metronidazole.
Sulfasalazine
Pregnant women suffering from Crohn’s disease can continue using sulfasalazine to reduce its painful symptoms. Sulfasalazine cannot increase the risk of any other complications or side-effects of pregnancy or birth defects. Breast feeding women can also continue using sulfasalazine.
Amino-salicylates
Amino-salicylates are safe to use during pregnancy. The active component of this drug is 5-amino salicylic acid. It is released in the gut and works on the inflammation in the gut. Amino-salicylates pose no risk of side-effects.
Biologics
Biologic compounds like Certolizumab, Infliximab, Adalimumab are considered safe and are approved for lowering the intensity of Crohn’s syndrome during pregnancy. It is low-risk medication as it does not appear in breast milk and safe for the new born as well.
