Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory bowel disease that can affect any section of the gastrointestinal tract from the mouth to the anus. It is a long-term and chronic disease whose symptoms include weight loss, abdominal pain, and non-bloody diarrhea. It is treated initially and commonly with oral steroid therapy.
Steroids are also referred to as corticosteroids. There are different types of steroids associated with their use in reference to Crohn’s disease. These steroids include:
Budesonide, Prednisone, and Methylprednisolone.
BUDESONIDE
This is a steroid that the liver aptly metabolizes so as to reduce the side effects associated with corticosteroids. It has been observed in various studies that patients treated with Budesonide experience adrenal suppression. This is a condition that occurs when limited steroid hormones are produced by the adrenal glands. Budesonide is not as effective as other conventional steroids for inducing remission in people suffering from Crohn’s disease; however, it has been discovered to have less side effects when compared to other conventional steroids. It is also better at preserving the adrenal functions.
PREDNISONE
This works as replacement therapy in patients whose adrenal gland produces low amounts of cortisol. It is also used to suppress inflammation and the immune system. Prednisone must first be converted to Prednisolone by the enzymes in the liver for it to be effective in the body. Thus, Prednisone may not be effective in those suffering from liver disease whose ability to convert it into Prednisolone is impaired. It takes time before its effects can be seen and may take quite a while before the condition responds. Get more information about this from Steroidsfax experts.
The dosage of Prednisone must be lowered gradually after a long period of its therapeutic use. This is to afford the adrenal gland time to recover. Prednisone has various side effects, and the most common include headache, vomiting, nausea, acne, and weight gain. More serious side effects include glaucoma, growth of facial hair, ulcers in the stomach and duodenum, thinning and easy bruising of the skin, puffiness of the face (moon face), and cataracts. It may also cause psychiatric disturbances like mood swings, insomnia, euphoria, depression, personality changes, and psychotic behavior.
METHYLPREDNISOLONE
This is used to achieve instant suppression of inflammation. Methylprednisolone poses different side effects depending on the amounts of the dose taken and the duration of its ingestion. Low dosage is usually accompanied by a few well tolerated and mild side effects. The lowest but still effective dose should be taken within a short period of time so as to minimize the side effects. Side effects can vary from mild annoyances to more severe irreversible bodily damage. Common side effects reported include weight gain, muscle weakness, headache, facial hair growth, glaucoma, cataracts, growth retardation in children, convulsions, and thinning and easy bruising of the skin. Psychic disturbances may also occur, such as euphoria, mood swings, depression, insomnia, and psychotic behavior.
The list is not limited to those mentioned above. As always, it is important to know what works best for you. Consult your physician for medical advice on what best suits your condition.
