Medication is never the only way to health when it comes to Crohn’s, and that is why the Crohn’s disease diet exists in the first place. However, when Crohn’s nutrition may not be enough in the early stages, medication may become, not a necessity, but a factor in promoting health and less to no discomfort.

One medication is called Tysabri, also known officially as Natalizumab. In general, medication and the Crohn’s diet have the same goal-to prevent and decrease pain, encourage a stable bathroom routine that is not too high in numbers, and, worst of all, surgery for the prior two goals.

Many medications have two names-a medical one that is “official,” and a public one that is often shorter and more “catchy.” Tysabri, or Natalizumab, is an anti-TNF biologic drug, which helps Crohn’s for it helps with a tumor necrosis factor. The ironic part is that the medication was meant for multiple sclerosis. However, the medication was pulled for that disease after evidence shown a strong correlation with that medication and three rare cancer types when used with immunosuppressants.

It has been shown that medicine may not always be beneficial-does the means justify the ends, especially from a patient’s perspective, as it will be much more concerned with “the means” than the prescribing doctor who is only doing his or her job to defeat the disease? In fact, Tysabri, or Natalizumab, was originally meant for a bone and joint condition; the Crohn’s diet is meant for Crohn’s in mind originally, so there are fewer potential side effects, and a better chance at healing the GI tract.

Note that the three cancers were not regarding a Crohn’s diagnosis, and only a multiple sclerosis one. However, there was, of course, a mass panic and uproar, which led to the drug being recalled. Tysabri, or Natalizumab, came back to help those with Crohn’s, though Crohn’s nutrition can help just the same, especially with the side effects.

Note, the European Union did approve the drug for multiple sclerosis aware of the potential consequence of rare cancers. However, it did not approve the same medication for Crohn’s patients because of the risk factor ratio to benefits. The US did in 2008. Tysabri, or Natalizumab, is used to induce a state of reduced pain and discomfort and keep it in patients, much like the Crohn’s disease diet. However, for some reason, the US allowed the harmful drug to pass for people already in pain; Crohn’s nutrition is a natural, and therefore practically a side-effect-free method of inducing a state of reduced pain and discomfort and keeping such as state.

A note of caution regarding any medication.

There are two main types of stomach ulcers. A peptic ulcer is found in the stomach wall and a duodenal ulcer is found in the wall of the duodenum, the exit from the stomach into the upper intestine. Ulcers like these have two principal causes. Firstly, infection by a bacteria called Helicobacter Pylori (H. Pylori). The second most common cause is erosion caused by the ingestion of certain drugs, e.g. aspirin or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as diclofenac or naproxen, which are taken for arthritis, rheumatism, backache or period pain.

Symptoms of an ulcer include stomach pain, back pain, nausea and vomiting, the presence of blood in vomit, or vomit with the appearance of coffee grounds, dark or black stools, weight loss, irritability and headache. Not all stomach pain is caused by an ulcer, but early diagnosis is of paramount importance in dealing with this ailment. Your doctor will take blood samples, to detect antibodies to H. Pylori, a breath test for a similar outcome, and will also suggest a gastroscopy ( or upper GI endoscopy) where a mini camera is swallowed, under light anaesthetic, to examine you internals, and perhaps a small biopsy from the affected area. This procedure is not as invasive as it sounds, and the patient is able to resume normal life shortly after.

When diagnosis is confirmed, the most important factors are to give up smoking, and restrict consumption of alcohol. You will be prescribed antibiotics, a course of which may consist of, perhaps, clarythromycin, plus metronizadole or amoxicillin. You may also be given a proton pump inhibitor such as zoton (lansoprazol) or ranitidine, which will reduce the amount of acid your stomach produces. These have proved to be most effective in reducing the ulcer, and the symptoms as the stomach has a chance to heal without an excess of acid to deal with. However, there will be restrictions placed on the foodstuffs that you will be able to digest, and these will help over the short term. Many patients report relapses, and a return of the ulcer. The other problem with these medications is that they will interfere with the normal digestive process, and can interfere with other vital body functions when used over the long term. This can lead to other diseases, which the body has a harder time to recover from as we age.

There are alternative therapies which will prevent the return of the ulcer. The big advantage of these is the cost, which is considerably less than the cost of medicines and prescription drugs. Many of these are time-honoured remedies which have been all but forgotten, and some are as a modern as today, with proven sources and medical approval. The next factor is availability, as many of these therapies can be resourced from your supermarket, or health food store, or even found in your own kitchen. A great starter is apple and raw cabbage! Both of these have compounds which are believed to have remarkable restorative effects on the digestive system.

In yet another case of NSAID-related labeling change, all products containing diclofenac sodium are now required to include stronger warnings and precautions about possible liver toxicity. The call for change came after post-marketing reports found that Voltaren, a diclofenac sodium topical gel used for the relief of osteoarthritis-induced pain, could cause serious liver reactions, including liver necrosis, jaundice, hepatitis and liver failure. Some of these reported cases have also resulted in the need for a liver transplant or even death. But the exact number of reported cases of adverse effects associated with Voltaren gel is unknown.

In a letter to health care professionals, the FDA and the manufacturers highlighted the new warnings and precautions which apply to all diclofenac sodium products. They warned that diclofenac sodium, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, may cause liver damage. Symptoms of drug-induced liver abnormalities may appear within the first or second month of therapy, but can also occur at any time during treatment with diclofenac.

To prevent severe liver damage, physicians are recommended to take the following precautions:

1. Give patients the lowest effective dose of diclofenac for the shortest possible duration.
2. Closely monitor transaminases in patients who are using diclofenac on a long-term basis.
3. Inform patients to look out for warning signs of diclofenac side effects, such as nausea, fatigue, lethargy, diarrhea, pruritus, jaundice, right upper quadrant tenderness and flu-Like symptoms.
4. Exercise caution when prescribing diclofenac with drugs that are known to be potentially hepatotoxic (e.g. antibiotics and anti-epileptics).

Labeling change for NSAIDs and other drugs are not new. In 2005, following the voluntary withdrawal of Vioxx from the market in the previous year, the FDA requested all prescription and over-the-counter NSAIDs to add new warnings and precautions to warn patients about cardiovascular and gastrointestinal bleeding risk.

Vioxx is a type of NSAID known as COX-2 inhibitor that targets a specific enzyme believed to be responsible for causing inflammation in the body. But, this drug has been found to increase the risk of heart attack even at low doses, which led to its downfall. After the withdrawal of Vioxx, Bextra, another COX-inhibitor, was also removed from the market.

The latest warnings for diclofenac sodium add to the long list of potential side effects of NSAID use. NSAIDs have been known for causing gastrointestinal complications like stomach ulcer and bleeding, hypertension, skin reactions, kidney problems, as well as increase the risk of cardiac events such as heart attack and stroke.

But despite the possible side effects, NSAIDs continued to be used widely throughout the world. In the US alone, some 60 million prescriptions are written for NSAIDs per year, and many of them are for elderly patients who are more susceptible to the adverse reactions of NSAIDs.