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.

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