Drug therapy plays a major role in the management of IBD. Although there is no medical cure for IBD, a number of different medications have proven effective in helping to control the disease. The main treatment goals for IBD are to:
induce remission (periods of time that are symptom-free)
maintain remission (preventing flare-ups of disease)
prevent relapse
improve quality of life
To achieve these goals, therapy must suppress the chronic intestinal inflammation that causes the symptoms of IBD. The success of therapy is determined by its ability to induce and maintain remissions without incurring significant side effects.
Effective in inducing and maintaining remission of IBD by modulating the chemical mediators of the inflammatory response, particularly prostaglandins and leukotrienes.
Decreases inflammation by multiple actions. They have been the mainstay of treatment for acute flare-ups since these drugs were first introduced for IBD in the 1950s.
These drugs block (modulate) the activity of the immune system and its inflammatory response, which plays a key role in producing the inflammatory symptoms of IBD.
Biologic therapies are made from living organisms and their products - such as proteins, genes, and antibodies. The advantage of biologic agents is that they have a specific mechanism of action (i.e. altering immune system factors.) Unlike corticosteroids, which block virtually everything and thereby cause significant side effects, biologic agents can be engineered to act selectively to restore balance - without disturbing other important immune functions.
