Illness in general causes pain, discomfort, and a sense of helplessness. And, when the condition makes you feel bloated, gassy, or constipated on a regular basis, it may make you feel embarrassed — or extremely worried if you’ve noticed blood in your stools. After all, it’s not too often people commiserate with others about their bathroom habits.
If you have been diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease and traditional treatment such as oral medications and lifestyle changes haven’t provided much relief, you may be wondering whether there are additional treatment options. Would IV therapy work? And, are there any side effects?
What is inflammatory bowel disease?
The term inflammatory bowel disease is used to refer to any disorder that causes inflammation of the digestive tract — including the esophagus, stomach, small intestine or large intestine (colon). These include Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative Colitis. When a portion of the digestive tract is inflamed, it disrupts digestion. As a result, the person may experience abdominal cramps, bloating, an urgent need to go to the bathroom, diarrhea, and/or unintended weight loss. Left untreated, it could lead to complications such as ulcers, malnutrition, intestinal rupture, bowel obstruction, or colon cancer.
IV Therapy for Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Although healthcare providers can prescribe oral medications and recommend lifestyle changes to treat inflammatory bowel disease, some patients haven’t responded well to traditional forms of treatment. In such cases, IV therapy may help.
Infusion therapy for inflammatory bowel disease is usually prescribed for patients with moderate to severe illness. It has three purposes — to alleviate symptoms, reduce the likelihood or duration of flareups, and to improve the patient’s quality of life.
Depending on the severity of the condition and the patient’s medical history, therapy may include immune suppressants, which prevents the immune system from attacking the intestines. Another alternative includes medication that blocks tumor necrosis factor (TNF) — a protein in the body that causes inflammation.
Are there any side effects?
Inflammatory bowel disease is often treated with REMICADE® (infliximab), an antibody that neutralizes inflammation. Side effects are rare, but may include the risk of infections or heart failure. It may also increase the risk of demyelinating disease, optic neuritis, hematological malignancy, or malignant melanoma if you have a family history of any of these conditions.
If Your Doctor Has Prescribed Inflammatory Bowel Disease IV Therapy, Let Infusion Associates Help You
At Infusion Associates, we provide medically-prescribed infusion therapy for patients with chronic conditions in a welcoming and friendly environment. Our team of healthcare professionals is fully committed to making the experience as comfortable as possible for you or your patients. We always inform patients of any potential side effects and answer all their questions before starting treatment. In addition, we have a Registered Pharmacist on-site to make the process as seamless as possible.
If you would like to refer a patient to us or want to inquire about the treatments we offer, you can contact us by calling us at (616) 954-0600 or filling out this form.