How to Take Control of Crohn’s Flare-Ups

Even when switching to an improved medication regimen, it may take a while for the medication to begin to mark an improvement. Symptoms such as nausea, cramping, and diarrhea may persist several days into a new medication regimen. Luckily, these symptoms are treatable outside of a prescription regimen. Most symptoms of mild and moderate Crohn’s disease can be eased by common, over-the-counter medications.

Tylenol or another brand of acetaminophen can be used to relieve any pain or fever symptoms, while loperamide (Imodium) can be used for diarrhea. Anal rawness or soreness can be relieved by taking vitamins A & D, or by taking supplements such as Balneol or Desitin. While it may be tempting to simply treat symptoms with over-the-counter medications, many of these may have adverse effects on individuals with Crohn’s disease. Anti-inflammatory medications in particular may aggravate Crohn’s disease, and it is possible that certain drugs will interact with prescription drugs in adverse ways.