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GoodRx Guide

Crohn’s Disease: Your GoodRx Guide

Comprehensive information for you or a loved one — including treatment options and discounts on popular medications.
Michael Dreis, MDSarah Gupta, MD
Written by Michael Dreis, MD | Reviewed by Sarah Gupta, MD
Updated on September 24, 2021

The symptoms and complications of Crohn’s disease depend on which part of your GI tract is affected. There are five types of Crohn’s disease:

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  • Ileocolitis: Affects the large intestine and the end of the small intestine (ileum)

  • Ileitis: Affects the small intestine (ileum)

  • Jejunoileitis: Affects the small intestine (jejunum and ileum) 

  • Gastroduodenal Crohn’s disease: Affects the stomach and the first part of the small intestine (duodenum)

  • Crohn’s (granulomatous) colitis: Affects the large intestine

Crohn’s is also an autoimmune condition. This means that the body’s immune system attacks your own body. In Crohn’s disease, this autoimmune attack can cause inflammation and damage in any part of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract — from your mouth, to your anus.

A 3D illustration of the digestive tract including mouth, esophagus, stomach, large intestine (colon), duodenum, jejunum, ileum, anus, and rectum.

Causes

Just like with other autoimmune diseases, we don’t know exactly what causes Crohn’s. It’s possible that, in a person with certain genes, an environmental trigger might inappropriately “turn on” the immune system — causing it to attack and damage the GI tract.

At this point, more than 200 genes are associated with inflammatory bowel disease. We also know that genes play a role in Crohn’s disease, because it runs in families. It’s also more common in some racial and ethnic groups, like Jewish people and white people. 

It’s also possible that environmental exposures could influence who gets Crohn’s. Though there’s no proven cause, there is some evidence that Crohn’s is associated with:

Symptoms

The symptoms of Crohn’s disease depend on which part of the GI tract is involved. They are often different for each person with the condition. 

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Symptoms can be mild in some people and very serious in others. You can have periods of time where your symptoms flare (get worse). Other times, your symptoms might go away completely — which is called “being in remission.” 

Many people with Crohn's will have gut-related symptoms. Common symptoms include:

  • Abdominal pain

  • Diarrhea

  • Urgent bowel movements

  • Loss of appetite

  • Nausea

  • Vomiting

  • Bloody stool

These symptoms — along with chronic gut inflammation and damage — can sometimes lead to weight loss, anemia (low red blood cells), and tiredness. Crohn’s can also cause growth problems in children.  

Crohn’s can also cause symptoms in other parts of your body. In some people, these symptoms actually appear first — before any GI symptoms. Examples include:

  • Skin rashes

  • Joint pain

  • Eye pain

  • Vision changes

  • Mouth sores

  • Joint swelling and pain

  • Bone fractures

  • Kidney stones

  • Liver problems

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Diagnosis

You and your provider can work together to figure out whether you have Crohn’s disease. In most cases, your healthcare provider will start with an interview and physical exam. 

Your provider may also suggest additional tests that can help diagnose Crohn’s, including:

  • Stool tests

  • Blood tests

  • Colonoscopy 

  • Upper endoscopy

  • CT scan

  • MRI

  • Ultrasound

If you are working with a primary care provider, they may suggest you see a specialist called a gastroenterologist. A gastroenterologist (or GI doctor) is a medical doctor with extra training and experience managing Crohn’s.

Medications

There are many types of medications that can treat Crohn’s disease.  

The goal of medication is to:

  • Prevent and treat symptom flares

  • Help you achieve remission (be symptom free)

  • Help you maintain remission (stay symptom free)

Medications can keep your immune system in check, reduce inflammation, and control your symptoms. The most common types of prescription medications are:

  • Aminosalicylates: to decrease inflammation in the GI tract 

  • Corticosteroids: to reduce inflammation, and keep your immune system under control 

  • Immunomodulators: to control your body’s immune system response

  • Biologic agents: to control inflammation in your body 

  • Antibiotics: to treat infections that can occur when you have Crohn’s disease, like abscesses 

Over-the-counter (OTC) medications can also help relieve symptoms, including: 

  • Anti-diarrhea products

  • Anti-gas products

  • Digestive aids

  • Pain relievers

Be sure to talk to your provider before trying any OTC remedies — especially if you are on other medications, or have another health condition.

Treatments  

Crohn’s disease treatment depends on your symptoms, your overall health, and your quality of life. In some cases, medications may be enough to fully control your symptoms. But the truth is: At least two-thirds of people with Crohn’s will have surgery at least once during their lifetime. 

You may need to have surgery if you have severe symptoms, especially if your medication isn’t working. Other reasons for surgery include: 

People with Crohn’s also sometimes need to have part of their bowel removed. This is called a bowel resection. In a bowel resection, the damaged part of your GI tract is removed. A bowel resection is not a cure for Crohn’s, but it may help you stay symptom-free for many years.

Living

Living with Crohn’s can be a challenge. It’s important to take steps to support your mental and physical health. Many people with Crohn’s disease find it’s helpful to:

Nutrition is very important for people with Crohn’s disease — especially because your gut may have a hard time functioning well. Do what you can to make healthy eating choices, and to get the right essential vitamins, minerals, and nutrients. Your healthcare provider may also suggest a specific eating plan (like low-fiber, or high-calorie) to help manage your symptoms.

Common concerns

How are Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis different?

Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are different types of inflammatory bowel disease. Since they both have similar symptoms, people often get them confused. 

Here are the key differences:

  • Crohn’s disease: This causes inflammation in the entire GI tract, from mouth to anus. Crohn’s disease can also affect the whole wall of the bowel, which can lead to especially severe complications. 

  • Ulcerative colitis: This only affects the colon and rectum (parts of your large intestine). It also only involves the inner lining of your gut — rather than the whole wall. 

Can Crohn’s disease be cured?

There is no cure for Crohn’s disease. Medication can treat flares and stop inflammation, but the symptoms of Crohn’s disease can come back. Medications can help you stay in remission (symptom-free). 

What foods can trigger a Crohn’s flare?

For some people, certain foods can sometimes trigger a Crohn’s flare. This might include:

  • Foods that are hard to digest, such as fruits with skins, nuts, raw green vegetables, and whole grains

  • Dairy

  • Artificial sweeteners

  • Sugary foods

  • High-fat foods

  • Alcohol

  • Caffeine

  • Spicy foods

References

American College of Gastroenterology. (2021). What is a gastroenterologist?

Ananthakrishnan, A. N., et al. (2012). Aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use, and risk for Crohn disease and ulcerative colitis: A cohort study. Annals of Internal Medicine.

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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020). Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD): Data and statistics.

Cornish, J. A., et al. (2008). The risk of oral contraceptives in the etiology of inflammatory bowel disease: A meta-analysis. The American Journal of Gastroenterology.

Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation. (2013). Diet, nutrition, and inflammatory bowel disease

Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation. (2018). Living with Crohn’s disease

Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation. (2021). Mind–body therapies

Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation. (2021). Overview of Crohn’s disease.

Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation. (2021). Welcome to the Crohn’s & colitis community

Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation. (2021). What should I eat?

Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation. (2021). What is IBD?

Crohn’s & Colitis UK. (2021). Build an IBD team

Lichtenstein, G. R., et al. (2018). ACG clinical guideline: Management of Crohn’s disease in adults. The American Journal of Gastroenterology.

Mahid, S. S., et al. (2006). Smoking and inflammatory bowel disease: A meta-analysis. Mayo Clinic Proceedings.

Moller, F. T., et al. (2015). Familial risk of inflammatory bowel disease: A population-based cohort study 1977–2011. The American Journal of Gastroenterology.

National Cancer Institute. (2021). Large intestine

Song, H. et al. (2018). Association of stress-related disorders with subsequent autoimmune disease. JAMA. 

Soon, I., et al. (2012). The relationship between urban environment and the inflammatory bowel diseases: A systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Gastroenterol. 

Torres, J., et al. (2017). Crohn’s disease. Lancet.

Ungaro, R., et al. (2014). Antibiotics associated with increased risk of new-onset Crohn’s disease but not ulcerative colitis: A meta-analysis. The American Journal of Gastroenterology.

GoodRx Health has strict sourcing policies and relies on primary sources such as medical organizations, governmental agencies, academic institutions, and peer-reviewed scientific journals. Learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate, thorough, and unbiased by reading our editorial guidelines.

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