IBS
Budesonide Prolongs Remission of Crohn's Disease
By The American Journal of Gastroenterology
Sep 14, 2005, 01:59

In a study published in The American Journal of Gastroenterology, researchers found that budesonide capsules are an effective treatment to prolong and maintain the period of remission of Crohn�s Disease. Previous studies have demonstrated that budesonide is effective for inducing remission of Crohn�s disease.

Four double-blind, placebo-controlled trials were conducted with identical protocols in which patients with Crohn�s Disease, and medically induced remission, received a treatment of oral budesonide for 12 months. Results showed that budesonide taken at 6 mg/day is effective for prolonging time to relapse and for significantly reducing rates of relapse.

�Long-term treatment with budesonide is well-tolerated and the frequency and types of adverse events are similar to placebo,� states lead researcher,William J. Sandborn, MD. �Safety of a long-term medication is obviously important, but how well a patient tolerates their medication is also important and can affect patient adherence to therapy.�

Crohn�s disease is a long-term disease that results from inflammation of the digestive tract. It is a debilitating sickness, even for patients who are classified as having mild to moderate disease. Currently, there are no treatment options available that prevents recurrence of symptoms.

�As stated, this disease is recurring in nature, so extending the time a patient can be symptom-free or with diminished symptoms is an important feature of treatment. Budesonide capsules are a treatment option for Crohn�s disease that has been shown in studies not only to be very effective in relieving symptoms, but also in extending the time before patients experience a recurrence.�

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