The Pharmaceutical Journal Vol 267 No 7179 p873-877
22-29 December 2001

This article
Reprint
Photocopy

News summary

Inflammatory bowel drugs reviewed

Maintenance treatment for ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease are reviewed in this month's Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin.

It concludes that in patients with ulcerative colitis, treatment with a 5-aminosalicylate reduces risk of relapse for at least two years. Sulfasalazine is at least as effective as newer aminosalicylates, but newer drugs avoid the side effects associated with absorption of sulfapyridine. A trial of maintenance therapy with a thiopurine is indicated if aminosalicylate therapy fails.

Evidence supporting the use of aminosalicylates in preventing relapse of Crohn's disease is weak. However, maintenance therapy with a thiopurine can prevent relapse for at least four years. Maintenance therapy with methotrexate might be an effective alternative in Crohn's disease but data are limited (2001;39:91).

Back to Top