Medications/drugs/supplements to avoid

[anna.h]

I've been told that there are some medications and drugs that should be avoided when you have Crohn's. By own experience I know that "kill-all-bacteria"-penicillin is a bad bad idea, and if you must have penicillin or antibiotics it should be one that is aimed specifically at the bacteria you have and need to get rid of. Also I know that diklofenac (don't know if it's called this in English) should be avoided, and possibly also NSAIDs like Aspirin (but I don't know if all NSAIDs are "bad"). Anyone else who have something to add to the list? Vitamins or supplements that should be avoided?

 

[Cookie]

I'd never heard that about the penicilin. Makes sense though. I took massive amounts of it as a child. Makes ya wonder...

 

[Crohn's 35]

Welcome Anna (have we all welcomed you yet?)! My doc says NO NSAIDS, no smoking, no caffeine, and preferably no supplements that will actually boost your immune system. She has me clear all antibiotics that I take through her as she seems to know the ones that will effect the gut the most. I know I'm safe with Cipro, Metro, and Zythormycin so far. Cipro effects my gut the least, and is my preferred one when I have to take it.

WE must have the same doctor lol, Cipro is my choice as well. Flagyl helps too but I switch so the side effects dont get me and I never take the full dosage, I know my Crohns and what I need. I asked my GI a couple of weeks ago about another antibiotic and says no nothing else works.

 

[beth]

Why no caffeine Peaches?
(asks she who's been only able to do the day to day function thing with a dose of coffee each morning for the past few weeks)

 

[kskitt]

Ive never been told to avoid anything, but luckerly ive always read up on things so know that aspirin, ibuprofen and codiene are things that ive read to avoid

 

[Hollie]

How do i post my story here

 

[beth]

Ah okay. Seems I'm okay with it. I'm limiting myself to one cup, maybe two if I really need it.

 

[anna.h]

Yes, I meant medications you may get for other stuff, where the prescribing doctor (or yourself) may give you something that makes your Crohn's worse.

About caffeine: I can drink coffee, but yes, it speeds things up a bit.

So, if we should avoid NSAIDs, the only prescription-free painkiller that's left is paracetamol?

 

[Agent X20]

The original post sounds like a list of everything I've taken in the past... oops!
I thought diclofenac was the only strongish painkiller I could tolerate... and I was pumped full of penicillin as a child!
Peaches... if caffeine was discovered now I think it would be classed as an illegal drug. I went caffeine free for a few months. Now I allow myself one Americano (with two shots of expresso in it) per day. Got to have at least one vice (and I don't count chocolate as a vice)

 

[anna.h]

I was told the reason we shouldn't take penicillin is because it kills all bacteria in your intestines, good ones as well as bad ones. And without the good ones we are in risk of getting another flare up. Please correct me if I'm wrong, I might have misunderstood this! And it is ok to take antibiotics that are directed specifically at the kind of bacteria you have, that leaves the good ones unharmed. I don't know if there are many types of penicillin? The one they gave me was a kill 'em all-type, and no good for my Crohn's.

Edit: just wanted to add that the list is of medicine that should be avoided when you already have Crohn's because it can worsen your condition, it is not medicine that causes Crohn's (at least not that I know of).