CDHF Talks: Understanding the Benefits & Risks of IBD Treatment Options
Written by: CDHF
Updated: December 12th, 2022
CDHF Talks: Understanding the Benefits & Risks of IBD Treatment Options with Dr. Yvette Leung, MD FRCPC.
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic disease for which there is currently no cure. It is a group of conditions that involve chronic inflammation of all or part of the digestive tract. Like many chronic diseases, IBD can alternate between severe episodes (flare-ups) and stretches of time with milder symptoms or no symptoms at all (disease remission). It can be painful, affect growth in children, and sometimes lead to serious complications. The disease has two main forms: ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD).
Your treatment plan for IBD will likely revolve around medications designed to reduce intestinal inflammation, control your symptoms, and even prevent long-term damage from inflammation.
There is no clear roadmap of how your IBD will progress over time. Everyone is different. You will experience peaks and valleys of symptoms over the years. To make the right decision about your IBD treatment, you need to balance the benefits and risks of treatment against the risks of no treatment. All medications have benefits, risks, and side effects. However, it is vital for you to understand that not treating the disease can be even more dangerous. When you get the right treatment for your stage of disease, situation and lifestyle, the benefits of treatment far outweigh the risks. Most people living with IBD go on to lead fulfilling lives despite the challenges of the illness.
In this CDHFTalks, Dr. Yvette Leung, MD FRCPC, goes through the following:
- Part 2: Living with IBD: Flares, Complications, Adherence, Healing, Surgery
- Part 3: 5-amino salicylic acid (5-ASAs)
- Part 4: Steroids
- Part 5: Immunosuppressants
- Part 6: Biologics / Biosimilars
- Part 7: JAK inhibitors
- Part 8: Emerging treatment options
Watch the full version or skip to each section to find the answers you are looking for.
Full Version:
Part 1: Introduction
Part 2: Living with IBD
Part 3: 5-amino salicylic acid (5-ASAs)
Part 4: Steroids
Part 5: Immunosuppressants
Part 6: Biologics and Biosimilars
Part 7: JAK Inhibitors
Part 8: Emerging Treatments for IBD
This video was made possible due to an unrestricted educational grant from Pfizer Canada.
