by Karen Heslop
Crohn’s disease is a chronic illness that affects the digestive system. While it can’t be cured, it’s often managed through various medications. Unfortunately, these drugs can have side effects that are even worse for Black people. You can’t keep your symptoms under control without a medical regimen, though, so you need to know what to do about these side effects.
Common Side Effects of Crohn’s Medication
The side effects you deal with will depend on the type of medications that you’re prescribed. People with Crohn’s are commonly given steroids for at least three to four months to reduce inflammation. Some of the typical side effects of steroids include weight gain, muscle weakness, blurred vision, an increased appetite, increased bruising, and lower resistance to infection.
You’re also likely to get anti-inflammatory drugs to cut down on the swelling in your intestinal lining. These drugs can cause nausea, diarrhea, indigestion, headache, and vomiting. Some people may have an allergic reaction to them.
If you’re prescribed immunosuppressants to suppress your immune system so it can stop attacking your digestive system, you may deal with headaches, nausea, diarrhea, pain, and bloating. Additionally, you’ll be more susceptible to infections.
Crohn’s disease may lead to infections so it’s common for doctors to prescribe antibiotics. These drugs can cause diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, a rash, upset stomach, and sensitivity to light.
People who have severe Crohn’s usually need biologics to help lessen the effects of an overactive immune system. Taking them can cause nausea, headaches, fever, swelling, abdominal pain, itching, and chronic pain. You may also have an increased risk of heart failure.
How They Can Affect Black People
While more studies need to be done, some research shows that Black Americans may have worse side effects to specific medications. For example, some corticosteroids can cause swelling in Black people more readily than other ethnicities. When it comes to antibiotics, a recent study shows that Black Americans are more likely to be prescribed the ones that have more severe side effects – especially from frequent or prolonged use.
Finally, Black people can have poor responses to certain biologics resulting in more severe side effects.
How to Manage the Side Effects
Some side effects like nausea, diarrhea, headaches, vomiting, and indigestion can be managed with the use of over-the-counter medications. Some home remedies such as ginger, peppermint, and chamomile can help too. While a change in your diet may be able to address diarrhea problems, you have to be careful that it doesn’t make your Crohn’s symptoms worse.
However, more serious side effects should be managed by your doctor and you should never make changes to your medication regimen without talking to them. It’s also worth noting that you shouldn’t depend on home remedies or over-the-counter medication for prolonged management of side effects as it could be a sign that the cause of the problems needs to be addressed.
When to see Your Doctor
It’s important to note that it’s always best to discuss the expected side effects of a drug with your doctor before starting it. However, studies show that many doctors don’t have detailed discussions about treatment options with Black Americans when they’re finally diagnosed with Crohn’s disease. As a result, they’re likely to suffer these side effects in silence or try to find different ways to deal with them on their own.
If you suspect that your medications are causing side effects that are affecting your quality of life, you need to tell your doctor. They may be able to adjust your dosage or suggest a different medication altogether. You should also let them know about any alternative therapies you’re trying to manage the side effects. Managing Crohn’s disease effectively can be a delicate balance.
It’s bad enough that Black people often don’t get diagnosed with Crohn’s disease quickly but they also have to deal with more severe side effects from certain medications. You need to take your health into your own hands to ensure you get the diagnosis and follow-up care you need.
