How to Treat Crohn's Disease With Antibiotics

It is sometimes necessary to treat Crohn's disease with antibiotics to reduce the bacterial overgrowth in the intestine caused by fistulas, abscesses and strictures. There is a delicate balance between getting the right antibiotic in the correct dosage to destroy harmful bacteria and overkill of the good bacteria in the intestine.

Instructions

Provide Antibiotic Therapy to Treat Crohn's Disease

• 1

  Expect an improvement in symptoms from Crohn's disease when you treat with metronidazole (Flagyl). Metronidazole has been the most common antibiotic used to treat Crohn's for decades. It is especially effective in treating patients with anal fistulas resulting from the Crohn's disease.

• 2

  Take ciprofloxacin (Cipro) to treat mild to moderate cases of Crohn's disease. Ciprofloxacin may be used alone or in conjunction with metronidazole if the Crohn's affects both the anal area and the ileum (small intestine).

• 3

  Consult with your doctor about the benefits of ampicillin as an antibiotic to treat Crohn's disease. Ampicillin is in the penicillin family of beta-lactam antibiotics. The presence of one amino group makes it different from penicillin.

• 4

  Treat Crohn's disease with the anti-bacterial sulfonamide. The generic is sulfamethoxazole, and the brand name is Gantanol.

• 5

  Use a cephalosporin-type antibiotic such as cefaclor to treat infections associated with Crohn's disease.

• 6

  Try tetracycline as an antibiotic to treat Crohn's disease. This broad-spectrum antibiotic has been used effectively against some of the most stubborn bacteria. It has been around since the late 1940s.