For adults with moderate to severe Crohn's disease in whom TNF blockers did not work well, or after a different injection or pill (systemic therapy) when TNF blockers are not recommended by your healthcare provider.

Partner

with a gastroenterologist

Hear from real doctors

When you have Crohn's, a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), partnering with your doctor can help you get the most from your treatment. Board-certified gastroenterologists Dr. Casey Chapman and Dr. Asher Kornbluth share their perspectives on how best to discuss Crohn's treatment options and goals with your doctor. Watch the videos below to learn more.

Dr. Chapman and Dr. Kornbluth are paid consultants of AbbVie.

Dr. Casey Chapman is a board-certified gastroenterologist and clinical professor of medicine specializing in the treatment of Crohn's disease and other gastrointestinal conditions. 

Dr. Asher Kornbluth is a board-certified gastroenterologist and clinical professor of medicine specializing in the treatment of Crohn's disease and other gastrointestinal conditions. 

When to speak up about uncontrolled Crohn's

Sharing with your doctor can help them evaluate if it may be time to consider a treatment change. Tell your doctor if:

  • You are still experiencing Crohn's disease symptoms despite being on treatment
  • Uncontrolled Crohn's symptoms are impacting you
  • Your current treatment isn’t meeting your expectations

When to speak up about
uncontrolled Crohn's

Setting treatment goals

Setting treatment goals

You and your doctor can set treatment goals that aim for:

  • Clinical remission
  • Visible improvement of the intestinal lining

 

Clinical remission – Remission in Crohn’s is a period when someone experiences few or no Crohn’s symptoms. Your gastroenterologist can confirm if you're in remission based on the frequency of your bowel movements, lack of abdominal pain, and several other components within the CDAI (Crohn's disease activity index).

Making the most of your appointment

When partnering with a doctor, be open and honest:

  • Share your symptoms
  • Ask questions
  • Develop a plan together

Making the most of your appointment

Symptom relief is just the beginning

Symptom relief is just the beginning

When working with his Crohn's patients, Dr. Kornbluth emphasizes focusing on:

  • Symptom relief
  • Visible repair of the intestinal lining
  • Lasting steroid-free remission

Hear from Victoria, a patient who spoke up to her doctor

VICTORIA:

It’s sometimes hard to be able to kind of put into words what your symptoms are, and then sometimes it’s easier to kind of avoid that. I was like, we just need to kind of put everything out on the table. I realized I had to be open and honest with my doctor and myself about the symptoms I was experiencing. This helped my doctor really understand how much Crohn’s was affecting my life and my college experience. I think it’s important to talk to your doctor. Remember, there's nothing to be embarrassed about when being open and honest with your gastro.

I realized I had to be open and honest with my doctor and myself about the symptoms I was experiencing.

—Victoria, moderate to severe Crohn’s disease patient

Talking points to take to your next appointment

Check out our Crohn’s Treatment Discussion Tool for helpful topics and questions that you can take with you to your next appointment.

ULCERATIVE COLITIS USE

RINVOQ is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis when 1 or more medicines called tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blockers have been used and did not work well or could not be tolerated, or after taking a different injection or pill (systemic therapy) when your healthcare provider does not recommend TNF blockers. It is not known if RINVOQ is safe and effective in children with ulcerative colitis.