Conventional therapy for Crohn’s disease

Table 4 Drugs for the treatment of CD

Drug	Methotrexate
Dosage	25 mg/wk i.m., if remission is achieved reduce to 15 i.m. (or s.c.)
Indications	Maintenance, chronically active disease, steroid-refractory and steroid-dependency, fistulae
Important side effects	Nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, stomatitis; hepatitis, liver fibrosis; hypersensivity pneumonitis
Monitoring	Liver function and full blood count monthly for the first two months, if normal then every two months throughout therapy
Pregnancy	Strictly prohibited
Comments	Entire therapeutic efficacy is observed mostly after 2-4 mo; consider folic acid supplementation with 2.5-5 mg/d; ensure adequate birth control; allow 3 mo time before pregnancy or conceiving