Medication for IBD

There are many different medications to treat Crohn’s and colitis. Some of them will be used to control inflammation while others will help you stay in remission (low disease activity and symptoms). Each person will find that some medications work better than others depending on their disease, so it’s important to work with your healthcare team to find the right medication/s for you. 

Adalimumab for IBD 

Adalimumab (Humira) is a biologic that reduces swelling and irritation (inflammation) in the gut. It is a medication used to treat both Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis and is usually prescribed by doctors when other medications have not worked. 

Aminosalicylates (5-ASAs) for IBD 

Aminosalicylates (5-ASAs) are a group of medications that reduce swelling and irritation (inflammation) in the gut. Some of the aminosalicylates include mesalazine, balsalazide, olsalazine and sulfasalazine and are used to treat both Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. 

Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) in IBD 

Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) is an umbrella term to describe the many different treatment options that lie outside typical treatment like medication and surgery. More research is needed in this area but there are some complementary treatments that have shown to improve symptoms and wellbeing in IBD. 

Corticosteroids for IBD

Corticosteroids (or steroids) are used to reduce swelling and irritation (inflammation) in the gut during flares or when the disease is worsening. Some common types of steroids are prednisolone and budesonide which reduce inflammation by suppressing the immune system.  

Golimumab for IBD  

Golimubab (Simponi) is a biologic that reduces swelling and irritation (inflammation) in the gut. It is a medication used to treat ulcerative colitis and is often combined with other medications like azathioprine, mercaptopurine or methotrexate. 

Infliximab for IBD 

Infliximab (Remicade) is a biologic that reduces swelling and irritation (inflammation) in the gut. It is a medication used to treat both Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis and is usually prescribed by doctors when other medications have not worked. 

Methotrexate for IBD   

Methotrexate is an immunomodulator that reduces swelling and irritation (inflammation) in the gut by dampening down the immune system. If methotrexate works well for you, it can be used to manage Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis for many years. 

Ozanimod for IBD

Ozanimod (Zeposia) is a medicine known as a ‘sphingosine 1phosphate (S1P) receptor modulator’. It is used to treat moderate to severe ulcerative colitis. It is prescribed if other medicines have not worked or are not suitable for you. 

Thiopurines (Mercaptopurine and Azathioprine) for IBD 

Thiopurines (azathioprine and mercaptopurine) are immunomodulators that reduce swelling and irritation (inflammation) in the gut by dampening down the immune system. If thiopurines work well for you, they can be used to manage Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis for many years. 

Tofacitinib for IBD

Tofacitinib is a drug known as a Janus Kinase (JAK) inhibitor. JAKs are enzymes that trigger the body’s immune response which causes inflammation in ulcerative colitis. By blocking the action of JAK enzymes, tofacitinib reduces inflammation in the bowel and allows it to heal.

Upadacitinib for IBD

Upadacitinib (Rinvoq) is a medicine known as a ‘Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor’. JAKs are enzymes that trigger the body’s immune response, which causes inflammation if you have IBD (Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis). It is a safe and effective medicine to treat inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It is prescribed if other medicines have not worked or are not suitable for you. 

Ustekinumab for IBD  

Ustekinumab (Stelara) is a biologic that reduces swelling and irritation (inflammation) in the gut. It is a medication used to treat both Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis and is usually prescribed by doctors when other medications have not worked.

Vedolizumab for IBD   

Vedolizumab (Entyvio) is a biologic that reduces swelling and irritation (inflammation) in the gut. It is a medication used to treat both Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis and is usually prescribed by doctors when other medications have not worked.