If you have Crohn’s disease, the right medications may keep your condition under control. Some may even push your disease into remission, which means you won’t have any symptoms for a certain period.
Your doctor may have you try many drugs before they can figure out which medication or combination of drugs may work best for you.
Types of Crohn’s Disease Medication
Usually, your doctor’s first treatment goal is to tame your gut inflammation and ease your discomfort. They may also prescribe medication to keep your symptoms from coming back.
Steroids
Also called corticosteroids, they help curb your body’s inflammatory responses. You usually take them for three to four months to manage your symptoms and to put your Crohn’s into remission.
You can take some steroids by mouth. These include:
- Budesonide (Entocort)
- Hydrocortisone (Aquacort, Cortenema, Hydrocort)
- Methylprednisolone (Duralone, Medrol, M-Prednisol)
- Prednisolone (Omnipred, Orapred, Veripred)
- Prednisone (Deltasone, Rayos)
Some steroids are given as an injection into your veins, usually if you’re in the hospital with a flare. You may be able to get them at a clinic or your doctor’s office:
- Hydrocortisone (A-Hydrocort, Solu-Cortef)
- Methylprednisolone (A-Methapred, Depo-Medrol, Solu-Medrol)
It’s important to let every doctor, nurse, and other medical professional you see know that you’re on steroids. If you’ve been taking them for a while, don’t stop suddenly without your doctor’s OK. Otherwise, it could lead to a sharp and dangerous fall in your blood pressure and blood sugar levels.
Anti-inflammatory drugs
They help lessen the swelling in the lining of your intestine. Aminosalicylates (5-ASAs) may work well for mild and moderate cases of Crohn’s disease. They may also help prevent relapses. Examples of 5-ASAs include:
- Balsalazide (Colazal, Giazo)
- Mesalamine (Apriso, Delzicol, Lialda, Pentasa)
- Olsalazine (Dipentum)
- Sulfasalazine (Azulfidine)
Side effects from these medications include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Headache
- Indigestion
- Fever
- Allergic reactions, such as itchiness or redness
Sulfasalazine can make it harder for your body to absorb folates (B vitamins). If you’re pregnant, you need more folic acid. So, your doctor may recommend a supplement.
Immunosuppressants
These drugs slow down your body’s natural disease-fighting immune reaction. That helps reduce inflammation. Examples include:
- Azathioprine (Azasan, Imuran)
- Cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune)
- Mercaptopurine (Purinethol, Purixan)
- Methotrexate (Otrexup, Rasuvo, Rheumatrex, Otrexup, Trexall, Xatemp)
- Mycophenolate mofetil (CellCept)
- Tacrolimus (Astagraf XL, Envarsus XR, Prograf)
Immunosuppressant drugs raise your risk for cancers, particularly lymphoma. But this is rare. The most common side effects include:
- Headache
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Gas or cramps
- Pain
- Susceptibility to infection
Antibacterial drugs
They treat infections such as abscesses and fistulas in your digestive tract.
Antibiotics for Crohn’s include:
- Ciprofloxacin (Cipro, Proquin)
- Metronidazole (MetroCream, Metrogel, Nuvessa)
- Rifaximin (Xifaxan)
- Vancomycin (Vancocin)
If you use metronidazole for a long time, it can cause tingling in your hands and feet, a condition called neuropathy. If you take ciprofloxacin, you should stay out of the sun or wear sunscreen. Some antibacterial drugs can cause serious side effects that include rash, hives, and swelling in your face, mouth, and elsewhere.
Biologics
These medicines are antibodies made in a lab with living cells. They are prescribed to calm an overactive immune system. Biologics for Crohn’s include TNF inhibitors.
TNF inhibitors
They are usually prescribed for moderate or severe Crohn’s disease. These drugs are also known as anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF). Your doctor may have you try TNF inhibitors if immunosuppressants haven’t helped you. You usually get biologic drugs through an IV infusion or a needle injection. Examples include:
- Adalimumab (Humira)
- Infliximab (Remicade)
- Certolizumab pegol (Cimzia)
Other biologics include:
- Guselkumab (Tremfya)
- Mirikizumab (Omvoh)
- Ustekinumab (Stelara)
- Vedolizumab (Entyvio)
Side effects from some of these biologics include allergic reactions and drowsiness. Very rarely, they can include liver problems and serious infections such as hepatitis B and tuberculosis.
JAK inhibitors
JAK Inhibitors work by targeting enzymes in your immune system that cause inflammation in your intestines. Usually, they are not used as a common (first-line) treatment for Crohn’s disease. Doctors use them as a second or third-line treatment when other meds haven’t worked. One example is upadacitinib (Rinvoq). Do not use it if you are pregnant.
Combination therapies
Your doctor may combine biologic and immune-suppressing drugs if other therapies haven’t worked for you. Combination therapy can be aggressive and may be more likely to cause side effects. It can raise your risk for infections and deadly cancers.
Over-the-counter medications
Ask your doctor if any of these drugs may help ease your symptoms. You don’t need a prescription:
- Anti-diarrheal meds, such as loperamide (Diamode, Imodium A-D)
- Pain relievers such as acetaminophen. It’s best to avoid nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen, because they raise your risk for ulcers and internal bleeding.
- Supplements. Crohn’s can make you run low on iron, vitamin D, vitamin B12, and folate.
Who Treats Crohn’s Disease
When you are diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, you will need a team of medical professionals to manage your care. Here are some experts who may help your Crohn’s journey.
Your regular doctor. Your doctor will take care of your overall health and coordinate care with other specialists on your care team.
Gastroenterologist. This specialist will help you with managing your symptoms and long-term care of Crohn’s disease. They specialize in caring for your digestive system.
Colorectal surgeon. You may need this specialist if you need surgery on your colon or rectum.
Dietitian. Your dietitian will help you identify foods and a diet that will help manage your Crohn’s symptoms.
Therapist. A therapist will help you deal with the emotional effects of living with Crohn’s.
Takeaways
Crohn’s disease is treated with different types of medications, starting with anti-inflammatory drugs and sometimes moving to stronger options such as immunosuppressants or biologics.
Each type of medication has its own side effects and risks, especially when used together.
Once you’re diagnosed, managing Crohn’s usually involves a team of doctors, including a specialist, surgeon, dietitian, and therapist to help you live with Crohn’s.
Crohn’s Disease Medications FAQs
What are the most effective treatments for Crohn’s disease?
The most effective treatment for moderate to severe Crohn’s is biologics. They target specific parts of your immune system that cause inflammation in your digestive system. Other therapies include corticosteroids, anti-inflammatory drugs, and immunosuppressants. It’s important to note that there is no cure for Crohn’s.
Can Crohn’s disease be managed without medication?
Usually, people use meds for Crohn’s. You may be able to manage some symptoms with lifestyle changes such as changing your diet, reducing stress, quitting smoking, and staying hydrated.
What are the side effects of Crohn’s disease medications?
It depends on the meds. Common side effects include headaches, abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. Long-term use of certain medications can increase the risk of infections, bone thinning, muscle loss, and skin problems.
Are there new treatments available for Crohn’s disease?
The latest treatment for Crohn’s is guselkumab (Tremfya), which unlike other meds, is an injection that you can give yourself at home. It was approved in early 2025.
