Treatment and medication.
How doctors treat IBD, including medicine and surgery, and what to expect along the way.
Lesson 3 of 5
4 min read · Updated September 16, 2026 · Medically reviewed by Shamita Shah, MD
In this lesson
Key takeaways
- The goal of treatment is remission: your symptoms go away and your gut calms down.
- There are several types of medicine, from anti-inflammatory pills to advanced therapies like biologics.
- Surgery is sometimes part of the plan, and for many people it brings real relief.
- Help with the cost of medicine is available. Speak up early if price is a worry.
The goal of treatment: remission
Doctors can’t cure Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis yet. But that doesn’t mean you have to feel sick all the time. The goal of treatment is called remission: your symptoms go away and your gut calms down. Most people who follow their treatment plan can reach remission and stay there for a long time.
Types of IBD treatment
There are several types of IBD treatment, and each one works in a different way.
- Aminosalicylates (5-ASAs) are anti-inflammatory medicines taken as pills. Doctors often use them for mild ulcerative colitis.
- Corticosteroids, like prednisone, bring down inflammation fast. Doctors only use them for a short time because they can cause side effects.
- Immunomodulators slowly calm an immune system that is working too hard.
- Biologics are advanced therapies given as an IV infusion or an injection. They’re made from living organisms and target a specific part of the immune system that causes inflammation.
- Biosimilars are biologic medicines that are highly similar to an already approved biologic. They work just like biologics, but often cost less.
- Small molecules are advanced therapies taken as a pill. They work from the inside out, targeting immune cells to shut down the signals that cause gut inflammation.
When surgery is part of the plan
Sometimes medicine isn’t enough. Surgery may become part of the plan if there are complications, such as a blockage, an infection or damage that medicine can’t fix, or if you aren’t responding to medical treatment.
For Crohn’s disease, surgery usually removes the damaged part of the intestine and reconnects the healthy ends. Surgery isn’t a cure for Crohn’s, because the disease can come back, so you’ll still take medicine to help prevent future complications or surgery.
Ulcerative colitis only affects the colon and rectum, so removing the entire colon is a cure. Afterward, surgeons may build a J-pouch, a pouch made from your small intestine and connected to your anus. Some people have an ostomy instead: an opening in the belly connected to a small pouch outside the body.
Surgery can sound scary. But for many people, it brings real relief after years of feeling sick.
Starting a new treatment
Starting a new treatment, especially an advanced therapy, takes some preparation. Before you begin, your doctor will run blood tests, stool tests and other tests to make sure the medicine is safe for you and to lower any risks. Your doctor will also check which vaccines you’ve already had, because some vaccines work best before you start treatment.
Once you begin, your care team will keep checking blood tests to make sure the medicine is working and staying safe for you. They may also do a follow-up scope to see how your gut is healing and to screen for colon cancer.
Most treatments take several weeks to months to start working, so try to be patient. Keep talking with your care team if anything feels different along the way.
Managing the cost of treatment
IBD medicine, especially advanced therapies, can be expensive. The good news is that help is out there. Many drug makers offer programs that lower your out-of-pocket cost, and nonprofit groups offer grants and copay help for people with IBD. Cost should never be a silent barrier to treatment, so speak up early if price is a worry.
Treatment for IBD isn’t one-size-fits-all, and it may take some trial and error to find what works best for you. But with the right team and the right plan, most people are able to feel like themselves again.
Questions to ask at your next visit
- What is the goal of my treatment, and how will we know it’s working?
- What side effects should I watch for?
- Which tests or vaccines do I need before starting a new medicine?
- Is help available with the cost of my medicine?
Who to call
Medical emergency
Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
Symptoms or medicine questions
Contact your GI doctor’s office.
Questions about SonarMD
Call a care coordinator at 312-283-0601, Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. CT.
This information is for education only and does not replace advice from your doctor. If you have severe symptoms, contact your doctor right away. In an emergency, call 911.