Steroids suppress your entire immune system, not just those in the gut.Immunomodulators also suppress your entire immune system, which prevents inflammation.Aminosalicylates (5-ASAs) decrease inflammation in the lining of the GI tract.Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors block an enzyme to keep it from activating cells that trigger inflammation.Biologics and biosimilars are protein-based antibodies that stop your body from causing inflammation. These include anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) medications and anti-integrins.
People might also choose this medication because they prefer a pill to an injection or infusion. “Some people will choose convenience and want this drug, even though it’s newer, to be used right after requiring steroids, so it could be an oral stepping stone to the present role of injectable or infusible [drugs],” says Rubin. “And other providers or patients will choose to wait until we have longer-term follow-up and understand a bit more of what it’s doing in the real world.”
