When Your Crohn's Medication Stops Working Everyday Health Menu NewslettersSearch Crohn's Disease When Your Crohn' s Medication Stops Working Crohn's disease medications may become less effective over time. Understand why this happens and what you can do next. By Ashley WelchMedically Reviewed by Kareem Sassi, MD Reviewed: November 15, 2021 Medically Reviewed Medication regimens for Crohn's are highly individualized and may change over time. Getty Images Another class of medication to treat Crohn’s disease is biologics. These medications, which include The second goal is endoscopic remission. This means when a doctor checks your intestines through a scope and camera, there is no inflammation. While feeling better is certainly important, achieving endoscopic remission is the ultimate goal. “Somebody who has achieved endoscopic remission has a lower chance of having a subsequent flare compared to somebody who just has clinical remission,” Levy explains. Once endoscopic remission has been reached, the goal of treatment then becomes maintaining remission. How to Know When You May Need to Switch Crohn s Medication When you discuss your treatment plan with your doctor, you will be informed how long it may take to see improvement of your symptoms, as well as any potential side effects of the medication. “Some drugs take longer to work than others, so it may take a few weeks, or it may take up to a couple of months before you see a benefit,” Levy says.As you undergo your treatment, your healthcare team will closely monitor your symptoms and watch for potential side effects or complications. “This will vary by patient, but we objectively assess them at regular intervals, in terms of their clinical status, how they’re feeling, and where their disease is,” says NEWSLETTERS Sign up for our Crohn' s Disease Newsletter SubscribeBy subscribing you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. The Latest in Crohn' s Disease Questions You Should Ask Your GI When You're Diagnosed With Crohn'sBy Natalie (Sparacio) HaydenSeptember 22, 2022 Resources for New Moms Living With IBDBy Natalie (Sparacio) HaydenSeptember 16, 2022 Can Medical Marijuana Improve Crohn’s Disease Symptoms? While some evidence suggests that cannabis use may help relieve Crohn’s symptoms, more research is needed to show disease improvement. Here’s what you...By Don RaufSeptember 16, 2022 Hispanic Americans Wait Longer for an IBD Diagnosis Than White Patients Rocio Castrillon, a Hispanic American, shares the story of her struggle to get an IBD diagnosis and discusses her work with the Crohn’s & Colitis ...By Kaitlin SullivanSeptember 15, 2022 Can Nutrition Therapy Keep Crohn’s Disease in Remission? Nutrition therapies such as exclusive enteral nutrition (EEN) are more commonly used outside of the United States as a treatment for IBD. Learn about ...By Kaitlin SullivanJuly 26, 2022 What You Need to Know About the Crohn’s Disease Exclusion Diet Certain diets may help control the symptoms of Crohn’s disease, but not every diet offers the same results.By Stacy KishJune 28, 2022 What Is Step Therapy for Crohn’s Disease? Even when doctors prescribe a medication, some insurance companies require you to try lower-cost drugs first, which could delay your ability to get the...By Jessica MigalaJune 23, 2022 The 5 Best Books for Living With Crohn’s Disease Pick up a copy of one of these books if you’re trying to better cope with Crohn’s disease.By Sarah Choueiry SimkinJune 23, 2022 6 Crohn’s Emergencies — and When to Go to the Hospital A Crohn’s flare can be painful, but it’s important to know when your symptoms are signaling an emergency. Here’s when to seek immediate care for a Crohn...By Elizabeth YunJune 23, 2022 Growing Up With a Pooch Could Be Key to Protecting Against Crohn’s Disease Living with a dog early in life may have a protective effect against Crohn’s disease, new research suggests.By Jordan M. DavidsonJune 9, 2022 See All MORE IN What to Know About Managing Crohn’s Disease at Work How Crohn’s Disease Affects Your Skin 10 Celebrities Currently Living With Crohn’s Disease Wellness inspired Wellness enabled FacebookTwitterInstagramPinterestYoutubeTikTok About Us Careers Editorial Policy Newsletters Meet Our Health Expert Network Privacy Policy Health News Accessibility Statement Terms of Use Contact Us Feedback Do Not Sell My Personal Information Popular Topics AdChoices NEWSLETTERS Get the best in health and wellness SubscribeBy subscribing you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. A PROPERTY OF EHGLogo More From Everyday Health: Castle Connolly Top Doctors DailyOM Diabetes Daily Everyday Health Care Migraine Again 1996-2022 Everyday Health, Inc. Everyday Health is among the federally registered trademarks of Everyday Health, Inc. and may not be used by third parties without explicit permission. Badges Badges Badges