In IBD, inflammation occurs in the intestine because of an overly stimulated immune system, and leads to symptoms, such as pain, diarrhea, bleeding, fever, and fatigue. Over the years, researchers have developed many medications in an attempt to douse inflammation.
Steroids are anti-inflammatory medications.
Some anti-inflammatories are effective in treating intestinal inflammation, including steroids and aminosalicylates. As many as 103,000 people with arthritis may be hospitalized annually in the U.S. for these complications, most commonly peptic ulcers or gastric irritation. Recent years have seen the development of more targeted anti-inflammatory medicines, known as selective COX inhibitors. These drugs have been shown to induce significantly less gastrointestinal damage than aspirin in people with no underlying digestive disorders. In these models, they delay the healing of gastric ulcers and worsen inflammation in the colon.